It’s no mystery that the Pittsburgh Steelers love drafting players from the Big Ten. Last year, they selected Derrick Harmon out of Oregon. In fact, every one of the Steelers' draft picks came from a Big Ten school except for one seventh-round selection. Among those programs, however, one stands above the rest on Pittsburgh’s roster: a hometown favorite, Penn State. Most recently, the Steelers drafted Drew Allar in the third round of this year’s NFL Draft.
Allie Berube of ABC27 reported that the Steelers are tied for the most Penn State players on an NFL roster.
“Fifty-nine former Penn State football players are currently signed with an NFL team. The Pittsburgh Steelers are tied for the most Penn State players on any NFL team, featuring a combination of key veterans and new faces, with five players turning their blue and white uniforms into black and gold.”
Steelers get an inside track on Penn State products
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Penn State’s campus sits roughly 2.5 hours from Pittsburgh, and the Steelers have benefited from that proximity for years. They have consistently targeted Nittany Lions in the NFL Draft, most recently selecting Drew Allar, Pat Freiermuth, and Joey Porter Jr. All three were chosen on Day 2 of their respective drafts. Freiermuth and Porter have both developed into key contributors, with Freiermuth already earning a second contract and Porter expected to receive one soon. If Allar follows a similar path, he could prove to be another home-run pick and, by all accounts, the Steelers’ quarterback of the future. Pittsburgh also signed Jaquan Brisker in free agency who also played his college football at Penn State.
The Steelers maintain strong ties to Penn State and regularly send scouts to the program’s biggest games. Last season, Pittsburgh evaluated Allar during the Nittany Lions’ matchup against Oregon and continued scouting him throughout the year before bringing him in for a Top 30 visit. The Steelers’ success with Penn State prospects extends far beyond recent seasons. In fact, their relationship with the program dates back to the foundation of the franchise’s 1970s dynasty.
Two Penn State Hall of Fame picks a year apart
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The Steelers selected Jack Ham in the second round of the 1971 NFL Draft. One year later, they landed the franchise-changing player who helped define an era: Franco Harris. Harris and his famous "Italian Army" arrived in 1972, and his rookie season helped launch the Steelers’ dynasty of the 1970s. It all began with the Immaculate Reception, which delivered the franchise’s first postseason victory. Meanwhile, Ham became a cornerstone of Pittsburgh’s defense and helped redefine the role of the 4-3 outside linebacker. Ham's role sparked a defense that became the modern Tampa-2 defense.
Both Ham and Harris eventually earned induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Their success is a major reason the Steelers have continued to mine Penn State for talent. Some fans may wonder why Pittsburgh doesn’t pursue more players from Pitt, but the franchise has found a winning formula in Happy Valley. Don’t expect that approach to change anytime soon, especially if the Steelers continue finding impact players through their Penn State pipeline.
