One thing that the Pittsburgh Steelers are known for other than their Super Bowl victories, is how well they are able to draft players. From their 2023 draft class of multiple emerging stars, all the way back to their 1974 draft class which gave way to four Pro Football Hall of Famers and is considered the greatest draft in league history, the Steelers usually find themselves very successful on draft night. With the franchise being so successful at drafting, they decided to put their bid in to potentially host the event in the near future.
Craig Ruttle / ap
Ryan Shazier poses with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers as the 15th pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
The Steelers Want To Host The NFL Draft
There had been rumors that the Steelers wanted to host the NFL Draft in the future starting in the middle of November. Then at the end of the month, they announced their official interest in hosting the event and started to get the ball rolling. With the deep roots that not only the team has with football itself, but with all of Western Pennsylvania creating some of the league's biggest names (with guys like Dan Marino, Joe Montana, Jim Kelly, Aaron Donald, Mike Ditka, Jack Ham, and plenty of others), Pittsburgh's history of the sport would make it a great place to host the draft.
On Tuesday, it was announced that the Steelers seem to be one step closer to being able to host the event. The city of Pittsburgh went and approved the organization to host the next available NFL Draft. The city's Stadium Authority also voted unanimously to enter into agreements with the NFL, the Pittsburgh Steelers, marketing groups, and municipal agencies to potentially get Pittsburgh to host the event in 2026 or 2027. The Steelers would not be able to host this year's draft due to Detroit already hosting it and the following year being hosted in Green Bay.
Morgan Timms / Post-Gazette
The Pittsburgh Steelers' home grounds, formerly known as Heinz Field, changed to Acrisure Stadium in 2022, could potentially be the host to the NFL Draft in the near future.
Looking into last year's draft, Kansas City reported to have over 312,000 fans in attendance over the three days of the event. The economic impact of the event in 2023 was estimated to bring in $164 million for the city of Kansas City. Within the last 20 years, the city of Pittsburgh has been home to two massive athletic events, the first was the 2006 MLB All-Star game that was hosted by the Pittsburgh Pirates, and it brought in approximately $52 million, while bringing the baseball world to Pittsburgh. The other event was when the Pittsburgh Penguins hosted the Stanley Cup Finals in 2017, 2016, 2009, and 2008. As for the Steelers, they've never really been the home for anything huge for the NFL. The NFL Draft would bring a brand new experience to a city that has done so much for the league.
It is not just fans of football that want to bring the event to Pittsburgh, the entire city wants to see this happen as well. Pittsburgh's Mayor Ed Gainey has been showing his vocal support of the Steelers hosting the event and what it can do for the city. In one night, it will bring the eyes of over 10 million people focusing on Pittsburgh and the future of the NFL.
Jamie Sabau / Getty Images
Pittsburgh Penguins center and captain Sidney Crosby hoisting the Stanley Cup after defeating the Detroit Red Wings in the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals.
The NFL Draft is the second biggest event in the NFL and with the Steelers playing such a crucial part in the league's history, it needs to come back to Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh last hosted the draft on December 19, 1947, for the 1948 NFL Draft at the Fort Pitt Hotel that no longer exists. Names like Steelers legend Bobby Layne and NFL great Y.A. Tittle were drafted in the first round of that draft. For how long it has been since the city has hosted the draft, Pittsburgh would be the perfect place for the next available one.
George Gelatly / Getty Images
Detroit Lions quarterback Bobby Layne looks to pass in a 17-16 win over the Cleveland Browns in a League Championship game on December 27, 1953, at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan.
From an economic standpoint, to the history of the city, Pittsburgh would be the perfect host of a future NFL Draft. What do you think, Steeler Nation? If Pittsburgh were to host the draft, would you attend the event? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
#SteelerNation
