Steelers May Face Discipline After Makai Lemon Phone Call

One of the funnier stories from the 2026 NFL Draft may prove costly for the Eagles’ in-state rival.

In a story widely reported on draft night, with the Dallas Cowboys due up at pick 20 and widely expected to pick a defensive player, the Pittsburgh Steelers, who held pick 21, called Makai Lemon to let him know that they were interested in drafting him there. While that was happening, the Eagles traded with the Cowboys to jump up to pick 20 and selected Lemon ahead of the Steelers, but the Eagles couldn’t get a hold of Lemon since he was on the phone with the Steelers.

Most of the NFL world laughed off the story as just another example of “Howie being Howie,” referring to Eagles GM Howie Roseman’s unique ability to hose another team in the offseason. However, it turns out that the Steelers’ call may have opened up the Steelers to NFL discipline.

According to former Eagle and Super Bowl LII Champion Jake Rosenberg, who now works with The Athlete Group consulting firm, while teams are allowed to communicate with prospects that have not yet been drafted even if they are off the clock, teams may not interfere with the team that is on the clock.

It’s unclear what, if any, discipline may be imposed on the Steelers for this phone call. A league spokesperson reached for comment declined to speak specifically about this incident, but indicated that the league investigates all aspects of the draft in the week following the draft. Past scenarios surrounding draft misconduct have included swapped or forfeited draft selections or fines, and if the Steelers are found culpable, it’s likely that some similar discipline may be imposed.

Whatever the outcome, the draft scenario is highly unusual according to Rosenberg.

“Discipline or not, it is a strange/ rare breach of process for a club to put itself in this position,” Rosenberg tweeted on Saturday. “It’s very easy to know when you’re on the clock and when the team in front of you trades its pick.”