2026 saw Pittsburgh stage the NFL Draft for only the second time. While many of the first-round picks went as expected, there were a few surprises in the mix. Included on that list of slightly unexpected picks was the Steelers’ first-round selection of Max Iheanachor, from the Arizona State Sun Devils. Rather than a first-round quarterback or wide receiver, Steelers fans assessing the best free bet offers have a new offensive tackle to weigh up ahead of the new season.
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Steelers' Max Iheanachor smiles while taking selfies with the fans during the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Eighth Sun Devil Draftee
With the dust now settled and assessments of the 2026 NFL Draft made, we decided to take a walk down memory lane and revisit the previous players to arrive in Pittsburgh via the Arizona State Sun Devils. Encouragingly for Max Iheanachor, one of Pittsburgh’s biggest Sun Devil hits was also an offensive tackle.
John Henry Johnson - 1953
The journey begins with the unusual tale of fullback John Henry Johnson. Selected by Pittsburgh in the second round of the 1953 draft, he didn’t suit up in black and gold until 1960. Opting to head to the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL in 1953, Johnson enjoyed stints in San Francisco and Detroit before finally arriving in Pittsburgh. He soon made up for lost time. Becoming the first Steeler to rush for 1,000 yards in a season in 1962, he still holds the record as the oldest NFL player to rush for 200 yards in a single game. Earning three consecutive Pro Bowl selections between 1962 and 1964, he is an inductee of the Pittsburgh Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Mark Malone – 1980
The first of two Sun Devils taken in the 1980 draft, Pittsburgh selected Malone in the first round with the 28th overall pick. Behind Terry Bradshaw in the pecking order and hampered by injuries, Malone started only three games between 1980 and 1983. Facing a near-impossible task in taking over from the four-time Super Bowl winner, Bradshaw, Malone was respected for having one of the strongest arms in the league and started 43 times for the Steelers before leaving for San Diego in 1988.
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Former Steelers quarterback Mark Malone started the highest scoring AFC Championship game in a 45-28 loss to the Miami Dolphins.
Bob Kohrs – 1980
Taken in the second round of the 1980 draft, Phoenix native Kohrs never quite reached the heights of his college career. Registering 214 tackles and 30 sacks as a Sun Devil, he became something of a bit-part player in Pittsburgh. While appearing 55 times for the Steelers between 1981 and 1985, only six of those outings were as a starter. He retired at the end of the 1985 season with nine sacks to his name.
John Meyer – 1982
The most unfortunate Sun Devil on this list, John Meyer was a highly regarded offensive tackle taken in the second round in 1982. Sadly for Meyer, he suffered a major knee injury during his first training camp, effectively ending his NFL career before it began.
Jeremy Staat – 1998
Eighteen years after drafting Malone and Kohrs, the Steelers doubled up on Sun Devils once again. Lineman Staat was the first to arrive with the 41st overall pick in the second round. Never fully establishing himself in Pittsburgh, he started only twice before leaving at the end of the 2000 season. Returning for a brief spell in St Louis in 2003, he later joined the United States Marine Corps and served his country in Iraq.
Jason Simmons – 1998
Arriving in the fifth round of the 1998 draft, safety Simmons outlasted his college teammate in the NFL. The Steelers’ current defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator appeared 49 times for Pittsburgh between 1998 and 2001, registering 63 solo tackles. Leaving the Steelers in 2002, he enjoyed six further seasons in the NFL as a Houston Texan.
Scott Boehm / AP photo
Former Green Bay Packers assistant coach Jason Simmons coaching up his team.
Marvel Smith – 2000
Saving the best for last, the Steelers’ most recent arrival from Arizona State is their most successful. Taken in the second round with the 38th overall pick, offensive tackle Smith went on to enjoy nine successful years in Pittsburgh. A key cog in the offensive line, he earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2004 and was part of the 2005 and 2008 Super Bowl-winning squads.