The Pittsburgh Steelers may face league discipline after a weird 2026 NFL Draft call resulted in Makai Lemon going to another team.
Pittsburgh and head coach Mike McCarthy believed they were in perfect position to grab the USC Trojans wideout in the first round. However, the Philadelphia Eagles swooped in Thursday night to get another target for Jalen Hurts.
MORE: Watch 2026 NFL Draft live on Fubo (free trial)
Now, a former Eagles executive is making new claims that the Steelers could face NFL discipline for an improper phone call with Lemon on draft night. Jake Rosenberg took to X to explain the odd situation involving the AFC North team and the ex-college football standout.
Former Eagles exec Jake Rosenberg pointed out that the Steelers may have opened themselves up for discipline by the NFL for being on a call with Makai Lemon as Philadelphia was trying to reach him after moving up to draft him pic.twitter.com/Qm2zyROzxy
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) April 25, 2026
Steelers may face NFL discipline after viral Lemon phone call
According to Rosenberg, the Steelers may have violated an NFL Draft rule that indicates teams cannot interfere with other organizations who are on the clock.
Lemon initially thought he was heading to Pittsburgh after holding a conversation with GM Omar Khan. However, that sentiment quickly shifted when the Eagles traded picks with the Dallas Cowboys to move one spot ahead of the Steelers.
A viral draft video of Lemon even emerged showing the wide receiver getting the news from his agent. There was significant confusion all around during the sequence on Thursday as the Steelers scrambled to make their pick after the Eagles.
“Hey, why is Philly calling me?” Lemon asked his agent and family while speaking with Khan.
MORE: Roger Goodell teases Cleveland Browns Hulu show during 2026 NFL Draft
The Round 1 draft selection is now expected to be a focal point for Philadelphia’s offense alongside Devonta Smith, Saquon Barkley and Hurts. Meanwhile, Lemon is coming off a tremendous collegiate career at USC.
Philadelphia Eagles draft pick Makai Lemon during a pregame ceremony before Philadelphia 76ers game. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
The 21-year-old wideout received his first big ovation from Philly fans Friday night after attending the Philadelphia 76ers’ home playoff game against the Boston Celtics. NFL fans will be more accustomed to seeing Lemon’s on-field success in the coming months after NBA season.
