The Pittsburgh Steelers turned their first-round moment into a full-scale production during the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday night, leveraging tradition, star power, and sound to energize a record-setting home crowd. With 320,000 fans gathered outside Acrisure Stadium, the franchise leaned into its long-standing connection with Renegade by Styx, blasting the track just before announcing the No. 21 overall selection.
The song choice was rooted in history. The tradition dates back to a January 2002 playoff game, when “Renegade” helped inspire a comeback and has since been played in the fourth quarter of every Pittsburgh home game. That same energy was replicated on draft night as Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis stepped to the podium to announce the pick.
Thunderstruck and Renegade play and the Terrible Towels are out in Acrisure Stadium as the Steelers get set to announce their first round pick. pic.twitter.com/1JBQ8jGv66
— Joe Smith (@joesmithwrites) April 24, 2026
The Steelers selected Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor at No. 21 overall, the third time in four years the franchise has used a first-round pick on an offensive tackle. The decision comes amid clear roster needs. Veteran guard Isaac Seumalo departed in free agency, while 2023 first-round left tackle Broderick Jones missed the final seven games of the 2025 season with a neck injury and has no defined return timeline.
Iheanachor, listed at 6-foot-5 and 321 pounds, played 32 games with the Sun Devils, starting 31, and earned second-team All-Big 12 honors at right tackle. Born in Nigeria, he moved to the United States at 13 and only began playing football in junior college. Interestingly, he did not take a pre-draft visit to Pittsburgh but emerged as a target after the Senior Bowl.
The selection followed a missed opportunity. The Steelers were actively pursuing USC wide receiver Makai Lemon, who recorded 1,156 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in 2025, before the Philadelphia Eagles traded up to No. 20 and selected him. Nonetheless, general manager Omar Khan expressed confidence in adding Iheanachor, a player endorsed as a “true Steeler” by former Pittsburgh star Hines Ward.
The pick also was the first for new head coach Mike McCarthy, hired in January following Mike Tomlin’s departure after 19 seasons.
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