Max Iheanachor
No. 71 – Pittsburgh Steelers
Position Offensive tackle
Roster status Unsigned draft pick
Personal information
Born (2003-10-19) October 19, 2003 (age 22)
Nigeria
Listed height 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight 321 lb (146 kg)
Career information
High school King/Drew (Willowbrook, California, U.S.)
College
  • East Los Angeles (2021–2022)
  • Arizona State (2023–2025)
NFL draft 2026: 1st round, 21st overall
Career history
  • Pittsburgh Steelers (2026–present)
Awards and highlights
  • Second-team All-Big 12 (2025)
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Maxwell Iheanachor (born October 19, 2003) is a Nigerian-American professional football offensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for East Los Angeles College and the Arizona State Sun Devils and was selected by the Steelers in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft.

Early life

Iheanachor was born in Nigeria, and moved to the United States at the age of 13.[1] attended King/Drew Magnet High School of Medicine and Science, where he played soccer and basketball. Despite never playing football, he enrolled at East Los Angeles College to play college football.[2]

College career

East Los Angeles College

Iheanachor spent his first two seasons at East Los Angeles College from 2021 to 2022. He was rated as the 7th overall JUCO prospect in the class of 2023.[by whom?][3]

Arizona State

Iheanachor ultimately committed to play college football for the Arizona State Sun Devils.[4][better source needed] He made his first collegiate start in week three of the 2023 season versus Fresno State.[5] That season, Iheanachor appeared in six games with five starts.[6] Iheanachor become a full time starter in 2024, making all 14 starts on the Sun Devil offensive line.[7] In 2025, he was named second-team all-Big 12.[8]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span Wingspan 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 5+7⁄8 in
(1.98 m)		 321 lb
(146 kg)		 33+7⁄8 in
(0.86 m)		 9 in
(0.23 m)		 6 ft 11+1⁄4 in
(2.11 m)		 4.91 s 1.73 s 2.87 s 30.5 in
(0.77 m)		 9 ft 7 in
(2.92 m)		 25 reps
All values from NFL Combine[9][10]

Iheanachor was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round, 21st overall, of the 2026 NFL draft.[11]

References

  1. ^ Martinez, Thomas (February 3, 2026). "Max Iheanachor 2026 NFL draft prospect profile, grades, rank, measurements". CFB-HQ On SI. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  2. ^ Thorn, Brandon. "NFL Draft 2026 Scouting Report for Arizona State OT Max Iheanachor". Bleacher Report. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
  3. ^ "Max Iheanachor Scouting Report". The Draft Network. August 25, 2025. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
  4. ^ Teets, Sam. "Max Iheanachor, RT Arizona State: 2026 NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report". Sports Talk. Substack. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
  5. ^ Scott, Dana (September 13, 2023). "ASU football's Max Iheanachor moved from basketball to O-line starter within 2 years". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
  6. ^ Karpman, Chris. "Player capsule: Max Iheanachor". SunDevilSource. 247Sports. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
  7. ^ Gardner, Michelle (August 7, 2025). "ASU lineman is NFL draft prospect but didn't play high school football". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
  8. ^ Gardner, Michelle (December 4, 2025). "3 Arizona State football standouts earn first-team Big 12 honors". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
  9. ^ "Max Iheanachor Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  10. ^ "Max Iheanachor College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  11. ^ Truax, Barkley (April 23, 2026). "Pittsburgh Steelers selects Max Iheanachor in first round of 2026 NFL Draft". On3.com.