AI-written summary of reporting by Associated Press. No human editor reviewed this. AI can misread or omit facts — read the original, linked below.
ABSTRACT

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy and wide receiver Eli Heidenreich, both with local ties to the Pittsburgh area, are set to make their debuts with the team Thursday night when the Steelers host the Green Bay Packers in their preseason opener.

Associated Press

McCarthy and Heidenreich face first test as Pittsburgh Steelers host Green Bay in preseason opener

McCarthy and Heidenreich face first test as Pittsburgh Steelers host Green Bay in preseason opener
Aug 12, 2026, 12:23 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy and wide receiver Eli Heidenreich, both with local ties to the Pittsburgh area, are set to make their debuts with the team Thursday night when the Steelers host the Green Bay Packers in their preseason opener.

Context

McCarthy was hired in January and reportedly became emotional at the prospect of coaching his hometown team. Heidenreich, who grew up in the Mount Lebanon neighborhood of Pittsburgh, was selected in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft and appeared on the draft stage outside Acrisure Stadium in full Naval dress uniform.

Heidenreich set Navy program records for career receiving yards and receiving touchdowns before being drafted. He stands 6 feet tall and weighs 206 pounds.

Heidenreich dismissed comparisons to San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, the 2023 NFL Offensive Player of the Year. He acknowledged that making an NFL roster as a seventh-round pick from a service academy would require significant development.

The source text supplied appears truncated; some material may be missing.

All Perspectives
Eli Heidenreich: "Naturally, there's some people that might assume that it was like you said, like a hometown pick or whatever, whatever someone wants to say. But I'm here to play football, and that's it."
Position not represented in the source reporting: Mike McCarthy.
Gaps & Unknowns
  • Mike McCarthy's direct comments on his preparation for the preseason game or his return to Pittsburgh are not quoted in the source.
  • Green Bay Packers' perspective on the preseason matchup is not included.
  • Details of McCarthy's coaching background or why he was selected for the role are not provided.
  • The source text supplied appears truncated; some material may be missing.
Sources & Further Reading
  1. Associated Press — original

Read the original at Associated Press

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