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Sometimes it really is bigger than football.
On Sunday, Pittsburgh Steelers punter Pressley Harvin III had his family in attendance including his father. This was different because as Harvin announced, his father recently found out he is terminally ill and doesn’t have much time left. Harvin shared this post on social media thanking the team for making it possible for his dad to see him play one last time.
Truly thankful for the Steelers Organization, the Rooney family, Coach Tomlin, my coaches and teammates, as well as Steeler nation for giving my family a world class experience yesterday. Unfortunately, we were told last week that my dads battle with his terminal illness has made his time left on Earth very limited. We were able to get him as well as my ill grandmother to Pittsburgh for one more Steelers game. I just ask that you all keep them in your prayers as we navigate through these hard times to make every day my father has left the best and most memorable. I love you Pops, always and forever.
Harvin had a rough day on the field, being openly booed by the fans as he struggled with his punts. It would be easy to vilify those fans after the fact but none of them were privy to what was going on with Harvin’s father at the time. And to be fair to those fans, Harvin’s entire rookie season has been a struggle. If this is something that has been weighing on him for several weeks, the team should have addressed it much sooner and maybe given Harvin some time off.
Either way, all of us here at Steelers Wire offer our support to Harvin and his family and hope for the very best.
This is from #Steelers rookie punter Pressley Harvin III, who was booed yesterday. I wish we didn’t need reminders that we don’t ever really know the whole of someone’s challenges. Or that it’s a lot easier to show kindness and grace than the opposite. 💛 to the Harvin family. pic.twitter.com/bTumWRaPVZ
— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) December 20, 2021
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