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Steelers Draft Navy RB/WR Eli Heidenreich, 7th Round

4/28/2026

36 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Heidenreich Drafted

Steelers drafted Navy RB/WR Eli Heidenreich with the seventh-round No. 230 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
He recorded 1,994 receiving yards, 19 TD catches, 1,157 rushing yards and a 4.44-second 40-yard dash, prompting coach Mike McCarthy to call him a Randall Cobb-type RB/WR.
He will vie for a special-teams roster spot against Kaleb Johnson and Travis Homer, after being introduced in Navy dress blues to a cheering hometown crowd.

Summary

Heidenreich Joins Reserves

Heidenreich will join the Marine Corps reserves while trying to make the Pittsburgh Steelers roster.
His family includes a grandfather who was a naval aviator and an uncle serving in the Navy.
He returned to the Naval Academy by noon Sunday and attended class Monday.
Athletic director John Grogan called the school’s “black and gold day” a community fire-up, praising Heidenreich’s selflessness noted by coach Bruce Fronk.

Summary

Tecza Invited

Alex Tecza, a Navy fullback, received an invitation to the Steelers’ rookie minicamp set for May 8-10 2026 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
In 2025 he logged 158 carries for 907 yards and 10 touchdowns, plus 13 receptions for 125 yards and one score.
Coach Mike McCarthy likened Tecza’s style to C.J. Ham despite his 5 ft 10 in, 199-lb frame and a 4.58-second 40-yard dash.

History

Historical Context

Roger Staubach was a 10th-round, 1964 NFL future pick by the Dallas Cowboys, won the 1963 Heisman Trophy, then fulfilled a four-year Navy commitment before debuting in 1969. In 2026, the Steelers drafted Eli Heidenreich, who now balances a rookie contract with Marine Corps Reserve service, reviving the longstanding military-athlete pipeline and prompting NFL policy reviews.

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Heidenreich Drafted

Steelers drafted Navy RB/WR Eli Heidenreich with the seventh-round No. 230 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
He recorded 1,994 receiving yards, 19 TD catches, 1,157 rushing yards and a 4.44-second 40-yard dash, prompting coach Mike McCarthy to call him a Randall Cobb-type RB/WR.
He will vie for a special-teams roster spot against Kaleb Johnson and Travis Homer, after being introduced in Navy dress blues to a cheering hometown crowd.

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