The pick is in and it’s a dream come true for Mt. Lebanon’s Eli Heidenreich, drafted by his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers before thousands of hometown fans.
The NFL Draft theater roared Saturday evening as the U.S. Naval Academy running back/wide receiver and 2022 Mt. Lebanon High School graduate took an emotional walk down the stage, wearing his full dress blue uniform to become the 230th overall pick selected in the NFL Draft held at Acrisure Stadium.
Minutes later, Heidenreich told ESPN what it was like to be chosen by the Steelers. “All of the emotions kind of hit me at once. I was thinking back to all the games that I’ve been to growing up, being in Heinz Field and watching those games, and now I’m getting the opportunity to play for the black and gold. It was a fantastic feeling,” he said.
He remembered asking his father for a James Harrison jersey for his birthday after Harrison’s 100-yard interception return for a touchdown, leading the Steelers to defeat the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII.
Heidenreich was considered by many to be one of the top 2026 NFL Draft prospects. That came as no surprise to Bob Palko, former Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils coach. “It couldn’t happen to a better person,” he said.
Palko remembers Heidenreich as a soft-spoken leader, a tremendous teammate who led by example, and “a really good football player.”
The Blue Devils won the state championship during Heidenreich’s senior year. “That’s such a cool town. Those kids grew up together and played midget football together. It was a cool atmosphere to be a part of,” Palko said, and for Heidenreich to be drafted by the Steelers? “Well, that’s like a movie. You can’t even make that up.”
Heidenreich was waiting backstage in the NFL Draft green room since Friday and started talking to teams about signing as an undrafted free agent when he got the life-changing call. “I’m a Steeler,” he announced proudly.
After the draft was over, the Steelers extended an invitation to rookie minicamp to Alex Tecza, Heidenreich’s teammate at both Lebo and Annapolis.
Heidenreich is Navy’s all-time leading receiver. New rules allow him to defer his military service, making him eligible to pursue a career with the Steelers. He told ESPN anchors he’s ready to do whatever the team asks of him. “I’ve always thought of myself as just a football player first. I’m not a running back or receiver. I do kind of whatever the team needs me to do on offense. I’ll catch passes, I’ll block my tail off. I’ll run the ball, make people miss on offense. And then I’ll get out there on special teams and contribute in four phases. I just feel like I’m able to give an NFL team, the Steelers, whatever they need.”
That attitude is reminiscent of Heidenreich’s time with the Blue Devils, according to Coach Palko. “Most people are telling you what they do well and where they should play, and he just wanted to get on the field and do whatever he could to help the team. That’s the mentality he had, and that’s the mentality those kids had when they were at Mt. Lebanon,” Palko commented.