Three-Hour Show Airs Wednesday, May 12 at 8:00 PM ET Featured Guests on 'Schedule Release '21' Include – Play-by-Play Announcers Jim Nantz, Al Michaels & Joe Buck Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford Chicago Bears HC Matt Nagy Full Team Schedules Available on NFL.com & the NFL App
The 2021 NFL Schedule powered by AWS will be released on Wednesday, May 12 at 8:00 PM ET on NFL Network, NFL.com and the NFL app.
NFL Network's coverage is highlighted by Schedule Release '21 Presented by Verizon at 8:00 PM ET, a three-hour show which breaks down the 2021 NFL regular season schedule, division by division, analyzing the top matchups and primetime games.
The NFL GameDay Morning crew anchors Schedule Release '21, with 2021 Sports Emmy nominee Rich Eisen joined by analysts Kurt Warner, Michael Irvin and Steve Mariucci from inside SoFi Stadium – site of Super Bowl LVI – along with Colleen Wolfe.
Schedule Release '21 features live on-location reports from Mike Giardi (Gillette Stadium), Aditi Kinkhabwala (Heinz Field), Kim Jones (MetLife Stadium), Jane Slater (The Star) and Mike Yam (Levi's Stadium).
Additional coverage on Schedule Release '21 is provided by Cynthia Frelund and Joe Thomas, along with Kimmi Chex offering a Fantasy perspective on the 2021 NFL schedule.
Featured guests on Schedule Release '21 include:
- Play-by-play announcers Jim Nantz (CBS), Al Michaels (NBC) & Joe Buck (FOX)
- Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford
- Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy
- Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David
- Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker
Live streaming of NFL Network is available across multiple devices (smartphone, PC, tablet and connected TVs) through the NFL app or NFL.com/watch for subscribers of participating NFL Network providers.
Digitally, NFL.com and the NFL app provides complete team-by-team and weekly schedules of all regular season games, listing opponents, sites and times, as well as comprehensive coverage of the 2021 NFL schedule including:
- Judy Battista's biggest takeaways from the 2021 NFL schedule
- Cynthia Frelund's win projections for all 32 teams
- Around the NFL's Dan Hanzus breaks down the best revenge games, Marc Sessler lists the toughest schedules and Nick Shook offers the most forgiving schedules
- Adam Schein presents his nine best primetime games
The 2021 NFL season will feature each team playing [/Pages/NFL-Season-To-Feature-17-Regular-Season-Games-Per-Team.aspx]17 regular-season games and three preseason games for the first time, providing fans an extra week of regular-season NFL action. The 17th game will feature teams from opposing conferences that finished in the same place within their division the previous season, with the AFC as the home conference for the 17th game in 2021.
ABOUT NFL MEDIA NFL Media is comprised of NFL Network, NFL Films, NFL.com, the NFL app and NFL RedZone.
Seven days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, fans turn to NFL Network to receive information and insight straight from the field, team headquarters, league offices and everywhere the NFL is making news. Launched in 2003, NFL Network gives fans unprecedented year-round inside access to all NFL events, including the Super Bowl, Playoffs, regular season, preseason, Pro Bowl, Pro Football Hall of Fame induction weekend, NFL Draft, NFL Scouting Combine, Senior Bowl, league meetings, minicamps and training camps.
For fans on the go, all NFL Network programming can be streamed live through the NFL and NFL Network apps on smartphones, tablets, PCs and connected TV devices (Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, PlayStation 4, Roku and Xbox One). Access is available for NFL Network subscribers of participating TV providers. For more information, go to NFL.com/nflnetwork.
