NFL Draft category
Steelers casting a wide net in investigating wide receivers to draft
Makai Lemon termed the experience of chatting with Mike McCarthy as “a blessing.” Jordyn Tyson referred to McCarthy as “a legend.” Antonio Williams said he had “a great meeting” with McCarthy, the newly-hired Pittsburgh Steelers coach. There’s no truth to the rumor that every single one of the nearly four...
‘Just talking ball’: 1st-round QB prospect Ty Simpson, Steelers coach Mike McCarthy meet
Time flies when you’re having fun, and apparently not moreso than when the consensus No. 2 quarterback available in the draft met this week with the new head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. “It was really cool,” that quarterback, Alabama’s Ty Simpson, told reporters at the NFL combine Friday, “because...
Mock drafts entering NFL Combine link Steelers with 1st-round receivers
Five mock drafters concurred this week that the Pittsburgh Steelers should take a receiver in the first round, but they disagreed on who that pass catcher will be. With the 21st overall pick, they predicted the Steelers might select Washington’s Denzel Boston, USC’s Makai Lemon or another wideout all together....
The NFL Draft opens to new group: Tech innovators
The NFL wants you for the upcoming draft — if you’re a technology innovator, that is. The league on Friday unveiled the NFL Draft Innovation Challenge, a crowdsourcing initiative to “enhance the fan and event experience.” The league is inviting individuals, startups and established companies to propose new tools and...
Former teammate of Steelers’ Joey Porter Jr. at PSU, Zakee Wheatley a versatile safety prospect
INDIANAPOLIS — It’s not uncommon for a player to transition, at some point in his football career, from cornerback to safety, and there are plenty of cases of deep safeties moving to in-the-box linebacker. But how about a player who has made the move among the three and back again?...
Tim Benz: Offensive tackle has entered the Steelers’ draft chat … againVideo
After Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan addressed media members at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, most of the headlines were centered on what he said about the team’s plans at quarterback. Naturally. Why should this year be any different than the previous four in the wake of Ben...
On Sports: Penguins prepare to run gauntlet; where will Pitt’s Kyle Louis fit on an NFL roster?Video
Thursday’s “On Sports” takes a look at the challenge currently in front of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who begin a difficult final month-and-a-half of the regular season minus captain Sidney Crosby. At the NFL Combine, former Pitt standout linebacker Kyle Louis looks to further showcase his next-level potential, while Paul Skenes...
Having already shown he’s a playmaker, Pitt’s Kyle Louis eager to show off speed at combineVideo
INDIANAPOLIS — Perhaps the only thing Kyle Louis does faster than run as compered to other draft-eligible linebackers is answer a question about what drill he’s most excited about during his workouts Thursday at the NFL combine. “Obviously,” Louis said Wednesday from the combine site, “that 40. I’m trying to...
NFL Films and Pat McAfee celebrate Pittsburgh with ‘The Football Town’Video
The NFL Draft is 60 days away, but its first local event will arrive much sooner on the screen of the Kamin Science Center’s Rangos Giant Cinema. “The Football Town,” a celebration of Pittsburgh’s gridiron genealogy, premieres Saturday to science center visitors. “This is our first real activation headed up...
Steelers head to NFL combine for 1st league event under new coach Mike McCarthy
Mike McCarthy has said he is impressed with the composition of the Pittsburgh Steelers roster. Next week, for the first time as the team’s coach, McCarthy will get a first-hand look at players who could upgrade that roster. The annual NFL combine in Indianapolis gets underway Monday with prospect interviews...
NFL Draft analyst: Trading picks might be right move for Steelers
As the owners of 12 draft picks, the Pittsburgh Steelers can add premium players to the roster, but those newcomers might not all arrive in this April’s draft. General manager Omar Khan could trade some picks, possibly to add a veteran player or additional selections in a deep 2027 draft,...
Pitt Athletics to host block party complementing NFL Draft
The 2026 NFL Draft isn’t just for fans of the pro game anymore — Pitt Athletics has announced that a three-day block party will take place during the April festivities in Pittsburgh. “We’re excited to partner with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust to create a one-of-a-kind experience for our fans during...
