The Pittsburgh Steelers figure to be major players in the 2026 NFL Draft. They’re projected to have 12 total picks, so they should have lots of opportunities to improve their team. Their roster has many solid players, but it also has plenty of holes. That could include running back, especially with Kenneth Gainwell a pending free agent. Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love is widely regarded as the top running back in this draft class, and he recently revealed that he was a Steelers fan growing up.
“I was a big fan of Ben Roethlisberger,” Love said on CNBC Television’s YouTube channel. “The Steelers, they were my team. I was kind of just born into it. My mom and dad are Steelers fans, so it just fell on to me.”
Love is from Missouri, so it’s a little surprising to hear that he was a Steelers fan. However, plenty of fans learned to love the Steelers because of their families.
Love played at Notre Dame for the last three seasons, and he developed into an electric playmaker. While he didn’t do much in his first collegiate season, he broke out in his second season. He recorded 163 carries for 1,125 yards and 17 touchdowns, generating 6.9 yards per carry.
Love didn’t slow down in 2025, posting 199 carries for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns. For his efforts, he won the Doak Walker Award, which is given annually to the best running back in college football.
Love would be a great addition to the Steelers. However, their first pick is at No. 21, and he might already be off the board by then. When asked about the possibility of the Steelers drafting him, Love said, “I don’t know. Maybe… That would be great for my parents. They would love that because they’re Steelers fans. But me personally, I’m blessed and honored to go anywhere.”
Love is likely hoping that he doesn’t have to wait that long to hear his name called on the first day of the draft, but it’s tough to say what his range will be. He’s a great player but running backs aren’t valued as highly as some other positions in the draft. That could result in him slipping down the board, although it seems unlikely that he’ll fall as far as 21.
Also, the Steelers might not want to spend their first-round pick on a running back. It isn’t their roster’s biggest weakness. They might be better served using their first pick elsewhere, like at wide receiver or quarterback. However, the Steelers could do much worse than Love in the first round. He’d give their offense a dynamic playmaker.
Recommended for you