YB #94

Yahya Black

Defensive End · Iowa

A massive, long-armed Iowa nose tackle whose rookie season quietly exceeded expectations for a fifth-round pick.

Yahya Black brought elite size to Pittsburgh's defensive front after two seasons anchoring Iowa's interior line. The Minnesota native played through more than expected as a rookie, working alongside first-round pick Derrick Harmon to take pressure off All-Pro Cam Heyward.

★ Fifth-round pick, 2025 NFL Draft (No. 164 overall)

★ Two-time all-Big Ten honorable mention, Iowa

★ 28 tackles, two forced fumbles as a rookie starter/rotational lineman in 2025

Path to the league

Black started the final two seasons of his career at defensive tackle for Iowa, earning two-time all-Big Ten honorable mention recognition, including five tackles for loss and a forced fumble in 2024. Pittsburgh drafted him in the fifth round, No. 164 overall, of the 2025 NFL Draft, the second Hawkeye the Steelers took that year after running back Kaleb Johnson.

Career highlights

At nearly 6-foot-6 and 336 pounds with 35-inch arms, Black stood out physically even by NFL defensive line standards, and Iowa used his length on field goal and extra point blocking units. He was viewed as a potential nose tackle answer for Pittsburgh's 3-4 front.

2025 season recap

Black played in all 17 games as a rookie, starting three, and finished with 28 tackles including 10 solo, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a pass defensed across 416 defensive snaps. He battled through an injury suffered in Pittsburgh's Week 14 game against Baltimore but kept playing, capping a rookie year that exceeded expectations for a Day 3 pick.