Tim Benz: Having the draft in Pittsburgh won’t make the Steelers take a QB … but it might make it harder to pass upVideo
When it comes to the notion of the Steelers taking a quarterback in Round 1 of this year’s NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, TribLive’s Mark Madden had this to say during this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast. “Ain’t no pop like the quarterback pop,” Madden said. “Art (Rooney II) wants to get...
Steelers enter pivotal part of offseason as Pittsburgh prepares to host NFL Draft
The offseason began with a new head coach and a revamped staff of assistants in place for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The front office brain trust, however, remains in place with general manager Omar Khan and assistant Andy Weidl, which means don’t expect many changes in the way the organization conducts...
Pitt, Penn State players invited to 2026 NFL combine
Nine football players from Penn State and two from Pitt received invitations to participate in the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. They will be among 319 prospects in attendance Feb. 23-March 2 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, the NFL announced Wednesday. Players will perform medical exams, interviews and on-field drills...
With Super Bowl in the books, NFL teams can soon start work on roster construction
The arrival of the offseason doesn’t mean the NFL takes time off. A Super Bowl champion was crowned Sunday and the draft is still two months away, but the league’s calendar is far from empty. In the days ahead, teams have free agents to sign, potential draft picks to evaluate...
Where will the Steelers, others pick in the 1st round of the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh?
The Las Vegas Raiders are officially on the clock. On the day Klint Kubiak was introduced as the team’s head coach, the NFL announced its final draft order for the first round. Las Vegas has the No. 1 pick for 2026. Many of the draft positions previously were known, including...
Kamin Science Center hosts ‘immersive’ NFL Films documentary about Western Pa.’s rich football history
Western Pennsylvania’s storied football history is chronicled in a first-of-its-kind NFL Films documentary to be screened at Kamin Science Center for the next two months. “The Football Town” is a nearly 50-minute documentary narrated by Plum native Pat McAfee and featuring appearances by Pittsburgh Steelers legends Bill Cowher, Jerome Bettis,...
Work underway to make Pittsburgh’s Golden Triangle shine under lights of NFL draft
Downtown Pittsburgh is undergoing a facelift before the 2026 NFL Draft shines a massive spotlight on the city in April. Efforts include modernizing Market Square, opening pop-up retail options, filling empty storefronts with art installations and fixing cracked sidewalks, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership President Jeremy Waldrup said in a virtual quarterly...
Renderings show how NFL Draft will take over Downtown Pittsburgh and North Shore
The NFL, VisitPittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday offered the first glimpse of the official 2026 NFL Draft site renderings. The images offer a preview of how the city’s largest tourism event will unfold, revealing a two-site draft campus stretching across Pittsburgh’s North Shore and Downtown for the April...
Point Park University classes to go remote during NFL Draft in April
In anticipation of Pittsburgh hosting the 2026 NFL Draft, Point Park University has decided to move classes to a remote model from April 20 to 25. Some 500,000 to 700,000 people are expected to attend the football fan event, held April 23-25 around Acrisure Stadium and Point State Park. The...
Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership hopes to fill empty storefronts ahead of NFL Draft
As the NFL Draft is set to bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city, Downtown Pittsburgh’s Golden Triangle has nearly 50 empty storefronts. A local nonprofit is racing to fill dozens of those spaces before the April event. The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership is always working to fill vacant...
Why did a helicopter land in Point State Park?
A helicopter hovered above — and landed in — Point State Park Tuesday morning in Downtown Pittsburgh as part of Pennsylvania State Police preparations for the 2026 NFL Draft coming to the city this spring. The state police helicopter touched down just before 9 a.m. for about eight minutes, according...
Corey O’Connor sworn in as Pittsburgh’s 62nd mayorVideo
Corey O’Connor, the Squirrel Hill native, former Pittsburgh councilman and champion of paid sick leave and gun reform, on Monday became the city’s 62nd mayor, following in the footsteps of his father and vowing to foster growth and opportunity for his hometown. District Judge James J. Hanley administered the oath...
Point State Park upgrades finish early as Pittsburgh preps for 2026 NFL Draft
A $3.4 million upgrade to Downtown Pittsburgh’s Point State Park is done ahead of schedule, months in advance of the 2026 NFL Draft. The 36-acre park, which sits at the confluence of Pittsburgh’s three rivers, will be the site of some of the draft activities in April, as well as...
1
2
