Steelers Honor PA High Schools, NFL Talent

0:00On May 1st, the NFL draft lit up Pittsburgh, and the Steelers made it extra special by honoring Western Pennsylvania High Schools with deep NFL roots. They handed out commemorative footballs listing every player those schools sent to the pros over the years. Schools with Hall of Famers even scored custom gold helmets from Redell. Take Bishop McCourt Catholic, for example. They got a gold helmet for linebacker Jack Ham, a second round pick from Penn State in 1971, who anchored the Steel Curtain defense on, four Super Bowl champs. A senior from the school held it on stage during the draft's final day. Coaches and principals couldn't hide their pride. Bishop McCourt's Tom Smith called it an amazing keepsake, now shining in their trophy case alongside names like Artrow Hawkins Jr. from 1998. Greater Johns Town's Tony Pena Jr. said leading a program with 16 draft picks feels humbling, tying them for third in Pennsylvania history.

1:00Other schools joined the celebration too. Conema Township rep Super Bowl winner Jeff Hostetler from 1984, plus earlier picks. Richland nodded to Randy Moore from 1976, Central Cambria to Ron Costelnik, who played in the first two Super Bowls, and Moore. This gesture spotlights how Western P.A. pumps out talent over 650 pros and 19 Hall of Famers. The Steelers exec Dan Rooney said it's about celebrating that football culture baked into the region.