The Cowboys-Steelers rivalry runs deep. And although the two storied franchises haven't squared off in a Super Bowl in over 30 years, a new chapter of the decades-long grudge match may have been written during the opening round of the 2026 NFL draft.
"Pittsburgh is pissed about this," said the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Nick Harris on the "House of Haymaker" show Friday. "They feel like Dallas duped them. Especially with the draft being in Pittsburgh, they felt embarrassed on a national stage."
It all centers on the trade Dallas made to fall back three spots from No. 20 to No. 23. The Cowboys ended up with UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence and gave their previous slot to the division-rival Eagles, who selected USC wide receiver Makai Lemon.
But that's not how it looked like it was going to go down in the moment.
The Steelers, sitting at No. 21, apparently made an early phone call to Lemon to tell him they were about to draft him, just as soon as Dallas made their seemingly inevitable pick of a defensive player.
TV cameras even captured Lemon on the phone in the green room with Steelers GM Omar Khan, but then Lemon asks out loud, "Hey, why is Philly calling me?"
Here’s USC WR Makai Lemon on the phone with the #Steelers and everyone going crazy….And then he asks: “Why is Philly calling me?”Unreal. pic.twitter.com/nosU8Jhg9m
Unbeknownst to anyone in the Steelers organization, the Cowboys and Eagles had worked out a deal. Philly jumped up and claimed Lemon at No. 20, and Pittsburgh was left empty-handed, even as they were still on the phone with the prospect they had just lost.
According to Harris, the Cowboys had been fully prepared to stay put at No. 20 and select Lawrence, even though they wanted to trade back. And it may have been a casual check-in between old co-workers that tipped the Cowboys off to a possible way to do it.
"There's a lot of [Cowboys] connections with that new Pittsburgh staff," Harris explained. "Remember, Mike McCarthy is the new head coach there. He hired a lot of assistant coaches and executives and scouts and people behind the scenes that were in Dallas just a couple years ago. So it could have been as simple as someone in the Dallas war room just shooting a text to somebody in the Pittsburgh war room, just like, 'Hey, who are y'all taking here?' And them thinking, 'Oh, the Cowboys are taking defense. ... We're taking Makai Lemon.' And the Cowboys call Philadelphia and are like, 'Hey, the Steelers are going to take Makai Lemon. We know you want a receiver. Come up here, do this deal with us, and give us two fourth-round picks.' And they did the deal."
The Steelers are not so pleased with the Cowboys for trading backCheck out @NickHarrisFWST with story on House of Haymaker pic.twitter.com/GBnH6nFbur
Other reports suggest it was Philadelphia who called Dallas to initiate the trade, as Lemon was the last of their top players available.
But Harris is reporting that the Steelers are blaming the Cowboys.
"Pittsburgh is pissed," Harris said. "Multiple sources have told me this morning."
What's that saying about the enemy of my enemy is my friend?
Maybe whoever called who isn't important. (Except for the Steelers calling Lemon before they were actually on the clock; that's just a dumb move.) What's remarkable is that for a brief moment, the Cowboys teamed up with the hated Eagles to stick it to the Steelers... and their own former head coach... while making his first draft pick... with his hometown club... in front of a record-sized crowd.
And they got the guy they wanted plus extra draft picks in the end.
WACO, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 01: Defensive end Malachi Lawrence #51 of the UCF Knights tries to defend against a pass by quarterback Sawyer Robertson #13 of the Baylor Bears in the fourth quarter at McLane Stadium on November 01, 2025 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)Sep 30, 2023; Orlando, Florida, USA; Baylor Bears quarterback Blake Shapen (12) is sacked by UCF Knights defensive end Malachi Lawrence (51) during the first quarter at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY SportsFeb 26, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; UCF defensive lineman Malachi Lawrence (DL48) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesUCF defensive end Malachi Lawrence (51) tackles ASU quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) as he scrambles during a game at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Nov. 9, 2024.Sep 6, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; North Carolina A&T Aggies quarterback Braxton Thomas (17) is tackled by UCF Knights edge Malachi Lawrence (51) during the first quarter at Acrisure Bounce House. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn ImagesFeb 26, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; UCF defensive lineman Malachi Lawrence (DL48) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesOct 7, 2023; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; UCF Knights defensive end Malachi Lawrence (51) tackles Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Jason Bean (9) during the second half at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Aiken-USA TODAY SportsApr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; UCF Knights defensive lineman Malachi Lawrence is selected by the Dallas Cowboys as the number 23 pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesNov 29, 2025; Provo, Utah, USA; BYU Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) throws over the reach of UCF Knights defensive end Malachi Lawrence (51) during the second half at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn ImagesOct 28, 2023; Orlando, Florida, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers running back Jahiem White (22) is tackled by UCF Knights defensive end Malachi Lawrence (51) during the second half at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports1 / 10DeMarcus Ware comparisons? Cowboys' 1st-round pick 'Has some of those traits'WACO, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 01: Defensive end Malachi Lawrence #51 of the UCF Knights tries to defend against a pass by quarterback Sawyer Robertson #13 of the Baylor Bears in the fourth quarter at McLane Stadium on November 01, 2025 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)1 / 10DeMarcus Ware comparisons? Cowboys' 1st-round pick 'Has some of those traits'WACO, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 01: Defensive end Malachi Lawrence #51 of the UCF Knights tries to defend against a pass by quarterback Sawyer Robertson #13 of the Baylor Bears in the fourth quarter at McLane Stadium on November 01, 2025 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)2 / 10Malachi Lawrence pic gallerySep 30, 2023; Orlando, Florida, USA; Baylor Bears quarterback Blake Shapen (12) is sacked by UCF Knights defensive end Malachi Lawrence (51) during the first quarter at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports3 / 10Malachi Lawrence pic galleryFeb 26, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; UCF defensive lineman Malachi Lawrence (DL48) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images4 / 10Malachi Lawrence pic galleryUCF defensive end Malachi Lawrence (51) tackles ASU quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) as he scrambles during a game at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Nov. 9, 2024.5 / 10Malachi Lawrence pic gallerySep 6, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; North Carolina A&T Aggies quarterback Braxton Thomas (17) is tackled by UCF Knights edge Malachi Lawrence (51) during the first quarter at Acrisure Bounce House. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images6 / 10Malachi Lawrence pic galleryFeb 26, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; UCF defensive lineman Malachi Lawrence (DL48) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images7 / 10Malachi Lawrence pic galleryOct 7, 2023; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; UCF Knights defensive end Malachi Lawrence (51) tackles Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Jason Bean (9) during the second half at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Aiken-USA TODAY Sports8 / 10Malachi Lawrence pic galleryApr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; UCF Knights defensive lineman Malachi Lawrence is selected by the Dallas Cowboys as the number 23 pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images9 / 10Malachi Lawrence pic galleryNov 29, 2025; Provo, Utah, USA; BYU Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) throws over the reach of UCF Knights defensive end Malachi Lawrence (51) during the second half at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images10 / 10Malachi Lawrence pic galleryOct 28, 2023; Orlando, Florida, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers running back Jahiem White (22) is tackled by UCF Knights defensive end Malachi Lawrence (51) during the second half at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY SportsTodd is on X at @ToddBrock24f7. Also, follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Steelers reportedly furious with Cowboys over draft trade with Eagles