The NFL is leaning heavily into nostalgia and local connection for the second and third rounds of the 2026 Draft, with a blend of Hall-of-Famers, franchise icons and current players set to announce picks in Pittsburgh.

Nine members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame headline the group, including Tampa Bay’s Ronde Barber, Detroit’s Calvin Johnson, Miami’s Dwight Stephenson and Dallas duo Tony Dorsett and Drew Pearson, as well as Pittsburgh legends Jerome Bettis and John Stallworth. They will be joined by a wide spread of former stars representing their teams, from Baltimore’s Mark Ingram and the Chargers’ Shawne Merriman to the Giants’ Osi Umenyiora and the Eagles’ Brian Westbrook, each stepping to the podium to deliver selections on day two.

There is also a deliberate nod to the host city. Several presenters have deep Pittsburgh ties, most notably Bettis and Stallworth for the Steelers, but also figures such as Dorsett, the Jets’ Curtis Martin and the 49ers’ Andy Lee, all former Panthers, while Arizona’s James Conner and Minnesota’s Brian O’Neill return as active players to announce picks for their current clubs. They are joined by Pittsburgh’s own Joey Porter Jr, representing the Steelers, and Tennessee’s Jeffery Simmons.

Elsewhere, Green Bay’s John Kuhn, Indianapolis’ Pat McAfee and Jacksonville’s Paul Posluszny form part of a broader Pennsylvania contingent woven throughout the line-up, reinforcing the league’s effort to localise the event.

The result is a Draft stage that will feel as much like a reunion tour as a selection process, a calculated mix of past and present designed to connect Pittsburgh’s football heritage with the league’s next generation.