The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Navy running back and wide receiver Eli Heidenreich in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft. The Pittsburgh native returns to his hometown team after a standout career at the Naval Academy. Heidenreich has already begun integrating with the roster during rookie minicamp.
Heidenreich, a Mt. Lebanon High School graduate who led his team to a state title, set receiving records at Navy while becoming one of two players to record 1,000 yards both rushing and receiving. He credited a high school camp visit for securing his Navy scholarship and spoke of the family military tradition that includes his grandfather, a Navy lieutenant commander, and an uncle who served as a corpsman with the Marines.