Football fans looking to learn about the sport’s history when the 2026 NFL Draft comes to Pittsburgh will find exhibitions and programs catered to the event at the Senator John Heinz History Center in the Strip District.
The museum on Tuesday announced special plans to cater to football fans around the draft, which is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of people to Pittsburgh.
With exhibits on loan from the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the Heinz History Center will host a Pro Football Hall of Fame exhibition.
It will include 27 original NFL Draft cards from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first-round picks from 1997 through 2025, displayed in the history center’s Franco Harris Sports Museum.
Fans also will be able to view game-worn jerseys from Hall of Famers George Blanda, Joe Namath, Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana, Jim Kelly and Dan Marino in the history center’s first-floor hall.
An NFL Draft exhibit will celebrate the region’s football roots and connections to the draft, as well as the Steelers’ draft philosophy.
Pittsburgh’s ties to the event date to 1935, when NFL owners met at Fort Pitt Hotel in Downtown Pittsburgh, according to the history center.
Young visitors from April 23 through April 25 will find family-friendly activities in the Draft Week Fan Zone, which will boast tailgate-style games, sports-themed scavenger hunts, food and special tours of the sports museum.
Kids under 17 can receive free admission to the Heinz History Center.
The museum’s gift shop will offer NFL draft merchandise, as well as souvenirs featuring Pittsburgh staples like the Heinz brand and Mister Rogers.
The galleries in the Franco Harris Sports Museum, which hosts over 50 interactive experiences, will highlight the stories of athletes who gave Pittsburgh its nickname as the City of Champions, the history center said in a news release.
It includes a figure of Harris making the Immaculate Reception catch, his cleats from the play and a piece of the Three Rivers Stadium field turf where the legendary play occurred.
A Super Steelers exhibition boasts a special section dedicated to Harris’ career. A high school football section will teach fans about legendary NFL coaches and players who played their first football games in Western Pennsylvania.
The history center also hosts the Visit Pittsburgh Welcome Center, where out-of-town visitors can talk with visitor service associates.
