Steelers Submit Bid to Host 2026 or 2027 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Steelers announced Friday that they have submitted a bid to host the NFL draft in either 2026 or 2027.

Since the draft is already set to take place in Detroit in 2024 and Green Bay in 2025, the 2026 NFL draft is the earliest Pittsburgh would be able to serve as host.

From 1965 through 2014, the draft was held in New York City every year, but the NFL has gone the way of the NHL in recent years in terms of allowing NFL cities to bid for the opportunity to put on the event.

Since then, the draft has taken place in Chicago twice, as well as in Philadelphia, Nashville, Cleveland, Las Vegas, Kansas City and Arlington, Texas.

Pittsburgh hosted the NFL draft once previously, doing so back in December 1947 when it held the 1948 NFL draft.

That draft was famous for producing two Hall of Fame quarterbacks in Bobby Layne and Y.A. Tittle. The Steelers selected Layne third overall, but he had his greatest success as a member of the Detroit Lions.

The Steelers will undoubtedly hope to have their quarterback situation sorted out by the 2026 or 2027 draft, but their future at the position is currently unclear after the struggles of 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett in his first two NFL seasons.

The next edition of the NFL's spring spectacular will be held at Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza in downtown Detroit from April 25 through April 27.