Are you ready for some football?
Welcome to the 2026 NFL Draft, the long-heralded, three-day super spectacle which — finally! — kicks off Thursday in Downtown and the North Shore.
Over the next few days as the NFL’s 32 teams select young talent to join their ranks, careers will be made, contracts will be signed and future champions will step to the podium when their names are called to thunderous applause.
First-round picks will happen Thursday beginning at 8 p.m., with the hometown Steelers going 21st. Additional rounds will be chosen Friday and Saturday.
10:03 a.m.: At the front (of the) lines
Lines to get inside the NFL Draft staging area were forming before 9 a.m. Thursday.
Fans — predominantly donning black and gold — were already mingling on the North Shore and outside of Point State Park. Some stopped to take photos from the Roberto Clemente Bridge, which is closed to traffic and serving as the primary pedestrian route between the two portions of the draft footprint.
Kelly Stevens, 41, of Bethel Park was at the front of the line at a riverside entrance to the draft on Pittsburgh’s North Shore, along with her 16-year-old son Hunter.
The pair described themselves as true football fans, who often attend the Steelers training camps and games. “Dad will deal with football, but I’m the true fan,” Kelly Stevens quipped, adding that she and her son enjoy taking in football events together.
Kelly and Hunter Stevens of Bethel Park arrive on Pittsburgh’s North Shore on Thursday morning at the NFL Draft. (Julia Burdelski | TribLive)
The pair caught the T bright and early Thursday morning and arrived around 8 a.m. They were surprised to find themselves at the front of the line. “We actually can’t believe there aren’t more people here,” Kelly Stevens said.
Hunter said he’s expecting crowds to grow later in the day.
Eager to see who the Steelers select, Hunter said his hopes are on Makai Lemon from the University of Southern California.
Mack Lewis, 28, of Plum was standing at the start of the next lane through the gates. He didn’t realize gates didn’t open till noon and expected to be able to get into the event by now.
Though he has a bit of a wait, he told TribLive he was eager to get inside, see the athletes who will be making appearances and meet out-of-town football fans.
He particularly is excited to see out-of-towners enjoy his hometown. “That’s pretty awesome,” he said.
Mike Murray, 53, of Westwood arrived to the North Shore around 7:30 a.m.
He didn’t expect he’d be first in line, yet he scored a spot at the very front of a queue forming at the riverfront North Shore entrance. “I’m very excited for this opportunity because Pittsburgh is such a beautiful city to have this draft in,” he told TribLive. “Being from Pittsburgh, it’s an honor to be here. It’s a blessing.”
Mike Murray of Westwood arrives on Pittsburgh’s North Shore on Thursday morning at the NFL Draft. (Julia Burdelski | TribLive)
Murray has been waiting for this day since NFL officials first announced Pittsburgh would host the three-day event.
Wearing a 2026 NFL Draft T-shirt and a Terrible Towel sticking out from his pocket, Murray reminisced on watching the Steelers with his late grandfather as a child. He’s been a fan ever since.
He said the Steelers legacy and the draft help improve Pittsburgh’s profile on the world stage. It “puts Pittsburgh on the map,” he said.
Ray and Doug Somerville, 39 and 70, respectively, drove in from Bellaire, Ohio, to be at the draft. The father and son have a shared love of football and matching black and gold draft ballcaps.
The duo were excited to find themselves there Thursday morning. “We’ll see how close we can get,” Ray said.
Ray said his first impression of Pittsburgh as the host city: “Everybody seems to be nice.”
Ray (left) and Doug Somerville of Bellaire, Ohio, arrives on Pittsburgh’s North Shore on Thursday morning at the NFL Draft. (Julia Burdelski | TribLive)
Jacob Sanchez made the trek from Detroit, driving four hours Wednesday night.
Sanchez, 23, isn’t a Lions fan, though. He’s a Green Bay Packers fan, evident by the Green Bay jersey and cheesehead hat.
Sanchez attended to the last two NFL Drafts. “Hopefully this one lives up to the hype,” he said. “The last two were unreal.”
He said he came to Pittsburgh with a gameplan based on his experiences there.
Jacob Sanchez of Detroit arrives on Pittsburgh’s North Shore on Thursday morning at the NFL Draft. (Julia Burdelski | TribLive)
Step one: secure a spot at the front of the line, which he accomplished by 9 a.m. Once gates open at noon, he hopes to implement the next two phases: rush to the merchandise area to buy a 2026 NFL Draft hat and find a good spot in front of the stage to watch the selections.
He said he saves fan experience events and meet-and-greets for days two and three, so he can focus on having a good spot near the stage for the first round.
Mike Poydence, 34, of Plum was sipping on a beer near the front of the line. His draft experience was off to a good start. He had smooth ride to North Side that morning and tucked his car into a parking spot at nearby Nova Place for only $12.
“I love it,” he said of the draft experience so far. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I think Steelers Nation is amazing.”
Poydence said he’s eager to chat with other fans during the event. He’d already struck up conversations with some people from out of town who are cheering on other teams.
