In all probability essentially the most compelling second of the 2026 NFL Draft got here within the ultimate spherical, when the Pittsburgh Steelers decided on operating again Eli Heidenreich and the select used to be introduced to the homeland crowd amassed on the tournament.
The thrill, palpable from the instant Heidenreich used to be proven on digicam, wasn’t as a result of he’s an completed faculty operating again. Nor used to be it as a result of his athletic talent has scouts evaluating him to San Francisco 49ers big name Christian McCaffrey — handiest larger and more potent.
The group went nuts as a result of Heidenreich performed for the US Naval Academy.
And having waited for 3 days within the NFL’s inexperienced room behind the scenes, Heidenreich emerged in his Complete Get dressed Blue uniform worn by way of midshipmen at formal purposes.
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Heidenreich placed on a Steelers cap and saluted. Quickly after, he hugged NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and took reputable footage with a Steelers helmet.
Omar Khan, director of soccer and trade operations for the Pittsburgh Steelers, appears to be like on from the sideline prior to a preseason recreation towards the Kansas Town Chiefs at Heinz Box in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Aug. 24, 2013. The Chiefs defeated the Steelers 26-20. (Picture by way of George Gojkovich/Getty Photographs)
The group went bonkers.
“That pleasure with Eli,” Steelers common supervisor Omar Khan mentioned, “I imply, I wasn’t anticipating to peer that on TV and you’ll’t assist however get emotional while you noticed that on the finish. However really, really, really superior …”
The NFL, being the general public family members steamroller it’s, made up our minds to exploit the instant for the whole thing it used to be price. League handlers gave Heidenreich an opportunity to stroll throughout the crowd and dap up the adoring fanatics.
Then they introduced Heidenreich to the ESPN set for an interview.
That’s proper: the 230th total select — an in a different way regimen select within the ultimate spherical — used to be handled like royalty, in all probability as a result of fanatics understood that the US and its Military and different army forces are engaging in operations within the Center East.
Oh, yeah, did we point out Heidenreich is from Pittsburgh?
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This script simply assists in keeping getting upgrades with each and every rewrite.
Heidenreich is scheduled to graduate from the Naval Academy in Would possibly. Had the NFL now not come via as a chance, he deliberate to start out his five-year dedication to function an officer within the Marine Corps.
However Heidenreich understood that dedication would wait when, previous within the 7th spherical, he were given calls from groups short of to signal him as an undrafted loose agent.
“I in reality dedicated to a crew,” Heidenreich mentioned.
Pittsburgh Steelers fanatics cheer prior to Spherical Some of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Photographs)
Then the Steelers referred to as to inform him about their plans to select him.
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So he’ll begin a 10-year carrier contract with the Marine Corps that can permit him to defer his carrier whilst he pursues his skilled soccer profession.
“I am grateful that they gave me this chance,” Heidenreich mentioned. “I to begin with dedicated to them for 5 years of carrier in a while, however they are permitting me the chance to head out and pursue this soccer profession first and provides my carrier later. So, I am grateful for that.
“However in an effort to constitute them — the US Marine Corps, the US Military, I imply, simply the army as a complete — it is an honor and one thing I do not take flippantly.”
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Military operating again Eli Heidenreich runs previous Military protection Max DiDomenico for a landing throughout the second one part of an NCAA faculty soccer recreation in Landover, Md., on Dec. 14, 2024. (Daniel Kucin Jr./AP)
Heidenreich comes from nice inventory. His grandfather, Chris Heidenreich, used to be a naval officer, and his uncle, Chip Heidenreich, served as a corpsman with the Marines.
And now Eli Heidenreich, probably the greatest of what this latter American era has to supply, carries at the circle of relatives custom.
However handiest after he offers skilled soccer an opportunity.
“I am thankful,” Heidenreich mentioned, “that I’ve the chance in an effort to cross out and do this within the NFL.”
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