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Watch: Troy Fautanu's Emotional Draft Call From Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers' first round pick was emotional when he got the call from head coach Mike Tomlin.

Stephen Thompson

Jan 8, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; Washington Huskies offensive lineman Troy Fautanu (55) against the
Jan 8, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; Washington Huskies offensive lineman Troy Fautanu (55) against the / Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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PITTSBURGH -- Troy Fautanu grew up idolizing Troy Polamalu and he will now get to walk in his hero's footsteps after the Pittsburgh Steelers' took him with the 20th overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

When he got the call from Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, informing him that he was headed to Pittsburgh, Fautaunu was emotional. He put his head in his hands before watching Cam Heyward announce the pick live and celebrating with his family.

But it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows for Fautanu during the first night of the NFL Draft. There was an early run of offensive tackles in the first half of the first round that Fautanu wasn't a part of. As he dropped well past his expected slot, Fautanu seemed annoyed that he hadn't been picked as high as some projections had him.

“We were laughing at him a little bit earlier because he looked angry because some tackles were coming off, but you want that," Tomlin said. "You want that. You want a guy who takes it personally and I think he does. He just shows all the signs of a type of guy that we want to do business with. Its important to him."

Fautanu admitted that he did take it somewhat personally that so many tackles were picked before him but once the call came in, his anger turned to relief. Now he has a clear path to an immediate starting job, but above all else he gets to live every football player's dream - landing as a first-round pick and potential cornerstone player for his favorite team and that made him understandibly emotional.

"I was a little crybaby, I'm not going to lie," Fautanu said. "It was very nerve-racking just up to that point. I'm just so happy things happened the way they did and I was able t get drafted by a team like the Pittsburgh Steelers. I'm super excited."

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper. He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press. During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.