The official estimate from the NFL is that Pittsburgh set an all-time draft attendance record of 805,000 people. about 35,000 more than Detroit’s 2024 record. And the statement by NFL executive vice president Peter O’Reilly said it all: “Pittsburgh has been a fantastic partner.”
The Steelers played their role just as well as the city of Pittsburgh, calling on entertainment superstars and Super Bowl heroes, as well as current stars, such as Cam Heyward, TJ Watt, and Joey Porter Jr.
Hall of Famers Terry Bradshaw, Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, Mel Blount, and Jerome Bettis were among the Steelers greats who took the stage, along with Pittsburgh natives Michael Keaton, Wiz Khalifa, and Butler’s Bret Michaels.
But while the city was busy dazzling the league and the hundreds of thousands of visitors who came for the draft, the Steelers’ front office and coaches were busy building the newest version of the team, entering the draft with twelve picks, and after several trades to move positions, adding ten draftees.
Here is the complete list of 2026 draftees, by the round in which each was chosen:
Max Iheanachor, offensive tackle, Arizona State (first)
Germie Bernard, wide receiver, Alabama (second)
Drew Allar, quarterback, Penn State (third)
Daylen Everette, cornerback, Georgia (third)
Gennings Dunker, offensive guard/tackle, Iowa (third)
Kaden Wetjen, wide receiver, Iowa (fourth)
Riley Nowakowski, tight end, Indiana (fifth)
Gabriel Rubio, defensive tackle, Notre Dame (sixth)
Robert Spears-Jennings, safety, Oklahoma (seventh)
Eli Heidenreich, running back/receiver, Navy (seventh) (Heidenreich is a Mount Lebanon native)
STATEMENT FROM STEELERS PRESIDENT ART ROONEY II:
On behalf of the Pittsburgh Steelers, I want to extend my sincere gratitude to everyone who played a part in making the NFL Draft here in Pittsburgh such an incredible success. From the moment Pittsburgh was announced as the host two years ago, it was clear that this community would rise to the occasion – and you exceeded every expectation. The energy, pride, and hospitality on display throughout the week showcased Pittsburgh at its very best for the world to see.
I want to extend a special thank you to our partners at VisitPITTSBURGH, along with our public, private, non-profit and community partners who helped make the 2026 NFL Draft safe, accessible, enjoyable and the best in League history. I also want to thank the National Football League, Commissioner Roger Goodell, and the army of NFL staff who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to bring this event to life.
Most importantly, thank you to the fans—both from our region and across the globe—who made this event unforgettable. Your passion is what drives this league and seeing so many people come together to celebrate the game of football was something special.