| NFL EXTENDS SUPPORT FOR NINE SOCIAL JUSTICE ORGANIZATIONS IN ONGOING PUSH TO ‘INSPIRE CHANGE’ | $160 Million Contributed to Social Justice Funding to Date to Assist Grant Partners in their Community Initiatives NEW YORK (May 10, 2021) – As part of the NFL's Inspire Change social justice initiative, the league today announced renewals of nine national grant partners that total $2.5 million. Since 2017, the NFL has provided more than $160 million to 33 national grant partners and hundreds of grassroots organizations across the country. This includes more than 1,450 grants provided by the NFL Foundation to current NFL players and Legends for nonprofits of their choice. The nine renewed grants were recently approved by the Social Justice Working Group, comprised of 10 players and team owners. Over the last four years, grants have been awarded to nonprofit organizations that focus on the four Inspire Change pillars: education, economic advancement, police-community relations, and criminal justice reform. The specific impact these nine grant partners have made in communities range from fighting to end cash bail and pre-trial detention, to addressing "three-strikes" laws, as well as financial empowerment services. "Our grant partners are instrumental to the success of Inspire Change and the societal impact the NFL is striving to make across the country," said Anna Isaacson, NFL Senior Vice President, Social Responsibility. "These organizations are rooted in their communities, working hard to provide necessary resources that create real change. The NFL family is committed to their missions, proud of their successes and inspired by their efforts to open up access to opportunity and equality in the ongoing fight for social justice." Inspire Change support has helped grant partners launch innovative programs, release insightful reports, host trainings and workshops, succeed in advancing legislative reforms, and expand their own teams. Over the past year amid the COVID-19 pandemic that has disproportionately impacted Black Americans and further highlighted the health and economic disparities in this county, the NFL's partners have persevered to continue their tireless efforts. "Players Coalition is committed to working with the NFL Player-Owner Social Justice Working Group, ensuring that Inspire Change grants are distributed to organizations who are committed to improving social and racial justice, with a focus on police and community relations, education, economic advancement, and criminal justice reform," Kelvin Beachum, Players Coalition Task Force member, Social Justice Working Group member, and Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman. In addition, the NFL launched this month an Inspire Change content series that highlights the league's social justice efforts. The Inspire Change Explainer Essay examines how the NFL and its players, clubs, and partners address social injustice across the country and the Where the Money Goes vignette breaks down how the social justice funds are allocated. Grant Renewals The NFL's social justice grant has supported Alabama Appleseed in continuing to challenge Alabama's "three-strikes" law, which has resulted in life sentences for hundreds of people convicted of non-homicide crimes and has the potential to impact 26,000 people in Alabama prisons. Appleseed has won the release of several clients originally sentenced to die in prison, including Ron McKeithen who was released after serving 37 years for a robbery and had his first art show in April. The grant renewal will assist City Year in bolstering their Whole School Whole Child program which helps more than 220,000 students at systemically under-resourced schools in 29 cities build key academic, social and emotional skills needed to succeed in college and their career. Young leaders like Noemi Vasquez Moreno serve as "student success coaches" making a difference in the lives of students while acquiring valuable skills and experience that prepare them to become leaders working across lines of difference. Council on Legal Education Opportunity, Inc. (CLEO) will be able to continue bringing greater diversity to the legal profession through its flagship Prelaw Summer Institute, an intensive, multi-week program for diverse, first year law students to prepare them for the academic rigors of law school and increase their overall chances of successful matriculation. Community Justice Exchange makes an impact fighting to end money bail and pre-trial detention on the local and national level. The NFL grant will increase their funding to free more than 10,000 individuals annually. Social justice grant renewal funding helped Gideon's Promise train 300 total summer law clerks amid the pandemic – a 1,400 percent increase over the original 20 clerks planned pre-COVID. Renewal funding will assist in expanding their mentoring program for public defenders and providing them access to resource materials that allow them to secure the release of incarcerated people. Dee Glickman and Charlotte Heyrman shared their experiences and gratitude for the community built as a result of this program: video Metropolitan Family Services will put social justice grant funding towards Communities Partnering for Peace (CP4P), a comprehensive, collaborative intervention model that reduces homicides and shootings, reclaims safe community spaces, and professionalizes the street outreach field. Most recently, Metro Family Services conducted Community Police Academy trainings across five districts of the Chicago Police Department. Operation HOPE will be able to scale their work in providing credit and money management, financial wellness programming and economic resilience coaching to individuals, families and small businesses from our most vulnerable communities. In 2020, Operation HOPE's financial wellbeing coaches provided 231,383 financial empowerment services to adults nationwide through its credit, small business, homeownership, and disaster recovery programs; and educated 3,531 youth through its Banking on Our Future program. UNCF's support to expand education and end the prison pipeline through by focusing on Pell Grants for incarcerated individuals has benefited many, including North Carolina native Jason Jones who received a degree from Wiley College while he was incarcerated. Because of this degree, Jones secured a higher paying position in his role at a Steel Manufacturer. VOTE can continue their efforts in advocating for voter registration, including registering individuals with a felony conviction, and serving as a direct hub of communication between incarcerated people, their families, lawyers, media, elected officials and the Department of Corrections. With social justice grant funding, they launched the VOTE Institute for Policy to train members in legislative policy advocacy and hired a Women's Re-Entry Specialist – a formerly incarcerated woman herself – to spearhead the transitional housing project specifically for women. For more information on the NFL's Inspire Change social justice initiative please visit www.nfl.com/inspirechange. Follow @InspireChange on Twitter and Instagram. On Facebook, follow at www.Facebook.com/InspireChange/. To view the NFL Inspire Change Infographic click here. | NFL Offseason Workout Program Dates Announced | Voluntary offseason workout programs are intended to provide training, teaching and physical conditioning for players. The calendar for 2021 is below, including rookie minicamp dates.
