1 day ago
The Pittsburgh Steelers retained all 10 rookie draft members on their 53-man roster, Eli Heidenreich who made the last selection. Heidenreich ousted a tough battle to make the final cut. But he did make it, after beating out several players for the third and final running back spot.
Head Coach Mike McCarthy has now opened up on Heidenreich's clear path to making the roster spot in a recent interview. The gaffer's comments show the technical side of Steelers' coaching crew and what future NFL hopefuls might want to prioritize during training.
Jun 9, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy speaks during Minicamp at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Heidenreich was decent as a runner during the preseason. However, his special teams capabilities became a large part of the major reasons behind his selection. Moreover, those abilities give him some time to grow his offensive game. Steelers Depot, a Steelers-dedicated news platform shares McCarthy's comments in a recent tweet.
"It's a big part of it. He has to. I mean, he wouldn't be here today if he wasn't part of special teams responsibility. That's normal for young players, especially someone with Eli's skillset. So, yes, he's definitely making a lot of progress."
#heidenreich #mike
Head Coach Mike McCarthy has now opened up on Heidenreich's clear path to making the roster spot in a recent interview. The gaffer's comments show the technical side of Steelers' coaching crew and what future NFL hopefuls might want to prioritize during training.
Jun 9, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy speaks during Minicamp at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Heidenreich was decent as a runner during the preseason. However, his special teams capabilities became a large part of the major reasons behind his selection. Moreover, those abilities give him some time to grow his offensive game. Steelers Depot, a Steelers-dedicated news platform shares McCarthy's comments in a recent tweet.
"It's a big part of it. He has to. I mean, he wouldn't be here today if he wasn't part of special teams responsibility. That's normal for young players, especially someone with Eli's skillset. So, yes, he's definitely making a lot of progress."
#heidenreich #mike
15 days ago
While primary roster attention often centers on starting lineups, building a complete 53-man roster requires dependable depth. In the Pittsburgh Steelers' preseason finale, running backs Lew Nichols III and Eli Heidenreich delivered standout performances, demonstrating the complementary skill sets necessary to fortify the team's backfield depth.
With protection issues surfacing across the offensive line, running back pass protection has taken on heightened significance in Pittsburgh. Nichols distinguished himself not only by leading the ground attack with seven carries for 40 yards (5.7 yards per carry), but also by executing textbook blitz pickups in pass protection.
"Lew Nichols, seven carries, 40 yards, continues to run hard," noted host Christopher Carter on his "Locked On Steelers" podcast. "He's not just a runner. He's really good in pass protection. I've seen him put defenders down in the dirt and let them know. And that's a big thing that you need, especially what we just got done talking about with the offensive line."
Meanwhile, Heidenreich provided efficient groundwork and finished off a key drive with a touchdown run, carrying the ball nine times for 35 yards. He showed decisive vision when given operational ******* e, adding a scoring threat to the rotated backfield reps.
"Also, shout out Eli Heidenreich," Carter said. "Nine carries, 35 yards, and a tuddy. I thought that he did a pretty solid job when he got the ball in his hands and he had some ******* e to run."
#nichols #protection #steelers
With protection issues surfacing across the offensive line, running back pass protection has taken on heightened significance in Pittsburgh. Nichols distinguished himself not only by leading the ground attack with seven carries for 40 yards (5.7 yards per carry), but also by executing textbook blitz pickups in pass protection.
"Lew Nichols, seven carries, 40 yards, continues to run hard," noted host Christopher Carter on his "Locked On Steelers" podcast. "He's not just a runner. He's really good in pass protection. I've seen him put defenders down in the dirt and let them know. And that's a big thing that you need, especially what we just got done talking about with the offensive line."
Meanwhile, Heidenreich provided efficient groundwork and finished off a key drive with a touchdown run, carrying the ball nine times for 35 yards. He showed decisive vision when given operational ******* e, adding a scoring threat to the rotated backfield reps.
"Also, shout out Eli Heidenreich," Carter said. "Nine carries, 35 yards, and a tuddy. I thought that he did a pretty solid job when he got the ball in his hands and he had some ******* e to run."
#nichols #protection #steelers
16 days ago
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (BLACK AND GOLD NATION) - The Steelers rookie class had plenty of notable performances in the team's 28-27 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Thursday. Some were good, and some weren't as good.
