Fullback Riley Nowakowski could find key role in Mike McCarthy’s ‘2-back offense’ with Steelers
Mike McCarthy designed quarterback-friendly passing attacks in both Green Bay and Dallas, but he always found room in his offense for a lowly fullback. The Pittsburgh Steelers had none on the roster until they used a Day 3 draft pick on Indiana’s Riley Nowakowski, a multi-positional player who could expand...
NFL Draft road closures to continue into first full week of May
More NFL Draft-related road closures will continue through midweek as crews dismantle event infrastructure across Pittsburgh’s North Shore. On Friday, Visit Pittsburgh, the city’s tourism agency, announced six North Shore roads will remain closed from Saturday through Wednesday. Pittsburgh set an all-time NFL Draft attendance record last week, drawing 805,000...
Beyond the Bylines: Steelers’ offensive tackle decisions, Penguins’ goalie plans, Pirates’ defense, 1980s board games
This week’s “Beyond the Bylines” covers lots of ground. Joe Starkey and I start off with the news about Broderick Jones failing to receive a fifth-year option from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Then we navigate the Steelers’ constant tinkering with the offensive tackle position, Mike McCarthy’s continued praise for Will Howard...
U mad, bro?: Penguins’ playoff loss to Flyers, Steelers’ draft choices have fans on tilt
Losing to the Philadelphia Flyers always makes Pittsburgh fans mad. Losing in the playoffs makes Pittsburgh fans irate. Losing in the playoffs to the Flyers makes all of Pittsburgh enraged. That’s what happened Wednesday night, and it doesn’t appear that we are handling it well. At least everyone in the...
YouTube prankster facing charges after sneaking onto NFL Draft stage in Pittsburgh
A YouTube personality with a prank channel is facing charges after using fake credentials to get onstage during the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh last week. Fred Beyer, 24, of Venice, Fla., was cited for criminal trespass on Monday. In Beyer’s video, seen below, he documents being turned away from one...
Pittsburgh likely spent more than it will receive for 2026 NFL DraftVideo
The 2026 NFL Draft drew about 805,000 people in Pittsburgh last week, according to the NFL — but that’s likely not the most staggering number linked to the three-day event. City officials are still calculating how much the city spent to play host to the league’s largest off-season event, but...
NFL Draft food recovery effort exceeds 30,000 pounds
More than 30,000 pounds of NFL Draft leftovers have been rescued by nonprofit 412 Food Rescue, which scoops up fresh surplus food and redirects it to people who need it most. Josh Weiland, 412 Food Rescue’s vice president of operations, said even more food is expected to be recovered in...
First Call: Art Rooney II discusses Makai Lemon mishap; Penn State coach says offense ‘wasn’t built’ for Drew AllarVideo
Tuesday’s “First Call” looks at Art Rooney II’s comments about the Makai Lemon fumble on draft night. One of Penn State’s coaches is backing the draft choice of Drew Allar by the Pittsburgh Steelers. A receiving target of Aaron Rodgers is heading to Dallas. A Duquesne men’s basketball player is...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ draft approach doesn’t mesh with attempts to retain Aaron Rodgers
If the Steelers truly want Aaron Rodgers to return as their quarterback in 2026, their approach to the NFL Draft didn’t make much sense. They are — presumably — holding out hope that a 42-year-old quarterback comes back for one more run to get a 10-7 team to a slightly...
NFL Draft furniture to be sold at Pittsburgh’s Habitat for Humanity ReStoreVideo
Western Pennsylvanians will soon get a chance to take home a piece of the NFL Draft. Habitat for Humanity of Greater Pittsburgh’s Pittsburgh ReStore will sell a collection of authentic NFL Draft furniture from the event’s green room. The furniture collection, donated by the NFL and Lowe’s, includes couches, love...
Some Pittsburgh road closures persist after NFL Draft
The 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh is over, but some roads remain closed as crews tear down the infrastructure set up during the three-day event. By May 11, things should be back to normal. There are three phases of road closures left in the initial six-phase plan that was announced...
First Call: Mike Tomlin’s prediction on Aaron Rodgers; Cowboys address trading Makai Lemon pick to EaglesVideo
Mike Tomlin forecasts Aaron Rodgers’ future on NBC. The Cowboys address trading away their pick in front of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first round of the NFL Draft. The Steelers are bringing back a familiar face. The Penguins look to stay alive against Philadelphia. And the Pirates need to...
