ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Nose guard Landon Robinson and running back / wide receiver Eli Heidenreich became the first Navy duo to be drafted in the same NFL draft since 1956 (George Welsh and Ronald Beagle by the Chicago Cardinals) and just the second duo in program history when they were selected four picks apart Saturday afternoon in the annual NFL draft in Pittsburgh.
Both picks came in storybook fashion.
Robinson, a native of Akron, Ohio, was selected by his home-state Cincinnati Bengals in the seventh round with the 226th overall pick. The selection was announced by the Pat Tillman Foundation. Tillman was drafted with the 226th pick by the Arizona Cardinals in 1998. Tillman later left the NFL to enlist in the U.S. Army after the 9/11 attacks. He served as an Army Ranger in Iraq and Afghanistan before dying in Afghanistan in 2004.
Heidenreich, a native of Pittsburgh, was taken with the 230th overall pick by his hometown team, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Heidenreich was backstage at the draft and was brought out to roaring applause that lasted seven minutes. He was then brought to the ESPN desk, where he was interviewed for another five minutes.
Robinson and Heidenreich are the 20th and 21st Naval Academy graduates (they will graduate in May) to be drafted by the NFL. They are the fifth and sixth Navy players drafted in the last 12 years.
"It's a blessing to be drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals and to have the opportunity to play in my home state," said Robinson. "Having the Pat Tillman Foundation announce the pick made it special and unique. It was really cool to see Eli get drafted four picks later and how he was celebrated by his hometown fans. This just shows that Navy has ballplayers, too, and we can play at the same level as any other team. Hard work and dedication will get the job done no matter where you are."
"We couldn't be prouder of Landon," said Navy head football coach Brian Newberry. "The Cincinnati Bengals aren't just getting a talented player — they're getting a great leader of character, someone who's been tested in ways most athletes haven't. Landon has earned this opportunity, and we are excited to watch him live out his dream and represent our program, the Naval Academy and the United States Marine Corps. Cincinnati just got a steal."
"I couldn't be prouder of Landon as he takes the next step into the NFL," said Navy defensive line coach Jerrick Hall. "This moment is a direct reflection of his work ethic, resilience and commitment to excellence, both on and off the field. The Bengals got a great one."
"It's hard to summarize this moment," said Heidenreich. "I've had the full range of emotions over the last hour. I'm just soaking it all in right now, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to represent the Black & Gold. I could not be more thankful that I made the decision to attend the Naval Academy. I am where I am today because I took a shot at attending a Navy camp and was offered because of my performance there. I'm thankful for all the people I've met along the way, and my best friends in the world are Navy football players. I'm also so happy for Landon — there is no harder worker or better person than Landon Robinson."
"We're incredibly proud of Eli and everything he's earned," said Newberry. "The Pittsburgh Steelers are getting much more than a great player; they're getting a great leader and teammate who elevates everyone around him. Eli represents the best of what this program and the Naval Academy stand for, and we're excited to see him take the next step and make an impact in the NFL while representing Navy football, the Naval Academy and the United States Marine Corps. The Steelers just got a great one."
"I'm extremely happy for Eli," said Navy snipe coach David Cole. "He earned this opportunity through his hard work and dedication. I can't wait to watch him play in the Black & Gold."
Heidenreich and Robinson will be able to play immediately, as Section 557 of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2025 amended the statutes defining the agreements signed by midshipmen and cadets attending a military service academy and their resulting service obligations. The NDAA for fiscal year 2026 authorizes the secretaries of the military departments to transfer no more than five cadets or midshipmen from each academy who obtain employment in professional sports to the Selected Reserve as commissioned officers to assist in recruiting and retention efforts.
The duo helped lead the 2025 Navy football team to one of the best seasons in school history, finishing 11-2 and ranked No. 23 in both the Associated Press and USA Today coaches polls. It marked just the fourth time since 1963 that Navy finished the season ranked in the AP poll and the first time since 2019.
The Midshipmen produced back-to-back 10-win seasons for the first time in school history. The 11 wins tied the school record (also achieved in 2015 and 2019). Navy's 21 wins over the last two years are the most in school history over a two-year span, and its 21-5 record (.808) during that time ranks eighth in the FBS and best among the non-autonomy four.