Poydence said he has been a Steelers fan his entire life. His grandfather is a season ticket holder and often takes him to games, a tradition that dates back to the days of Three Rivers Stadium.
His hope is that the Steelers will trade for a higher draft pick to spark some excitement for the hometown fans.
Mike Poydence of Plum arrives on Pittsburgh’s North Shore on Thursday morning at the NFL Draft. (Julia Burdelski | TribLive)
9:13 a.m.: To the front of the line
Ed Fatula, smiling under a black and gold Steelers cowboy hat, found himself at the very front of the line at the draft’s Tony Dorsett Drive entrance on the North Shore.
“I didn’t expect to be first in line,” Fatula, 48, said. “It’s exciting. I like to be with the fanatics.”
Fatula grew up in DuBois, but now lives in Ellicott City, Md. He’s a lifelong Steelers fan, complete with a Steelers man cave in his home.
He arrived on the North Shore around 7:30 a.m. Thursday. He had been in the area for pre-Draft festivities Wednesday night. “So far, the crowds were less than expected,” he said.
Fatula said he’s hoping to get as close to the draft stage as possible and eager to take it all in during his first NFL Draft experience.
8:21 a.m.: Weather conditions
With temperatures in the upper 50s and a bright sun in the nearly clear sky, the first morning of the NFL Draft is looking pretty good.
WTAE meteorologist Ashley Dougherty says the forecast for today and Friday will be “terrific with comfortable temperatures in the low 80s during the day. Mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies will be with us today with clouds increasing on Friday as we watch the approach of another cold front.”
Dougherty says a pop-up shower can’t be ruled out Friday, especially North and East of Pittsburgh but most of the region should remain dry.
Here’s a look at your morning conditions, temperatures, and radar around Western PA along with your forecast for the rest of the day! #pawx pic.twitter.com/e11EUBT2LO
— Brian Hutton Jr. (@BrianHuttonWTAE) April 23, 2026
Find out more on the weather forecast here.
7:45 a.m.: From the other side of the river
Mike Abraham, 46, of Canonsburg brought his stepson Jordan O’Connor, 15, to the draft early. They arrived around 5 a.m.
“The way they pumped up road closures and everything, we didn’t know what we were going to run into,” he said.
But they didn’t have any troubles getting there.
The pair joined Maxwell Elliott, 23, of Dover as the first people in line at Point State Park. The trio joked they’re now best friends and line buddies.
“I thought it was going to be hectic,” said Elliott, who caught the T near Bethel Park early Thursday morning to avoid traffic.
He said he’s figuring it’ll still grow hectic later in the day, though it was fairly quiet so far.
Abraham said he’s hopeful they’ll have plenty of time to enjoy fan experience events and still snag a spot near the stage when the first picks are called.
“The setup looks really nice,” Elliott said, glancing through the gate into the park.
Abraham said he was eager to see what the Point looked like after its recent upgrades. He thought the facelift Market Square got looked nice but noticed some graffiti scrawled on the bridges, despite significant cleanup efforts around the event.
O’Connor and Elliott said they’re rooting for the Steelers to pick a good receiver tonight. Abraham has his sights set on a linebacker.
Garrett Schultz, 22, of York arrived in Pittsburgh for the draft around 5 am.
“We just want to get in,” he said, adding he was surprised crowds weren’t bigger already.
Wearing Baltimore Ravens gear, he said he’d been heckled four times by around 7:00@TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/Nn1gyCGiP0
— Julia Burdelski (@JuliaBurdelski) April 23, 2026
7:20 a.m.: Ravens fan among early arrivals
Garrett Schultz, 20, of York arrived in Pittsburgh around 5 a.m. for the first day of the draft.
“We just want to get in,” he said, adding he thought there would be more fans lining up already.
He and his friends — wearing jerseys representing various teams — said they’re eager to see the first picks.
“It’s just exciting,” he said.
Scultz said he figured the draft wouldn’t be anywhere this close again for a long time so he wanted to make sure to take it in.
Though he was happy to be in the Steel City, Schultz was donning Baltimore Ravens attire.
“I already got heckled four times on the way here already,” he laughed as he made his way across the Clemente Bridge to the North Shore.
7:10 a.m.: Early international visitor
Tony Morano, 50, paused to snap a photo of the picturesque view from the Roberto Clemente Bridge around 7 a.m. Thursday. He marveled at the view of a PNC Park and the rivers.
“Gorgeous, this is great scenery,” Morano said.
He drove about five hours from Windsor in Canada on Wednesday evening to be at the draft.
It’s his first time in Pittsburgh — but not his first time at the NFL’s biggest offseason event. He was at the last three drafts too.
The draft is typically full of “fun, excitement, lots of people with different jerseys,” Morano said, showing off a Giants jersey.
“Everybody gets along,” he said of his prior draft experiences. “It’s phenomenal.”
He’s learned a thing or two from previous experiences. He brought a shopping bag loaded with snacks, because he likes to go in with a full stomach, prepared for a long day.
