DENVER — It might have been enough that Shelby Harris got his first half-sack of the year.
The Broncos’ biggest surprise last year with 5.5 sacks from an interior defensive line position, Harris had gone sackless through the first 10 games this season. Joining Von Miller at Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for a co-sack late in the fourth quarter, plus an eventual win, could have left Harris smiling for a while.
Now throw in his wife giving birth to his baby daughter on Friday and Harris securing that win against the Steelers with a goal-to-go interception in the end zone to secure the Broncos’ 24-17 victory.
“This week has been really good," said Harris, who was just warming up. “This week has just been huge. I am really just living my best life. I am happy, I cannot complain. I have a beautiful, healthy family. My wife is a trouper—she had a C-section—they are doing great. Just really running on fumes these last days, but I am truly blessed and really cannot complain. I am on cloud nine.”
Broncos head coach Vance Joseph awarded Harris with the game ball.
“After this, I will drink some water, maybe a Gatorade, sit in the car, drive to the hospital and sit there the rest of the night," Harris said. “There is no celebration. I am just happy that I have a healthy baby, a healthy wife and a healthy family. The people I want to celebrate with—it made me almost cry; I looked in the stands and my wife was not there. I know she is in the hospital with our daughter and so I cannot wait to go see them.”
