Steelers Submit Bid to Host NFL Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers have officially submitted their bid to host the 2026 or 2027 NFL Draft, which they posted on social media on Friday. In the last few months, it has become increasingly clear that the city of Pittsburgh was gearing up to make a bid, and now they have officially done just that.

The plans for where the draft will be held if Pittsburgh gets the bid have not been finalized, but a source told Steelers Now that Point State Park is being considered. Additional scouting will take place throughout the coming months to determine other potential locations. The NFL has constructed a temporary venue for hosting the draft in other cities, such as Chicago and Cleveland, where it was held along the lakefront in a similar property.

Steelers president Art Rooney II said two weeks ago that he is hopeful about Pittsburgh’s chances of being able to host the event.

“We’re deep in the process of trying to get the NFL Draft to Pittsburgh,” Rooney said. “I think we are optimistic we will bring it here in the not so distant future.”

This year’s draft will be held in Detroit, and Green Bay, Wisconsin, will host the event in 2025.  New York City hosted every NFL Draft from 1965 to 2014 before the NFL shifted gears and made the festivities an event that fans of all 32 teams could come and enjoy themselves. 

Since 1936, 12 different cities have hosted the NFL Draft, including Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Milwaukee,  Nashville, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Washington, D.C. Pittsburgh could be in line to have the longest drought between draft hosting duties. The Steel City last held the league’s annual selection meeting in 1948.

The Stadium Authority and The Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County have already approved the bid, which is why it was able to go through following the clearance of all administrative hurdles. It is not known which year Pittsburgh will get, but they will likely host it in one of those years.