Germie Bernard, Kaden Wetjen and Eli Heidenreich all scored touchdowns in the final preseason game of the year. Meanwhile, Max Iheanachor, Gennings Dunker, Drew Allar and Wetjen all had some rookie growing pains, too.
Steelers restructure DK Metcalf's contract, create ample salary cap **** e
Will Howard and Bernard got Pittsburgh on the scoreboard first with a 13-yard catch-and-run. The Alabama product gave the Steelers a 7-3 lead. Pittsburgh went into the locker room at halftime with a 14-10 lead after Howard dumped it off to Lake McRee for a five-yard touchdown.
In the opening drive of the second half, Heidenreich rumbled into the end zone from nine yards out, extending Pittsburgh's lead to 11. It marked the Navy product's first professional touchdown.
#heidenreich #rookie #first
Germie Bernard, Kaden Wetjen and Eli Heidenreich all scored touchdowns in the final preseason game of the year. Meanwhile, Max Iheanachor, Gennings Dunker, Drew Allar and Wetjen all had some rookie growing pains, too.
Steelers restructure DK Metcalf's contract, create ample salary cap **** e
Will Howard and Bernard got Pittsburgh on the scoreboard first with a 13-yard catch-and-run. The Alabama product gave the Steelers a 7-3 lead. Pittsburgh went into the locker room at halftime with a 14-10 lead after Howard dumped it off to Lake McRee for a five-yard touchdown.
In the opening drive of the second half, Heidenreich rumbled into the end zone from nine yards out, extending Pittsburgh's lead to 11. It marked the Navy product's first professional touchdown.
#heidenreich #rookie #first
18 days ago
The Pittsburgh Steelers executed a wave of roster moves a few days out from their preseason finale against the Buffalo Bills.
On Monday, the Steelers not only activated Jalen Ramsey off the physically unable to perform list, but signed cornerback Jaylon Guilbeau and running back Alex Tecza, as well as placing defensive back Israel Mukuamu on the reserve/injured list and releasing rookie kicker Laith Marjan.
Guilbeau played four years at Texas (2022-2025) before joining the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent following the 2026 NFL Draft. He recorded 124 combined tackles, one sack, one interception, and 10 passes defended during his college career.
Tecza had a similar path to that of Eli Heidenreich, as he's also a Pittsburgh native who attended Mt. Lebanon High School and played collegiate football at Navy. During his three seasons (2023-2025) as a Navy Midshipman, Tecza recorded 2,687 yards from scrimmage and 26 total touchdowns.
It remains to be seen if both players can get up to speed in time to get a lot of playing time during the preseason matchup against the Bills, but both players are more than likely competing for practice squad spots this close to final roster cuts.
#roster
On Monday, the Steelers not only activated Jalen Ramsey off the physically unable to perform list, but signed cornerback Jaylon Guilbeau and running back Alex Tecza, as well as placing defensive back Israel Mukuamu on the reserve/injured list and releasing rookie kicker Laith Marjan.
Guilbeau played four years at Texas (2022-2025) before joining the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent following the 2026 NFL Draft. He recorded 124 combined tackles, one sack, one interception, and 10 passes defended during his college career.
Tecza had a similar path to that of Eli Heidenreich, as he's also a Pittsburgh native who attended Mt. Lebanon High School and played collegiate football at Navy. During his three seasons (2023-2025) as a Navy Midshipman, Tecza recorded 2,687 yards from scrimmage and 26 total touchdowns.
It remains to be seen if both players can get up to speed in time to get a lot of playing time during the preseason matchup against the Bills, but both players are more than likely competing for practice squad spots this close to final roster cuts.
#roster
1 month ago
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The vibes for Mike McCarthy and Eli Heidenreich over the last few months have been immaculate. How could they not be?
The chance for McCarthy to lead his hometown team brought the first-year Pittsburgh Steelers coach to tears when he was hired in January. The image last April of Heidenreich walking onto the draft stage in full Naval dress uniform outside Acrisure Stadium — just a few miles from the Mount Lebanon neighborhood where he grew up — felt like something out of a movie.
Their respective homecomings have provided plenty of "fairy tale" narratives during an eventful offseason for the typically low-key Steelers. And while there will be a little bit of "hey, is this really happening?" on Thursday night when they walk onto the field for the first time as the Steelers host Green Bay in the preseason opener, they're both aware of the reality check that awaits under the lights.