As per Article 21 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the voluntary nine-week offseason program is conducted in three phases. In 2021:
Phase One (April 19-May 14) has been extended from its customary two-week period to four weeks, with activities limited to strength and conditioning, virtual meetings, and physical rehabilitation only.
Phase Two (May 17-21) has been shortened from three weeks to one week. On-field workouts may include individual player instruction and drills, “perfect play” drills, drills and plays conducted with offensive players lining up across from offensive players and defensive players lining up across from defensive players, with each group permitted to align eleven or fewer players across from eleven or fewer players. Players on one side of the ball may execute a play, but players on the opposite side of the ball may not initiate contact with, or attempt to impede the progress of, players who are running the play. All such drills must be conducted at an acceptable walkthrough pace (i.e. Pro Bowl practice). Phase Three (May 24-June 18) remains its customary four weeks in length. Beginning in Phase Three, clubs may conduct in-person meetings and classroom instruction subject to COVID-19 testing cadence, tracking, facility access and other protocols. During Phase Three, teams may conduct a total of 10 days of organized team practice activity, or “OTAs”. No live contact is permitted, but 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills are permitted.
Article 22 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement stipulates that clubs may hold one mandatory minicamp for veteran players. This minicamp, noted below, must occur during Phase Three of the offseason program.
Each club may hold a rookie football development program for a period of seven weeks, which in 2021 may begin on May 17. During this period, no activities may be held on weekends, with the exception of one post-NFL Draft rookie minicamp, which may be conducted on either the first or second weekend following the draft.
For detailed offseason program rules, please see Articles 21 and 22 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, available on nflcommunications.com.
The NFL Offseason Workout Program calendar (dates are tentative and subject to change at the discretion of individual clubs):
ARIZONA OTA Offseason Workouts: May 25-27, June 2-4, June 7-10
Mandatory Minicamp: June 15-17
Rookie Minicamp: May 14-16
ATLANTA OTA Offseason Workouts: May 25-27, June 2-4, June 14-17
Mandatory Minicamp: June 8-10
Rookie Minicamp: May 14-16 BALTIMORE OTA Offseason Workouts: May 25-27, June 2-4, June 7-8, June 10-11
Mandatory Minicamp: June 15-17
Rookie Minicamp: May 14-16 BUFFALO OTA Offseason Workouts: May 24-25, May 27, June 1-2, June 4, June 7-8, June 10-11
Mandatory Minicamp: June 15-17
Rookie Minicamp: May 14-16 CAROLINA OTA Offseason Workouts: May 24-25, May 27, June 1-3, June 7-10
Mandatory Minicamp: June 15-17
Rookie Minicamp: May 14-16 CHICAGO OTA Offseason Workouts: May 25-27, June 1-3, June 7-10
Mandatory Minicamp: June 15-17
Rookie Minicamp: May 14-16 CINCINNATI OTA Offseason Workouts: May 25-27, June 1-3, June 7-10
Mandatory Minicamp: June 15-17
Rookie Minicamp: May 14
CLEVELAND OTA Offseason Workouts: May 25-27, June 1-3, June 7-10
Mandatory Minicamp: June 15-17
Rookie Minicamp: May 14-16 DALLAS OTA Offseason Workouts: May 24-25, May 27, June 1, June 3-4
Mandatory Minicamp: June 8-10
Rookie Minicamp: May 14-16 DENVER OTA Offseason Workouts: May 24-25, May 27, June 1-2, June 4, June 7-8, June 10-11
