Moments like THIS 🙌
The Pittsburgh crowd erupts as the Steelers select Navy RB Eli Heidenreich in Round 7!
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Seventh-round running back Eli Heidenreich told ESPN he was committed to sign as an undrafted free agent with another team when the Pittsburgh Steelers selected him.
The Pittsburgh Steelers added more backfield depth with Navy running back and local native Eli Heidenreich during the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft. By doing so, the Steelers stole Heidenreich from another team.
The running back told ESPN on Saturday night that if his hometown team had not drafted him, he was set to sign with another organization as an undrafted free agent.
“There was a lot of undrafted free agent discussions going [behind the scenes],” Heidenreich said on ESPN. “I actually committed to a team.
“Then the Steelers came in, and all the emotions kind of hit me at once.”
The Steelers drafted Heidenreich at No. 230 overall in the seventh round. It was an emotional scene for not just the running back, but the Pittsburgh faithful still by the draft stage late on Day 3.
Before attending Navy, Heidenreich played high school football at Mt. Lebanon High School. The school is a local football powerhouse in the South Hills of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The Steelers entered the 2026 NFL Draft with two earlier seventh-round picks. But the team moved back in the round with one of their selections in a draft pick swap that helped the Steelers move up in the second.
As a result, the team made its last pick at No. 230 overall. With just 27 selections remaining after that, the Steelers landed a hometown hero.
It was one of the highlights of not just Day 3 but the entire draft weekend.
Heidenreich was on hand and came onto the stage after the selection was announced. The Navy football star was already wearing a Steelers hat and waving a Terrible Towel when he arrived on stage.
Like all the first-round picks who attended the draft, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell greeted Heidenreich with a congratulations handshake and hug.
Moments like THIS 🙌
The Pittsburgh crowd erupts as the Steelers select Navy RB Eli Heidenreich in Round 7!
Heidenreich played three seasons at Navy, posting 1,157 rushing yards while averaging 6.8 yards per carry in 38 games.
In the Midshipmen offense, Heidenreich was a dual-threat as a runner and pass-catcher. He averaged 18.5 yards per reception with six receiving touchdowns during 2025. That helped him post nearly twice as many receiving yards as rushing yards last season.
In 2025, Heidenreich finished with 1,440 yards from scrimmage and nine total touchdowns in 13 contests.
Heidenreich will join a crowded backfield in Pittsburgh.
Although the Navy star was the first running back the Steelers added in the 2026 NFL Draft, the team had already added Rico Dowdle and Travis Homer in NFL free agency.
The Steelers also have running backs Jaylen Warren, Kaleb Johnson and Lew Nichols on the offseason roster. So, Heidenreich is the sixth running back on the roster with more potentially arriving as undrafted free agents.
Heidenreich likely faces a tall task to make the Steelers roster. But his versatility as a runner and pass-catcher could help if he proves capable of transitioning to the NFL level this summer.
Heidenreich could be a candidate for the Steelers practice squad as well. It might be difficult to plan stashing him there, though, since clearly he had other suitors late Saturday.
For the offseason, though, Heidenreich has a place with the Steelers thanks to the team drafting him before another organization could sign him.
Dave Holcomb is a sports reporter covering the NFL and MLB for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Pittsburgh Steelers and a variety of other NFL teams. Originally from Pittsburgh, Holcomb has covered college and professional sports for outlets including FanSided, Rotowire and Yardbarker. More about Dave Holcomb
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