Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II didn't hold back when describing the team's seventh-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, calling it "probably the greatest seventh-round pick we've ever made."

The moment came during Day 3 of the draft, held in Pittsburgh last weekend, when the Steelers selected hometown hero Eli Heidenreich with the 230th overall pick. The running back grew up in the Steel City before attending the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, making his selection a full-circle story that had the home crowd buzzing.

Heidenreich was the only Day 3 draftee to walk the stage, and he made the most of it. Dressed in his Naval Academy dress blues, the teary-eyed serviceman embraced commissioner Roger Goodell at center stage before turning to pump up the Pittsburgh faithful. The nearly three-minute celebration was one of the most memorable moments of the entire draft weekend.

"Omar (Khan) and I did talk about it a couple days before (the draft)," Rooney told NFL Network's "The Insiders." "We just said, 'Look, if the opportunity is there in the seventh round, and Eli hasn't been picked yet, we're gonna take a hard look at taking him.' So, glad it worked out the way it did, and we're excited to have him."

On the field, Heidenreich brings impressive credentials. In three seasons at Navy, he holds career records for both receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. He tallied more than 3,000 total yards and 23 touchdowns, averaging over 11 yards per touch—versatility that should translate well to the NFL game.

For Steelers fans, this selection represents more than just a late-round flier. It's a story of hometown loyalty, military service, and the kind of feel-good moment that makes the draft special. And if Heidenreich's production matches his passion, Pittsburgh may have found a diamond in the seventh-round rough.