Mandatory Minicamp: June 15-17
Rookie Minicamp: May 14-16 DETROIT OTA Offseason Workouts: May 25-27, June 2-4, June 14-17
Mandatory Minicamp: June 8-10
Rookie Minicamp: May 14-16 GREEN BAY OTA Offseason Workouts: May 24-25, May 27, June 1-2, June 4, June 7-8, June 10
Mandatory Minicamp: June 15-17
Rookie Minicamp: May 14-15 HOUSTON OTA Offseason Workouts: May 24, May 26-27, June 1, June 3-4, June 7-8, June 10-11
Mandatory Minicamp: June 15-17
Rookie Minicamp: May 14-16 INDIANAPOLIS OTA Offseason Workouts: May 25-27, June 2-4, June 7-10
Mandatory Minicamp: June 15-17
Rookie Minicamp: May 7-9 JACKSONVILLE OTA Offseason Workouts: May 24, May 26-27, June 1, June 3-4, June 7-10
Mandatory Minicamp: June 15-17
Rookie Minicamp: May 14-16 KANSAS CITY OTA Offseason Workouts: May 25-27, June 1-3, June 8-11
Mandatory Minicamp: June 15-17
Rookie Minicamp: May 14-16 LAS VEGAS OTA Offseason Workouts: May 25-27, June 1-3, June 7-10
Mandatory Minicamp: June 15-17
Rookie Minicamp: May 7-9 LA CHARGERS OTA Offseason Workouts: May 24-25, May 27, June 2-4, June 7-8, June 10
Mandatory Minicamp: June 15-16
Rookie Minicamp: May 14-16 LA RAMS OTA Offseason Workouts: May 24-25, May 27, June 1-3, June 7-10
Mandatory Minicamp: June 15-17
Rookie Minicamp: May 14-16 MIAMI OTA Offseason Workouts: May 24-26, June 1-3, June 7-8, June 10
Mandatory Minicamp: June 15-17
Rookie Minicamp: May 14-16 MINNESOTA OTA Offseason Workouts: May 24-26, June 1-3, June 8-11
Mandatory Minicamp: June 15-17
Rookie Minicamp: May 14-16 NEW ENGLAND OTA Offseason Workouts: May 24-25, May 27, June 1, June 3-4, June 7-8, June 10-11
Mandatory Minicamp: June 15-17
Rookie Minicamp: May 14-16 NEW ORLEANS OTA Offseason Workouts: May 25-27, June 1-3, June 7-10
Mandatory Minicamp: June 15-17
Rookie Minicamp: May 14-16 NEW YORK GIANTS OTA Offseason Workouts: May 24-25, May 27, June 2-4, June 14-15
Mandatory Minicamp: June 8-10
Rookie Minicamp: May 14-16 NEW YORK JETS OTA Offseason Workouts: May 24, May 26-27, June 1, June 3-4, June 7-8, June 10-11
Mandatory Minicamp: June 15-17
Rookie Minicamp: May 7-9 PHILADELPHIA OTA Offseason Workouts: May 25-27, June 2-4, June 14-17
Mandatory Minicamp: June 8-10
Rookie Minicamp: May 14-16 PITTSBURGH OTA Offseason Workouts: May 25-27, June 1-3, June 7-10
Mandatory Minicamp: June 15-17
Rookie Minicamp: May 14-16 SAN FRANCISCO OTA Offseason Workouts: May 24-25, May 27, June 1-2, June 4, June 7-8, June 10
Mandatory Minicamp: June 15-17
Rookie Minicamp: May 14-16 SEATTLE OTA Offseason Workouts: May 24, May 26-27, June 1, June 3-4, June 7-10
Mandatory Minicamp: June 15-17
Rookie Minicamp: May 14-16
TAMPA BAY OTA Offseason Workouts: May 25-27, June 1-3, June 14-17
Mandatory Minicamp: June 7-9
Rookie Minicamp: May 14-16 TENNESSEE OTA Offseason Workouts: May 24-25, May 27, June 1, June 3-4, June 7-10
Mandatory Minicamp: June 15-17
Rookie Minicamp: May 14-16 WASHINGTON OTA Offseason Workouts: May 25-27, June 1-3, June 8-10
Mandatory Minicamp: June 15-17
Rookie Minicamp: May 14-15
| VACCINATED FANS TO WIN 50 FREE SUPER BOWL LVI TICKETS AS PART OF SATURDAY NIGHT GLOBAL EVENT | NFL CONTINUES TO MOVE THE NEEDLE WITH VACCINATION EFFORTS The National Football League's commitment to raising awareness and encouraging Americans to get vaccinated continues as the league announced today that it is providing 50 free tickets to Super Bowl LVI in February 2022 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
