James Conner will stand on a Pittsburgh stage next week to announce the Arizona Cardinals’ second-round draft pick — a homecoming that underscores how the NFL’s draft announcements have become a stage for personal legacy as much as team strategy.
The league released its full list of current and former players assigned to announce second-round selections on Friday, confirming Conner’s role alongside 31 other representatives, one for each franchise. For the Cardinals’ running back, the assignment is a return to familiar ground: he played three seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers after college at the University of Pittsburgh, and now he’ll announce a pick from the particularly city where his professional career began.
Conner’s selection fits a pattern the NFL has cultivated in recent years — using draft announcers to bridge past and present. Last year, former Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson filled the role. before him, team legends like Leonard Davis and Adrian Wilson took the mic. Conner becomes only the second active player to announce picks in recent memory, following Kelvin Beachum’s 2023 appearance for the Cardinals’ selection of Rondale Moore.
The Pittsburgh angle runs deeper than Conner’s individual story. The Steelers’ contingent includes Hall of Famer John Stallworth, who will announce Pittsburgh’s second-round pick, and the father-son duo of Joey Porter Sr. And Joey Porter Jr., who will jointly announce a third-round selection. Jerome Bettis, another Hall of Fame back, will too be in attendance, though not assigned to announce a specific pick.
For Stallworth, the moment carries historical weight. He was part of the Steelers’ legendary 1974 draft class that produced four future Hall of Famers — himself, Jack Lambert, Lynn Swann, and Mike Webster — along with undrafted standout Donnie Shell. Speaking to Steelers.com, Stallworth framed his participation as a continuation of the organization’s identity under Chuck Noll and scout Bill Nunn, saying it honors “the base that was built during the 1970s that we know and love.”
The Porter tandem adds a generational layer. Porter Jr., a North Allegheny High School product, will represent Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League players who’ve reached the NFL, while noting the personal significance of announcing a pick shortly after being drafted by the Steelers himself. His father described the opportunity as “an honor” after receiving the call from Dan Rooney.
Across the league, the announcer list reads like a roll call of franchise stalwarts: Calvin Johnson for the Lions, Deion Branch for the Patriots, Osi Umenyiora for the Giants, and Jeffery Simmons for the Titans, among others. The inclusion of current players like Vikings tackle Brian O’Neill and Cardinals running back James Conner shows the NFL’s effort to mix active voices with retired legends.
The Cardinals enter the draft with the 34th overall pick — the second selection in the second round — and the 65th pick to open the third round, though general manager Monti Ossenfort could alter those positions via trade. Conner will announce both selections from the draft’s main stage in Pittsburgh on April 24, the second day of the three-day event.
While the announcer assignments are ceremonial, they reflect how the NFL has transformed the draft into a multi-day spectacle where storytelling holds as much value as the selections themselves. For Pittsburgh, a city steeped in football tradition, the presence of its native sons — Conner, Stallworth, the Porters, Bettis — turns the draft announcements into a localized celebration of heritage, even as players like Conner represent teams hundreds of miles away.
Why is James Conner announcing the Cardinals’ picks from Pittsburgh?
Conner played for the Steelers and attended the University of Pittsburgh, giving him strong ties to the city where the 2026 draft is being held.
Which Steelers legends are involved in announcing draft picks this year?
Hall of Famer John Stallworth will announce the Steelers’ second-round pick, while Joey Porter Sr. And Joey Porter Jr. Will jointly announce a third-round selection; Jerome Bettis will also attend.
Can the Cardinals’ draft positions change before Conner announces their picks?
Yes, general manager Monti Ossenfort could alter the team’s second- and third-round selections through trades before the announcements on April 24.
