Pittsburgh is officially on the clock as officials begin preparations for the 2026 NFL Draft, doing so by unveiling a countdown clock along the North Shore. On Monday, Steelers President Art Rooney II was joined by a number of other speakers, including Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato, City of Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, VisitPITTSBURGH President and CEO Jerad Bachar, and representatives from the 2026 NFL Draft Pittsburgh Host Committee in unveiling a countdown clock for the draft. The countdown clock is said to be a part of the city’s first steps in welcoming visitors to the area to celebrate both the 2026 NFL Draft and the city of Pittsburgh.”It’s going to be a great day for Pittsburgh and, I hope we continue to have more great days here leading up to the draft,” Rooney II said during the news conference.The steel beam holding the clock, Bachar said during the news conference, was created to represent the city’s bridges, with engraved notches representing the 212 western Pennsylvania football programs and Pittsburgh’s 90 neighborhoods. “It’s here for all of us to count down the days, to create excitement, and to celebrate all things Pittsburgh together,” Bachar said. “We want to celebrate the people, places, and traditions that make Pittsburgh special. Officials said more than 100,000 people are expected to flock to the area next year, with multiple businesses and vendors being able to take part in the festivities. With this in mind, Rooney II said the clock will not only be a reminder about the draft itself but will also show outsiders what Pittsburgh is like and who the people are that live within it. “This clock is going to be a reminder about how great Pittsburgh is just to be in and what we have to offer to the world,” Rooney II said. You can watch the full news conference in the playfinder above. The Pittsburgh NFL Draft is set for April 23 to April 25, 2026
PITTSBURGH —
Pittsburgh is officially on the clock as officials begin preparations for the 2026 NFL Draft, doing so by unveiling a countdown clock along the North Shore.
On Monday, Steelers President Art Rooney II was joined by a number of other speakers, including Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato, City of Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, VisitPITTSBURGH President and CEO Jerad Bachar, and representatives from the 2026 NFL Draft Pittsburgh Host Committee in unveiling a countdown clock for the draft.
The countdown clock is said to be a part of the city’s first steps in welcoming visitors to the area to celebrate both the 2026 NFL Draft and the city of Pittsburgh.
“It’s going to be a great day for Pittsburgh and, I hope we continue to have more great days here leading up to the draft,” Rooney II said during the news conference.
The steel beam holding the clock, Bachar said during the news conference, was created to represent the city’s bridges, with engraved notches representing the 212 western Pennsylvania football programs and Pittsburgh’s 90 neighborhoods.
“It’s here for all of us to count down the days, to create excitement, and to celebrate all things Pittsburgh together,” Bachar said. “We want to celebrate the people, places, and traditions that make Pittsburgh special.
Officials said more than 100,000 people are expected to flock to the area next year, with multiple businesses and vendors being able to take part in the festivities. With this in mind, Rooney II said the clock will not only be a reminder about the draft itself but will also show outsiders what Pittsburgh is like and who the people are that live within it.
“This clock is going to be a reminder about how great Pittsburgh is just to be in and what we have to offer to the world,” Rooney II said.
You can watch the full news conference in the playfinder above.
The Pittsburgh NFL Draft is set for April 23 to April 25, 2026
