The NFL is leaning heavily into local nostalgia for the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. Wiz Khalifa will take the stage at the Draft Theater on Friday, April 24, at 5:15 p.m. before the second and third rounds begin.
The 38-year-old rapper, born Cameron Jibril Thomaz on Sept. 8, 1987, remains completely synonymous with the city’s sports identity. His breakout hit “Black and Yellow” debuted in 2010 and climbed to the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 by February 2011. That exact timeline coincided directly with the Pittsburgh Steelers marching to Super Bowl XLV.
The league booked Khalifa alongside Poison frontman Bret Michaels to target an audience that clearly remembers the 2010 championship window rather than strictly chasing younger streaming trends.
Reconnecting With the 2010 Identity
The 2010 season remains the last time Pittsburgh reached the Super Bowl. That specific roster featured Ben Roethlisberger, Hines Ward, and James Harrison dominating the AFC. The team used “Black and Yellow” as its unofficial fight song during its playoff run that culminated in Super Bowl XLV. The defense was anchored by Pro Bowl end Brett Keisel, while linebackers LaMarr Woodley and Harrison both recorded at least 10 sacks that season.
Khalifa was just 23 years old when his track became a global hit. Now, he returns as the franchise is still searching for its next great championship era. His performance serves as a direct link to the heights of the Mike Tomlin era. The front office knows they need to replicate the success of their 2010 rookie class, which yielded a Pro Bowl center in Maurkice Pouncey.
The connection between the artist and the region remains completely intact 15 years later. The song earned two Grammy Award nominations and has sold over four million digital copies since its release. Khalifa recently reflected on the track’s lasting impact during an interview with CBS Pittsburgh.
“That song is not going anywhere,” Khalifa told CBS Pittsburgh. “We’re not changing our city colors anytime soon.”
NFL Senior Director of Event and Game Presentation Tim Tubito acknowledged this dynamic when setting the weekend schedule. Tubito recognized that the city requires acts that understand its specific sports culture. The league partnered directly with the Steelers to find the right musical talent.
“Bringing the Draft to Pittsburgh gives us a chance to tap into a city with a deep connection to football and music,” Tubito said in an official release. “This year’s event brings together artists with strong roots in the region.”
A Hometown Return for Draft Weekend
The NFL Draft Theater sits directly adjacent to Acrisure Stadium on the North Shore. Khalifa and Michaels will perform for fans who have registered through the NFL OnePass app. The league expects massive crowds for the free event running from April 23 to April 25.
Michaels, a Butler native, joins Khalifa to form a massive double bill for the local crowd. Tubito explicitly noted that both artists are authentically Steelers fans who love the city. The crowd might even witness a live mashup of Poison’s “Nothin’ But a Good Time” and Khalifa’s “Black and Yellow” before the draft picks begin.
Khalifa attended Taylor Allderdice High School before signing with Rostrum Records and eventually Atlantic Records. He understands exactly what premium draft capital means to a football obsessed town. The Steelers are currently trying to build a roster capable of returning to the Super Bowl stage they last visited in 2011. Friday night covers the crucial second and third rounds of the player selection meeting.
The artist expressed genuine enthusiasm for his upcoming Friday night set. The energy of the draft provides a unique platform for a rapper whose career is permanently tied to the team’s exact color scheme.
“Coming home to Pittsburgh for the Draft is pretty special,” Khalifa said via official press release. “This city raised me, and the energy here is different. Being back with the fans and representing the city in a moment like this just feels right.”
Draft weekend in Pittsburgh offers the league a massive opportunity to celebrate the distinct culture of its host cities. Khalifa providing the soundtrack ahead of the second round shows the NFL knows exactly what resonates in the Steel City.
