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Rooney Passes Draft Torch to Rypien as Steelers Pick Three

4/26/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Dan Rooney handed a football to former Commanders quarterback Mark Rypien, ending Pittsburgh’s 2026 NFL draft host duties and passing them to Washington, D.C.
The draft drew a record 805,000 fans in three days, with over 320,000 Thursday and 275,000 Friday despite rain.
The Steelers selected Max Iheanachor at No. 21, Germie Bernard at No. 47, and three third-round picks—Allar, Everette and Dunker.

History

Historical Context

The NFL moved its annual draft from New York to Chicago in 2015, announcing the Auditorium Theatre as the venue on October 2, 2014. Held April 30–May 2, the event featured the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selecting quarterback Jameis Winston with the first overall pick, marking the draft’s first outdoor fan-town component. The success encouraged the league to prioritize larger venues and multi-city fan festivals in later drafts.

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Story summary

Dan Rooney handed a football to former Commanders quarterback Mark Rypien, ending Pittsburgh’s 2026 NFL draft host duties and passing them to Washington, D.C.
The draft drew a record 805,000 fans in three days, with over 320,000 Thursday and 275,000 Friday despite rain.
The Steelers selected Max Iheanachor at No. 21, Germie Bernard at No. 47, and three third-round picks—Allar, Everette and Dunker.

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