Working closely with the White House COVID Response Team and Global Citizen, the Super Bowl promotion includes a chance to win a pair of Super Bowl tickets for fans who share their story on why they got vaccinated or will soon get vaccinated. This campaign is the latest step of the league's response to help the country recover and return to normalcy. Details on how to win the Super Bowl tickets will be announced Saturday night during Global Citizen's VAX Live: The Concert to Reunite the World show. The global event brings together artists, entertainers and world leaders, including President Biden, to support vaccine equity. The special will broadcast nationally beginning at 8 p.m. ET across multiple platforms, including ABC, CBS and FOX. The show takes place at SoFi Stadium. More than three million vaccinations have been administered at 21 NFL stadiums and facilities since January. In addition, the NFL will also offer a 25 percent discount on purchases made at NFLShop.com for vaccinated fans later this year. More details will be announced at a later date. The NFL previously invited 7,500 vaccinated health care workers to Super Bowl LV in Tampa as guests of the league to thank and honor them for their continued extraordinary service during the pandemic. The initiative also promoted the importance of vaccination and appropriate health practices. Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, serve as campaign chairs of VAX LIVE. Hosted by multi-platinum recording artist, actress, and producer Selena Gomez, the VAX LIVE broadcast special will feature musical performances by Jennifer Lopez, Eddie Vedder, Foo Fighters, J Balvin, and H.E.R. Special guests from around the world will also speak about the importance of vaccine equity, including Ben Affleck, Chrissy Teigen, David Letterman, Gayle King, Jimmy Kimmel, Nomzamo Mbatha, Olivia Munn, and Sean Penn. | National Football League Returns as Title Sponsor of 2021 HBCU Battle of the Brains | "The continued commitment of the NFL illustrates its shared belief in the product of our HBCU institutions." – Gregory Gibson Jr., Founder & Executive Director, HBCU Battle of the Brains The fifth annual Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Battle of the Brains (HBCU BOTB) is set to take place Wednesday, October 20 through Saturday, October 23, 2021 in Austin, TX, and the National Football League is once again serving as the title sponsor of the event.
With the theme #MoreToBattleFor, this year's HBCU BOTB will once again pit teams of the best and brightest STEM and Business students from HBCUs across the country against each other as they compete for more than $50,000 in scholarships. Each team will have 24 hours to develop a solution to a proposed business challenge, and make their pitch live in front of an audience. They will be judged on analysis, a business/technology solution, a presentation and Q&A, with crowd participation constituting one of the final votes.
"Showcasing the immensely talented students that populate our nation's HBCUs has been a central focus of the HBCU Battle of the Brains," said Gregory Gibson, Founder and Executive Director, HBCU BOTB. "The commitment of the NFL illustrates its shared belief in the product of our HBCU institutions."
"The NFL is excited to once again sponsor the HBCU Battle of the Brains event," said David Jurenka, Senior Vice President, NFL Media & General Manager, Los Angeles. "We have seen countless examples of how this event continues to shine a light on the incredibly gifted young minds that will undoubtedly have an impact on the future of various industries. The creativity and enthusiasm surrounding this event is truly inspiring, and we always cherish the opportunity to engage and interact with these students."
