Steelers Have Plan for Local Rookie

PITTSBURGH — One of the most exciting players to come out of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2026 NFL Draft class is explosive and versatile offensive threat Eli Heidenreich. The Navy product and graduate of Mt. Lebanon High School, a local public school district in the Pittsburgh region, stood out during his senior year as an all-around playmaker.

His hometown ties combined with impressive production at Navy made Heidenreich an easy choice for the Steelers in the seventh round. But rest assured, the 22-year-old hybrid running back and wide receiver is anything from a usual last-round choice.

It’s that versatility and potential that has the Steelers’ new special teams coach, Danny Crossman, so excited about the new addition. Speaking to the media during Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Crossman outlined the plan for the young speedster moving forward.

“He’s gonna get looked at just like most of the young players in a multitude of roles, obviously, because of Eli’s skillset where he’s been a ball handler,” he said. “Those things come into play along with the other aspects when…there’s only one guy back there with the football as a returner. So if you’re not that guy, what other skills do you bring that you can position yourself to make the club and then be active on game day and participate? So he’s a guy that’s gonna get a look as a coverage player, as a protection player and as a return player.”