PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Offensive tackle Max Iheanachor just started playing football in 2021 and didn’t play FBS football until three years ago. Now he’s going to play in the NFL and at least fight to be a rookie starter after being selected by the Steelers as the 21st overall pick in the NFL Draft Thursday.
“It literally just hit me during that call,” said an emotional Iheanachor with local reporters after he talked with the Steelers. “It was an out-of-body experience. I don’t even know how to explain it. It was surreal. Big shout out to God, without him none of this is possible.”
Iheanachor admits his Nigerian parents we’re fully on board with him playing football at first. They wanted him to be a lawyer or doctor and he said he decided he wanted to play football and enrolled at a junior college in his hometown of Los Angeles. Iheanachor said his mom and dad don’t fully understand a lot about the game.
Now 6’5”, 321 pounds, he grew up playing soccer, then basketball and said that helps him with his footwork and coordination now on the offensive line. Iheanachor said he can do a lot of things ‘way better’ and that he’s ready to prove that every day.
Iheanachor played 30 of his 31 games at right tackle at ASU (2nd Team All-Big 12 in 2025) and said he was told by the Steelers to just come in ready to compete. Troy Fautanu played right tackle last season, but played left tackle in college.
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“A guy that is going to come in and work hard, but is also going to be a sponge,” Iheanachor said of what the Steelers are getting. “I’m ready to learn. Whatever it is, I’m willing to do for a team and help this team win. It’s a great organization. Ready to learn, ready to compete and get to work.”
LISTEN to what Max Iheanachor said after being drafted by the Steelers
LISTEN to what Max Iheanachor said after being drafted by the Steelers
