As a linebacker, Devin Bush is quite familiar with fighting through hordes of blockers to get his target.

On Friday, he learned what it’s like to fight through an impromptu gathering of Steelers Nation less than 24 hours after being selected as Pittsburgh’s No. 1 draft choice.

“I’m super excited,” said Bush while riding the people mover train to Pittsburgh International Airport’s Landside Terminal just minutes after coming off a Southwest flight from Nashville, site of the 2019 NFL Draft. “It definitely feels welcome to come in here. I just can’t wait to get to work.”

Fellow passengers weren’t quite aware that they had a very soon-to-be Pittsburgh celebrity flying with them, but they caught on quickly as they deplaned and saw cameras waiting just off the jetway at Gate A3.

 

 

Sensing someone important was about to step off board, passengers loitered at the gate, cell phones at the ready, and created a rousing reception for the 5-foot-11, 234-pound Bush, who declared for the draft after his junior year at the University of Michigan.

The nattily dressed 20-year-old did not disappoint as he exited the jetway twirling a Terrible Towel above his head to chants of “Here we go, Steelers, here we go!” It was Bush’s first visit to Pittsburgh, and in just a few minutes on the ground, he was impressed with the big crowd of well-wishers.

As the son of a former first-round pick – his father, Devin Bush Sr., was chosen 26th overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 1995 draft – he has received good fatherly advice on how to handle Draft Day madness.

“He told me just to soak it all in and enjoy it,” Bush said. “It only happens once in your lifetime so you have to make the best of it.”

Once off the people mover, Bush was whisked to a private shuttle bus which took him and members of the Steelers’ front office to town for his first official press conference.

After meeting the media, he’ll become acquainted with his new teammates, including former Ohio State Buckeye Cam Heyward, now a defensive end for the Steelers. The soft-spoken Bush just smiled when asked if he had any thoughts on how he and Heyward would get along.

“We’re going to be good,” the former Wolverine said. “We’re going to bump heads here and there once it becomes November, but from that time on we’re going to be fine.”

 

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