ANNAPOLIS, Md.—2nd Lts.
Eli Heidenreich and
Alex Tecza of the United States Marine Corps made Naval Academy football history Thursday night when they appeared for the Pittsburgh Steelers in a 28-27 preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Heidenreich and Tecza are believed to be the fourth pair of Naval Academy graduates to appear for the same team in the same NFL game. They are the second pair of former Navy football teammates—and the first pair of Marine Corps officers who graduated from the Naval Academy—to accomplish the feat.
"Alex and Eli embodied the ultimate fusion of elite athleticism and uncompromising Marine Corps grit as they took the field last night, carrying with them far more than a playbook," said Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy Lt. Gen. Mike Borgschulte. "They represented the relentless drive, selfless team-first mentality, and warrior ethos that define our Navy and Marine Corps. I was especially proud to see Eli snap a crisp salute after his touchdown, a moment that immediately reminded me of another Naval Academy Marine, 2nd Lt.
Landon Robinson, who proudly rendered a crisp salute after an aggressive sack for the Cincinnati Bengals last week. Those moments transcend the scoreboard. They are powerful reminders that our warriors carry the values forged at the Naval Academy with them wherever they go. Eli, Alex, and Landon are living examples of the type of leaders we forge at the Naval Academy through discipline, sacrifice, teamwork, and an unwavering commitment to excellence."
"What an incredible night for Eli and Alex, for Navy football, the Naval Academy and the United States Marine Corps," said Navy head football coach
Brian Newberry. "Those two young men represent everything our program and the Naval Academy are about. They are tough, selfless competitors who earned this opportunity through a tremendous amount of hard work. To see them make history together as Navy football teammates and Marine Corps officers is something our entire program takes great pride in."
The first pair of Naval Academy graduates—and the first former Navy teammates—believed to have appeared for the same team in the same NFL game were Tyree Barnes ('09) and Eric Kettani ('09), who played for the New England Patriots during the 2011 preseason.
Two other pairs of Naval Academy graduates have appeared together in an NFL preseason game. Kettani and Joe Cardona ('15) played for the Patriots in 2015, while Cardona and Diego Fagot ('22) played for New England in 2023.
Heidenreich carried the ball nine times for 35 yards, including a nine-yard touchdown run, and returned two kickoffs for 47 yards. Tecza saw action on special teams.
Heidenreich and Tecza are two of five Naval Academy graduates currently on NFL rosters, four of whom are Marines. Second Lt.
Landon Robinson ('26) is with the Cincinnati Bengals, Second Lt. Rayuan Lane ('25) is with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Cardona, who recently retired from the Navy as a lieutenant commander, is with the Los Angeles Rams.
Multiple U.S. Navy and Marine Corps officers have played in the NFL and returned to active duty for their service commitment.
Those officers include 1st Lt. Malcom Perry who transitioned back into the active-duty component of the U.S. Marine Corps in 2022 after playing in the NFL. He is currently serving as an unmanned aerial systems officer stationed in Yuma, Ariz., where he leads Marines and integrates cutting-edge technology to ensure the Corps is prepared for the complexities of the modern battlefield.
