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Behind the Steel Curtain

A level-headed news-discussion site with a sense of history and community

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Steelers’ Drew Allar connection dates back to his high school days

The Pittsburgh Steelers were expected to select a quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft, and they got their guy in the third round. The Steelers selected Drew Allar out of Penn State with the 76th overall pick, setting up a battle between he and Will Howard to be the potential future starting quarterback. And while […]

Gennings Dunker already prepared for position change with Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers took one of the most colorful cult favorite prospects in this year’s draft when they selected Iowa offensive tackle Gennings Dunker in the third round. Dunker’s long red mullet and matching mustache made him an aesthetic favorite to many during Senior Bowl week, and he lands in Pittsburgh like fellow Hawkeyes Logan […]

Get to know the Steelers’ Day 3 picks

It’s a tale as old as time. You read about the NFL Draft for months, do some mock drafts, and maybe even watch some YouTube cutups of guys you want to learn more about. You feel prepared, and then inevitably, your team picks a player on Day 3 you didn’t even know existed. The Pittsburgh […]

Steelers draft grades Reacts survey: Grading the full 2026 class

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Steelers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys. Check out FanDuel, the official sportsbook partner of SB Nation.

Pittsburgh Steelers final 2026 NFL Draft grades

The Pittsburgh Steelers wrapped up the 2026 NFL Draft having added 10 rookies to their roster. With the draft now wrapped up, our staff gives their final overall grades on the Steelers’ 2026 draft class. Ryland Bickley: While I didn’t hate any of the Steelers’ picks, my overall takeaways from this class are that it’s […]

Here’s the Steelers’ full 2026 NFL Draft class

The Steelers made a whopping 10 picks across three days as the city of Pittsburgh hosted the 2026 NFL Draft. You can view every new Steeler below, and make sure to follow along with our undrafted free agent tracker HERE as well. If you click on the players’ names below, the link will take you […]

Saturday Night Open Thread: When your draft is empty

Live from Delaware, it’s Saturday Night! I, NAS204PSU, am here to bring you this Saturday Night Open Thread (aka SNOT). It’s over, but after so many rounds of drafts my head is spinning. Now it’s the mad dash to court the best of the rest and sign some UDFA. This 6 pack of questions is […]

NFL

Pittsburgh Steelers 2026 NFL Draft grades: RB Eli Heidenreich

Mike Nicastro: This pick is much more than just a feel good story. It’s not a hand out. Heidenreich is a better prospect than the Steelers fourth round pick, Wetjen, and I candidly thought he’d been long gone by now.  He holds the most receiving yards and receiving TDS in Navy history – and can […]

Steelers 2026 undrafted free agent (UDFA) tracker

The 2026 NFL Draft is in the books, but the league isn’t done adding players ahead of the season. Now, the hundreds of players who didn’t hear their names called over the weekend will have a chance to make NFL rosters as undrafted free agents, with those signings beginning directly after the draft. Follow along […]

Pittsburgh Steelers 2026 NFL Draft grades: S Robert Spears-Jennings

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Oklahoma safety Robert Spears-Jennings in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Our staff weighs in with our grades. Mike Nicastro: Spears-Jennings is a productive two-year starter with good speed and instincts. The value here seems reasonable when considering his special teams pedigree. The seventh round is where teams generally […]

Steelers select Navy RB Eli Heidenreich in 2026 NFL Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers have added one of the cult favorites of the 2026 NFL Draft, selecting Navy running back/tight end/fullback Eli Heidenreich in the seventh round of the NFL Draft. He finished with 1,994 receiving yards at Navy, which is a school record. Overall, he totaled 23 touchdowns and over 3,100 yards from scrimmage. Where […]

Steelers select Oklahoma safety Robert Spears-Jennings in 2026 NFL Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers go with back-to-back defenders in the sixth and seventh rounds, respectively. After selecting Notre Dame defensive lineman Gabriel Rubio in the sixth round, the Steelers selected Oklahoma safety Robert Spears-Jennings in the seventh round with the 224th overall pick. Spears-Jennings specializes as a box safety, as he was tremendous against the run, […]

Russell Wilson compensatory pick: What did Steelers do with the draft choice?

The 2026 NFL Draft is here, where all the picks that have been traded and earned throughout the year become actual players. That includes compensatory picks, where the league awards teams that lose pricey free agents an extra draft selection in return.  One of those picks was awarded to the Steelers in this year’s draft […]

Pittsburgh Steelers 2026 NFL Draft grades: DT Gabriel Rubio

The Pittsburgh Steelers added Notre Dame defensive tackle Gabriel Rubio in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Here are our staff grades on the selection. Ryan Parish: Going to be honest, I don’t have a lot on Rubio. His year was done after Week 7 when he was shut down with a left […]

NFL

Pittsburgh Steelers 2026 NFL Draft grades: TE Riley Nowakowski

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Indiana tight end Riley Nowakowski in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Our staff weighs in with their thoughts on the pick. Ryland Bickley: Here’s your TE3/FB for Mike McCarthy. Nowakowski probably would’ve been a “my guy” in this draft class if I had been able to watch him […]

Steelers make draft day trade with Chiefs

The Pittsburgh Steelers have traded out of the No. 161 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, sending the pick to the Kansas City Chiefs. Per Alan Saunders, Pittsburgh sends pick 161 and pick 249 to the Chiefs in exchange for pick 169 and pick 210. The Steelers have had a busy three days, selecting six […]

Pittsburgh Steelers 2026 NFL Draft grades: WR/KR Kaden Wetjen

The Pittsburgh Steelers have added the nation’s top return specialist to their draft class, selecting Iowa’s Kaden Wetjen in the fourth round with the 121st overall pick. Here is what our staff had to say about the pick. Mike Nicastro: With a renewed emphasis on kick returns, Wetjen is expected to be the primary man […]

NFL

2026 NFL Draft Day 3 open thread

The final day of the draft is already upon us, with Rounds 4-7 kicking off at noon EST. The Steelers have been busy on the first two days of the draft, making five selections in the top 100 picks and even trading up to get two players. That’s left Pittsburgh with offensive tackle Max Iheanachor, […]

New Steelers QB Drew Allar embracing competition with Will Howard

There’s a new quarterback in town for the Pittsburgh Steelers. After the Arizona Cardinals kicked off the third round by selecting Carson Beck out of Miami, the Steelers selected Penn State’s Drew Allar 11 picks later. This sets up a quarterback competition of former Big Ten adversaries, as Allar and Will Howard will compete to […]

Steelers Day Three Mock Draft: Pittsburgh adds another WR

The Pittsburgh Steelers were aggressive on Day Two of the 2026 NFL Draft, moving up the board for Alabama wide receiver Germie Bernard and also taking quarterback Drew Allar out of Penn State. They also added to their defensive backfield by taking Georgia cornerback Daylen Everette and took Iowa offensive lineman Gennings Dunker. With five […]