Madden Monday: Steelers’ draft was ‘a 2-part screw up’
As days have passed since the Pittsburgh Steelers’ failed attempt to land USC wide receiver Makai Lemon in the first round of the NFL Draft, I’ve narrowed my focus on what truly bothered me from that night. I’m not upset that the Steelers ended up with Max Iheanachor as the...
Mt. Pleasant grad Jonas King receives invite to Chiefs rookie camp
Jonas King keeps climbing. He flew under the college football recruiting radar slightly coming out of Mt. Pleasant but found his way onto the field at the NCAA Division II level. While he was at Mercyhurst, the school made the jump from NCAA Division II to Division I. The 6-foot-5,...
The party’s over: NFL Draft cleanup underway
NFL Draft cleanup efforts are underway after three full days of action in Pittsburgh’s North Shore and Downtown. The NFL said this year’s draft set a total attendance record of 805,000, a figure that combines visitors each day between Thursday and Saturday. City officials took to Facebook to announce public...
A ‘hot pick’ at No. 257: How the Broncos made Red Murdock this year’s Mr. Irrelevant
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — University at Buffalo linebacker Red Murdock was starting to wonder if he’d get drafted at all when the Denver Broncos made him “Mr. Irrelevant” as the 257th and final pick of the NFL draft on Saturday. “The thoughts crept in, but I was trying to keep my...
Giants and Jets each got A-pluses in the AP’s NFL draft early grades
From Fernando Mendoza to Red Murdock, 257 players were selected in the 2026 NFL draft. Some will have instant success. Others will need more time to develop. Not all of them will make the roster. Teams spent several months scouting, interviewing, dissecting each player’s physical skills and character before the...
Review: Kane Brown turns the closing of the NFL Draft into a triumphant party
At just after 7 p.m. Saturday, the event that Pittsburgh spent years anticipating came to an end when the final pick of the 2026 NFL Draft was announced. Three days of excitement, fun and Pittsburgh pride were in the books as the torch — or, rather, football — was passed...
Hempfield alum Brose, lineman from Delaware, gets rookie camp invite
Hempfield alum Fintan Brose did not hear his name called on the big stage at the NFL Draft, but he still could carve a path to the pros. Brose, a Delaware graduate, received news late Saturday that he has been invited to rookie camp with the Las Vegas Raiders. Brose...
Steelers stick to their draft board – and it led them to an offense-heavy haul this year
One by one, over a span of about 46 hours, the Pittsburgh Steelers put together what has the appearance of their own little starting lineup on offense. First came the tackle Thursday. Then the wide receiver, with a quarterback soon to follow. That evening ended with an interior offensive lineman,...
Reports: Pitt tailback Desmond Reid joins Bills as UDFA
Desmond Reid did not ride a wave of momentum into the NFL Draft. Injured for much of 2025 following an All-American campaign at Pitt in 2024, Reid remained limited at the NFL Combine as well as Pitt’s Pro Day. However, Reid still realized his dream of making it to the...
Tim Benz: What the Steelers didn’t get in the 2026 NFL Draft
The 2026 Pittsburgh Steelers draft won’t be remembered for who the franchise picked or who they left on the board. It’ll be remembered for who they missed. Here is the moment Makai Lemon thought he was getting drafted by #Steelers and realizing in real time that the #Eagles traded up,...
Robert Spears-Jennings bio: Steelers 7th-round pick (No. 244 overall) in 2026 NFL Draft
Robert Spears-Jennings Seventh-round pick, No. 224 overall Safety, Oklahoma 6-foot-1, 205 pounds Stats: In 2025, had 59 tackles, one interception, two pass breakups and one forced fumble in 13 games (12 starts). Hometown: Broken Arrow, Okla. Tidbits: Spears-Jennings ran the second-fastest 40-yard dash time among safeties at the 2026 NFL...
Report: Penn State tight end, North Allegheny grad Khalil Dinkins signs with 49ers as UDFA
Khalil Dinkins still faces an uphill battle in reaching the NFL. The North Allegheny graduate played five years at tight end for Penn State from 2021-25, but the lion’s share of receptions, yards and scores went to former teammates Tyler Warren, Theo Johnson and Brenton Strange, all of whom became...
‘A fantastic partner’: NFL officials thrilled with Pittsburgh’s record-setting role in 2026 Draft
When a ceremonial football was handed off Saturday, not long after the 257th pick was announced, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ duties as NFL Draft host officially ended. Steelers executive Dan Rooney stuffed a football into the arms of former Washington quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Mark Rypien, signifying that Pittsburgh and...