Navy defeated Army 17-16 to win the Commander in Chief's Trophy, presented annually to the winner of the football competition among the three major service academies — Navy, Air Force and Army — and named in honor of the president of the United States. Navy has won the trophy in back-to-back years and 13 times in the last 23 years.
Navy also was voted the winner of the Lambert Trophy, awarded to the best team in the East. It marked the first time since 2015 and just the second time since 1963 that the Midshipmen have won the award.
Navy closed the season with a 35-13 win over Cincinnati in the Liberty Bowl. It was Navy's fourth consecutive bowl victory, all against autonomy four teams (Virginia, Kansas State, Oklahoma and Cincinnati).
Robinson recorded 64 tackles, a team-high 8.5 tackles for loss, a team-high 6.5 sacks and a team-high seven quarterback hurries in 2025.
Robinson was named a first-team All-American by the Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, Sports Illustrated, USA Today and Phil Steele. He also earned second-team All-America honors from Walter Camp, ESPN and The Sporting News.
He is the first Navy player to be named a first-team All-American in 40 years (Napoleon McCallum) and the first defensive player to earn first-team All-America honors in 50 years (Chet Moeller).
In addition, Robinson was named the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year by the league's coaches and the ECAC Defensive Player of the Year.
Heidenreich is just the second player in the FBS since 1956 to rush for at least 475 yards and record at least 925 receiving yards in the same season. The only other player to do so is Tavon Austin of West Virginia in 2012 (643 rushing, 1,289 receiving).
Heidenreich's 16 career receiving touchdowns are the most in school history. His six touchdown catches in each of the last two seasons tied the single-season school record.
His 1,994 career receiving yards and 941 receiving yards this year are both school records.
Heidenreich's 51 receptions this year are tied for the fifth most in a single season in school history, while his 109 career receptions rank second all-time.
Heidenreich had a career-high eight receptions for a school-record 243 yards and a school-record-tying three touchdown catches in Navy's win over Air Force. He is the first Navy player to surpass 200 receiving yards in a game.
Heidenreich finished his career with 3,206 all-purpose yards (1,157 rushing, 1,994 receiving and 55 on punt returns).
NAVY'S NFL DRAFT PICKS
Following is a list of Naval Academy graduates selected in the NFL Draft
2026 - Landon Robinson, DL, Cincinnati Bengals, 7th round (226th overall pick)
2026 – Eli Heidenreich, RB / WR, Pittsburgh Steelers, 7th round (230th overall pick)
2025 - Rayuan Lane III, S, Jacksonville Jaguars, 6th round (200th overall pick)
2020 - Malcolm Perry, QB, Miami Dolphins, 7th round (246th overall pick)
2016 - Keenan Reynolds, QB, Baltimore Ravens, 6th round (182nd overall pick)
2015 - Joe Cardona, LS, New England Patriots, 5th round (166th overall pick)
1993 - Bob Kuberski, DT, Green Bay Packers, 7th round (183rd overall pick)
1986 - Napoleon McCallum, RB, Los Angeles Raiders, 4th round (108th overall pick)
1973 - Glen Nardi, DT, Pittsburgh Steelers, 16th round (414th overall pick)
1964 - Roger Staubach, QB, Dallas Cowboys, 10th round (129th overall pick)
1962 - Greg Mather, E, New York Giants, 14th round (194th overall pick)
1961 - Joe Bellino, HB, Washington Redskins, 17th round (227th overall pick)
1959 - Bob Reifsnyder, DE, Los Angeles Rams, 4th round (45th overall pick)
1958 - Tom Forrestal, QB, Baltimore Colts, 20th round (237th overall pick)
1956 - George Welsh, QB, Chicago Cardinals, 16th round (186th overall pick)
1956 - Ron Beagle, E, Chicago Cardinals, 17th round (197th overall pick)
1948 - Dick Scott, C, Chicago Bears, 13th round (133rd overall pick)
1947 - Bob Kelly, HB, Green Bay Packers, 10th round (81st overall pick)
1947 - Bob Hoernschemeyer, RB, New York Giants, 11th round (94th overall pick)
1947 - Jim Carrington, OG-DG, New York Giants, 28th round (264th overall pick)
1944 - Don Whitmire, Tackle, Green Bay Packers, 9th round (82nd overall pick)
