Steelers fans welcome home Eli Heidenreich after draft selection

The Steel City gave a massive welcome to their hometown hero coming home, as Mt. Lebanon native Eli Heidenreich was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers as the 230th overall pick in the NFL Draft. It was emotional for the player, as well as the city. VIDEO ABOVE: Running back reflects on moment on NFL Draft stage”To play for your hometown, that’s just an amazing feeling. Everybody’s dream. And that was my dream and everybody’s dream as well,” Luther Dupree Jr. from Penn Hills said. Heidenreich was a standout at Mt. Lebanon High School, leading his team to a state championship in 2021. He then went on to play at Navy, where he became the all-time leader in receiving yards last fall. The NFL invited him to the draft green room for the last two days of the event. He said he was prepared to sign with another team as an undrafted free agent before receiving the surprising call from the Steelers. “I was thinking back to all the games that, you know, I’d been to growing up all throughout my life, being in Heinz Field and watching those games go down, and then I’m going to have the opportunity to go out and play for the black and gold. Just. It was a fantastic feeling. Nothing like I’ve ever felt before,” Heidenreich said. Heidenreich walked through a sea of Steelers fans at the stage, joining in their joy and the twirling of terrible towels. VIDEO: Steelers fans welcome home Eli Heidenreich after draft selectionMany fans said they were ecstatic to be a part of the pick and witness it. Heidenreich was the team’s only draft pick to walk the stage this year. “It’s just really cool to see this in our city. And a native gets picked for the city. So we’re really excited to see him play this season,” Brittni Dolnack from Irwin said. Even though not all fans loved every pick the Steelers made during the draft, they agreed that Heidenreich’s selection was a win. “Navy, you know, they always had those hard-nosed players that gave it their all. So I was excited. He was definitely a talented player. I thought he had a chance to go pro, but the fact that he’s with the Steelers, I’m excited for his future. And the Steelers got a winner,” Dupree said. “One-hundred percent happy with the man. Go USA. One-hundred percent happy with that guy. Might have been the last pick, but he’s going to take us to the top,” another fan said.Looking for more news in your area | Subscribe to the WTAE YouTube Channel

PITTSBURGH —

The Steel City gave a massive welcome to their hometown hero coming home, as Mt. Lebanon native Eli Heidenreich was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers as the 230th overall pick in the NFL Draft.

It was emotional for the player, as well as the city.

VIDEO ABOVE: Running back reflects on moment on NFL Draft stage

“To play for your hometown, that’s just an amazing feeling. Everybody’s dream. And that was my dream and everybody’s dream as well,” Luther Dupree Jr. from Penn Hills said.

Heidenreich was a standout at Mt. Lebanon High School, leading his team to a state championship in 2021. He then went on to play at Navy, where he became the all-time leader in receiving yards last fall.

The NFL invited him to the draft green room for the last two days of the event. He said he was prepared to sign with another team as an undrafted free agent before receiving the surprising call from the Steelers.

“I was thinking back to all the games that, you know, I’d been to growing up all throughout my life, being in Heinz Field and watching those games go down, and then I’m going to have the opportunity to go out and play for the black and gold. Just. It was a fantastic feeling. Nothing like I’ve ever felt before,” Heidenreich said.

Heidenreich walked through a sea of Steelers fans at the stage, joining in their joy and the twirling of terrible towels.

VIDEO: Steelers fans welcome home Eli Heidenreich after draft selection

Many fans said they were ecstatic to be a part of the pick and witness it. Heidenreich was the team’s only draft pick to walk the stage this year.

“It’s just really cool to see this in our city. And a native gets picked for the city. So we’re really excited to see him play this season,” Brittni Dolnack from Irwin said.

Even though not all fans loved every pick the Steelers made during the draft, they agreed that Heidenreich’s selection was a win.

“Navy, you know, they always had those hard-nosed players that gave it their all. So I was excited. He was definitely a talented player. I thought he had a chance to go pro, but the fact that he’s with the Steelers, I’m excited for his future. And the Steelers got a winner,” Dupree said.

“One-hundred percent happy with the man. Go USA. One-hundred percent happy with that guy. Might have been the last pick, but he’s going to take us to the top,” another fan said.

Looking for more news in your area | Subscribe to the WTAE YouTube Channel