Mt. Lebanon moms everywhere found it a challenge to hold back tears watching Mt. Lebanon High School graduate Eli Heidenreich speak those words live before embracing his family during TV coverage of April’s NFL Draft in Pittsburgh in April. On the way out of the tunnel, the running back tapped the Steelers logo on the wall. The logos for all 32 NFL teams were handcrafted by Mt. Lebanon’s Kim Fox of Worker Bird art studio.

Social media lit up as Mt. Lebanon folks celebrated the Navy football standout, chosen in the draft’s seventh round. For his part, Heidenreich handled the national spotlight with humility and class.

As a graduate of the Naval Academy, he’ll fulfill his service as an officer in the Marines in the off-season, as well as serve in the reserves.

The Steelers also invited Alex Tecza to attend rookie minicamp. Tecza shared a backfield with Heidenreich both here and at the Naval Academy.

”For our young players, his journey is a powerful and tangible example of what hard work, determination, grit, and being a great teammate can lead to,” said J.P. White, president of the Mt. Lebanon Youth Football Association.

Writer Carrie Moniot talked with Heidenreich’s coach and has a full story.