"Naturally, there's some people that might ******* ume that it was like you said, like a hometown pick or whatever, whatever someone wants to say," Heidenreich said. "But I'm here to play football, and that's it."
Good thing, because evolving from a seventh-round flyer following a record-setting career at Navy — where he set program marks for career receiving yards and receiving touchdowns — into an NFL roster spot will take some doing. ******* ody knows that more than the 6-foot, 206-pound Heidenreich, who politely dismissed comparisons between himself and San Francisco 49ers running back and 2023 NFL Offense Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey.
#pittsburgh #year #hometown #first
The chance for McCarthy to lead his hometown team brought the first-year Pittsburgh Steelers coach to tears when he was hired in January. The image last April of Heidenreich walking onto the draft stage in full Naval dress uniform outside Acrisure Stadium — just a few miles from the Mount Lebanon neighborhood where he grew up — felt like something out of a movie.
Their respective homecomings have provided plenty of "fairy tale" narratives during an eventful offseason for the typically low-key Steelers. And while there will be a little bit of "hey, is this really happening?" on Thursday night when they walk onto the field for the first time as the Steelers host Green Bay in the preseason opener, they're both aware of the reality check that awaits under the lights.
"Naturally, there's some people that might ******* ume that it was like you said, like a hometown pick or whatever, whatever someone wants to say," Heidenreich said. "But I'm here to play football, and that's it."
Good thing, because evolving from a seventh-round flyer following a record-setting career at Navy — where he set program marks for career receiving yards and receiving touchdowns — into an NFL roster spot will take some doing. ******* ody knows that more than the 6-foot, 206-pound Heidenreich, who politely dismissed comparisons between himself and San Francisco 49ers running back and 2023 NFL Offense Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey.
#pittsburgh #year #hometown #first
2 months ago
One of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ most beloved rookies from the 2026 NFL Draft class was apparently on his way to a different team if he wasn’t selected on Day 3 of the event.
On a new episode of The Christian Kuntz Podcast, Steelers seventh-round rookie Eli Heidenreich revealed that he was set to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent before he was drafted by Pittsburgh.
“My agent was talking to Tampa Bay, and I agreed that I would sign with them in preferred free agency,” Heidenreich said. “So, I was kind of set there, and now I was sitting, and all of a sudden, I got that phone call, and I pick up, and it was Omar [Khan].”
Luckily for Steelers Nation, Heidenreich wouldn’t go undrafted and was selected by Pittsburgh with the 230th overall pick in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft. To make the moment even sweeter, Heidenreich was in attendance at the draft and made a rare Day 3 walk onto the stage surrounded by the deafening support of Steelers fans.
For up-to-date Steelers coverage, including any offseason moves, follow us on X TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.
On a new episode of The Christian Kuntz Podcast, Steelers seventh-round rookie Eli Heidenreich revealed that he was set to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent before he was drafted by Pittsburgh.
“My agent was talking to Tampa Bay, and I agreed that I would sign with them in preferred free agency,” Heidenreich said. “So, I was kind of set there, and now I was sitting, and all of a sudden, I got that phone call, and I pick up, and it was Omar [Khan].”
Luckily for Steelers Nation, Heidenreich wouldn’t go undrafted and was selected by Pittsburgh with the 230th overall pick in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft. To make the moment even sweeter, Heidenreich was in attendance at the draft and made a rare Day 3 walk onto the stage surrounded by the deafening support of Steelers fans.
For up-to-date Steelers coverage, including any offseason moves, follow us on X TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.
3 months ago
The Pittsburgh Steelers are the middle of a quarterback conundrum, likely forcing the team to cut a veteran signal caller when the final 53-man roster is due.
Featuring plenty of surprising decisions, such as the battle between Mason Rudolph and Will Howard, an undrafted free agent center beating out Ryan McCollum, Eli Heidenreich finding a spot thanks to his positional versatility, or even a surprising injured reserve placement, here's a look at our updated Steelers 53-man prediction.
Quarterbacks (3)
Aaron Rodgers
Will Howard
Featuring plenty of surprising decisions, such as the battle between Mason Rudolph and Will Howard, an undrafted free agent center beating out Ryan McCollum, Eli Heidenreich finding a spot thanks to his positional versatility, or even a surprising injured reserve placement, here's a look at our updated Steelers 53-man prediction.
Quarterbacks (3)
Aaron Rodgers
Will Howard