And he knew to arrive well before gates open at noon. “You’ve got to come early if you want to get close,” Morano said.
His main goal this year is to snag an autograph from Ryan Clark, whose jersey he was wearing underneath his Giants attire.
Morano said he had a positive first impression of Pittsburgh. “It’s beautiful,” he said.
6:45 a.m.: Fans arrive early
Cooper Keener, 17, of Fairmont, W.Va., drove about 90 minutes to take in the draft with his grandfather.
He arrived on the North Shore at 6:30 a.m. to check out the NFL Draft Experience setup, with gates opening at noon.
“It’ll probably be the only time I’ll be able to come in my lifetime,” Keener said.
He’s hoping the Steelers pick an offensive lineman in the first round tonight.
Keener said he’s also anticipating long lines. They got to town early, hoping to be near the start of the queue — after they grab a bite for breakfast.
“It’ll be a great experience,” he told TribLive.
Jake Wagner, 20, of Dormont was also among the early risers. A group of friends jumped on the T — which is ferrying fans to and from the draft for free all weekend — and made it to the North Shore by 6:30 a.m. “to try to get ahead of the crowd.”
“We succeeded, I guess,” he said, eyeing the area.
Few fans were mingling in North Shore so early, though Wagner said he’s expecting the crowds to be massive and difficult to navigate later in the day.
He and his friends hope to “get as close as possible” to the draft action. They’re hoping their early arrival plants them at the front of the line.
“I’m excited to experience it,” he said of the draft. “It’s the first time it’s ever been here, and we had to be here.”
Wagner, showing off his Steelers jersey, said he’s hoping the home team trades up for a higher first round pick. Currently, the Steelers are slated to make the 21st overall pick this evening.
What to expect today
Gates open at noon, with various fan experiences, player appearances and local vendors set up throughout the day.
Anyone attending the draft can register for free through the NFL OnePass app or NFL.com.
The event will span the North Shore and Point State Park, linked by the Roberto Clemente Bridge.
Fans will be able to snap photos with the Steelers’ Vince Lombardi Trophies, participate in games on the field at Acrisure Stadium, shop NFL merchandise and participate in activities for kids.
The NFL’s schedule for Thursday includes appearances by various NFL cheer teams and visits from several current and former Steelers, including Hines Ward, Jerome Bettis, Alex Highsmith, Pat Freiermuth, Will Howard, Heath Miller, Rico Dowdle, Chris Hoke, Matt Spaeth and Terry Bradshaw.
The Topps Collector Destination in Acrisure Stadium will allow fans to shop for cards and explore hands-on activities.
At nearby Market Square, fans will be greeted by live entertainment and a Steelers-themed bar. A fan-friendly celebration hosted by Pitt Athletics and the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust will pop up at Arts Landing, the new 4-acre civic space Downtown.
How to get there
A slew of road closures will make navigating to the draft tricky. Phased closures started weeks ago, with more roads being shut down as the event has crept closer.
Officials are urging people to use public transit to mitigate congestion.
Four special “Football Flyer” express bus routes will run roughly every 15 minutes from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. on draft days, dropping people off near Point State Park and on the North Shore.
Riders will also be able to use the T and the Monongahela Incline for free during the event.
A full list of road closures and public transit routes is available here.
What to take — or not — to the draft
Fans heading to the draft should have their registration through the NFL’s OnePass app.
There are several restrictions on what people can bring into the footprint.
Anyone attending the draft should bring only clear bags or bags no bigger than 4½-by-6½ inches. Even clear bags can be no bigger than 12-by-6 inches. Bags can have logos on only one side.
Other things that are banned at the event include: alcohol; animals, except service animals; banners, flags or signs larger than 22-by-28 inches; bottles, cans, thermoses, coolers, glass containers, aerosol cups and cans; chairs or stools; drones; firearms, weapons, knives and explosives; fireworks; footballs, frisbees and other balls; illegal substances; laser pointers; motorized scooters and skateboards; noisemakers, whistles or horns; poles, sticks and missile-like objects; tripods; and umbrellas.
Strollers will be allowed but bags and blankets will be inspected.
Small cameras and binoculars are allowed, but professional-grade recording equipment is banned.
More details are available here.
What other events are on tap around the draft?
The draft will be taking center stage but a slate of other events are scheduled around it, too.
The Great Pennsylvania Mascot Race will see Steelers mascot Steely McBeam, Philadelphia Eagles mascot Swoop, Pitt’s Roc the Panther and Penn State University’s Nittany Lion face off for a 40-yard dash at Point State Park Thursday at 4 p.m.
From 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, patrons can share their first job experience at McDonald’s ordering kiosks at 801 Allegheny Avenue for a $15 gift card. Participating locations are also offering a 20-piece McNuggets and fries meal for $8 as a draft deal.
People can watch “The Football Town” at Kamin Science Center and hear from draft picks’ fathers at Point Park University.
Additional information on events is available here.
