PITTSBURGH \u2014 Emotions ran high on Saturday when Pittsburgh native Eli Heidenreich heard his name called in the NFL Draft.<\/p>\n
The former Navy running back was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers<\/a>, the same team he grew up watching as a kid.<\/p>\n PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Steelers select hometown athlete with their final pick of the 2026 NFL Draft<\/a><\/p>\n Video from backstage shows Heidenreich in the green room, immediately fighting back tears after the announcement.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was heartwarming. You know, you can\u2019t make this stuff up,\u201d Bob Palko said.<\/p>\n His former coach said the moment was years in the making, pointing to Heidenreich\u2019s discipline and character.<\/p>\n \u201cUnbelievable student, but more importantly, an unbelievable person. Just the way he attacked his day,\u201d Palko said. \u201cYou know, when it was time for school, it was school. When it was time for sports, it was time for sports.\u201d <\/p>\n Heidenreich said he had a feeling the Steelers were interested heading into the draft.<\/p>\n \u201cI definitely had some sort of inkling coming into the draft that the Steelers were interested and I\u2019d potentially be drafted by them,\u201d Heidenreich said during his first press conference. <\/p>\n At a bar in Mt. Lebanon, community members watched the moment unfold live, many celebrating the hometown connection.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just crazy, I could cry. I was crying, we\u2019ve known Eli since he was in first grade,\u201d one woman said. \u201cJust to have someone who knows the football environment of Pittsburgh to be on there is just so exciting to us.\u201d<\/p>\n Heidenreich\u2019s journey took him from wide receiver in high school to running back at Navy and now to the NFL.<\/p>\n \u201cI knew all along a few of those kids that could play,\u201d Palko said. \u201cThe kid has earned everything he\u2019s gotten.\u201d<\/p>\n Heidenreich was able to pursue a professional career under a policy that allows service academy athletes to delay active duty. <\/p>\n Download the FREE WPXI News app<\/a> for breaking news alerts.<\/p>\n Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook<\/a> and Twitter<\/a>. | Watch WPXI NOW<\/a><\/p>\n TOP STORIES FROM CHANNEL 11 NEWS <\/p>\n \u00a92026 Cox Media Group<\/p>\n