Pittsburgh Steelers long snapper Christian Kuntz, a fellow Pittsburgh native, expressed strong excitement for the team's seventh-round draft pick Eli Heidenreich on his podcast, predicting the Navy running back will 'open a lot of eyes' with his talent.
Following the Steelers' selection of hometown Navy RB Eli Heidenreich in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft (as covered previously), teammate Christian Kuntz voiced his enthusiasm on the Christian Kuntz Podcast. 'I was pumped about that, dude. That kid, he’s an unbelievable player. He’s gonna open a lot of eyes. I’m not just saying that because I’m biased,' Kuntz said.
Kuntz, whose father has Naval Academy ties, shared that his dad called Heidenreich 'the best player in the draft.' Heidenreich, a Mt. Lebanon native and lifelong Steelers fan, had nearly signed as an undrafted free agent with another team before Pittsburgh called his name at pick 230. He becomes the 26th Navy player ever drafted and the first from the program since last year's Rayuan Lane III.
Over his Navy career, Heidenreich showcased versatility with program-record receiving stats alongside solid rushing production. Comparisons to Kenneth Gainwell and Danny Woodhead have surfaced, and coach Mike McCarthy envisions a multi-role fit, including special teams, where Heidenreich must earn his spot in a competitive backfield.
