Noah Hiles: Football allowed Pittsburgh to show the best version of itself
PITTSBURGH - Growing up, my family often hosted holiday and or celebratory gatherings. Those dinners and parties produced plenty of special moments, but one of the things I remember most from those days was the chaos that ensued before our company would arrive.
My mother was always on the move, rushing from room to room to ensure everything was clean and accommodating. My father, meanwhile, often handled coordinating the food and entertainment, so our guests would have an enjoyable experience. My sister and I were their personal assistants, constantly on call to provide help wherever and whenever it was needed.
At times, it was stressful. We regularly had to adjust and adapt to some minor inconveniences along the way. But in the end, it was worth it.
I think it's safe to say our city, collectively, experienced something similar in hosting the 2026 NFL draft.
Over the past year, there were many times when I found myself wondering how we'd pull this thing off. There was so much to be done, in so little time. But, the city hustled. We finished major construction projects, addressed logistical concerns and put together a solid plan.
When draft day arrived, this city was prepared. Our "house" was clean, organized and fit to welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors for a one-of-a-kind football celebration. They all saw the absolute best version of Pittsburgh.
"This is a unique community in that everyone works together," Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said Thursday. "That's not rhetoric. That's our reality."
There's no denying that sports, especially football, are a massive part of this region's identity. The Steelers are the city's most known entity. And the overwhelming support they've consistently received for the better half of a century allowed us to showcase the many other elements that make Pittsburgh special.
We highlighted the beautiful views that are made possible through the city's unique geographical layout. We served our best food and offered quality entertainment. We offered easy access to the places out-of-towners wished to frequent. And, most importantly, we showcased our greatest asset: our people.
From Mayor Corey O'Connor's seemingly never-ending visibility throughout town, to Pat McAfee's unabashed personality on ESPN, to Bret Michaels and Wiz Khalifa coming together to perform a multigenre-blended show, to Mt. Lebanon native Eli Heidenreich's heartwarming reaction to being drafted by his hometown team, our known figures represented us well.
But they weren't the only ones who delivered a quality performance. We, the general population, did our part, too.
We showed up, playing a sizable part in this event producing a record-breaking crowd. We behaved ourselves, as there were no major incidents throughout the weekend. When someone from out of town had a question or needed directions, we were often there to provide an answer - even to those wearing Baltimore Ravens jerseys.
We came for a good time and made sure others had one as well. Right now, in the immediate aftermath, it's hard to picture this event having gone any better. Time will tell just how beneficial the 2026 NFL draft was to our region. But at the very least, I think we made a positive impression on many people who'd arrived knowing very little about this town.
When I was leaving the media workroom at Acrisure Stadium following the end of the draft's first round Thursday evening, I exited alongside a slew of reporters. The group to my right was from Australia, a few people behind me were from Washington, D.C., and a duo to my left was from Las Vegas. All of them made a point to express how impressed they were by our city.
"This place is incredible," one of them said. "I love it here."
I do, too. And after this weekend, thousands of others understand why.
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