"The HBCU Battle of the Brains event is one we look forward to participating in each and every year," said Michelle McKenna, NFL Senior Vice President & Chief Information Officer. "Engaging and working with the dedicated HBCU community remains an important priority for the NFL, and we are excited to continue to grow our relationship through events such as the Battle of the Brains."
More than 30 NFL executives and staff across its league and media offices will be on hand during the four-day event, providing guidance and support for participants in a variety of roles including featured speakers, team mentors and competition judges.
Hosted by HBCU Battle of the Brains, LLC, the competition is designed to support the mission of HBCUs by promoting talented business and STEM students within the African American community, as well as the technology industry, in an engaging and dynamic way.
For more information, visit hbcubattleofthebrains.com and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram at @hbcubotbrains. #HBCUBotBrains #MoreToBattleFor. About HBCU Battle of the Brains HBCU Battle of the Brains, LLC's mission is to address inequities in industries in which Black and Brown representation is severely lacking. This is accomplished by creating and delivering compelling programming that not only brings top students and industry leaders together but allows each entity to showcase its best self through industry-specific skills challenges (HBCU Battle of the Brains Competition, hybrid-hackathon, business cases, etc…), mentoring (HBCU Office Hours), and professional development (#ReadyToWork, etc…). We excel at showcasing the top business and STEM students that our nation's HBCUs have to offer while introducing this highly regarded talent to amazing companies and career paths. | NFL NAMES KATIE HILL SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS | The National Football League has named Katie Hill Senior Vice President of Communications, effective May 3. Hill joins the NFL from former President Barack Obama's family office, where she served as President Obama's Communications Director for the last four years. As Senior Vice President, Hill will be responsible for leading the NFL's day-to-day communications operation, aligning the League's communications strategy with its priorities. She will work closely with the leadership team across departments to ensure consistency of messaging and strategy, and to elevate success stories. In addition, she will lead efforts in identifying reputational issues for the League and across the 32 clubs and developing strategies to mitigate their impact. Hill will be based at League headquarters in New York and will report to Jeff Miller, Executive Vice President of Communications, Public Affairs and Policy. "We couldn't be more pleased to welcome someone of Katie's talent to the NFL," said Miller. "Her communications vision, world-class strategic instincts, and deep understanding of today's dynamic media, digital and cultural landscape make her an excellent fit for the League and our goals." Hill brings more than 15 years of strategic communications and public affairs experience to the League, spanning the White House, Capitol Hill, the private sector and political campaigns. In her most recent role, she curated President Obama's post-Administration public profile, developing and executing international and domestic communications strategy for the former president, including his political activity, the launch of his production company, Higher Ground, and the publication of his presidential memoir, A Promised Land. She also served as the former president's chief spokesperson. From 2014 to 2017, Hill served in the Obama Administration, first as National Press Secretary for health care at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, then joining the White House in 2015 as Assistant Press Secretary and spokesperson for a variety of policy areas, including health care, education, veterans' affairs, the Council on Women and Girls, and sports. She also has worked on Capitol Hill and at a public relations firm. She was honored in 2016 as one of Out Magazine's "OUT100" LGBTQ leaders, alongside her White House colleagues, for their work to advance equality. A Nashville native, Hill graduated from the University of Virginia with a bachelor's degree in classical Greek, where she was an Echols Scholar. She and her wife, Andrea, are relocating from Washington, D.C. to New York. | 229 High Schools Have Players Selected in 2021 NFL Draft | 229 HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE PLAYERS SELECTED IN 2021 NFL DRAFT AMERICAN HERITAGE (FL) AND IMG ACADEMY (FL) LEAD ALL HIGH SCHOOLS WITH SIX PLAYERS EACH With the 2021 NFL Draft now concluded, the incoming class of drafted rookies will soon experience its first taste of NFL life. And while the drafted rookies enter the NFL from a variety of different backgrounds, one thing they generally all have in common is an outstanding experience playing high school football. A total of 229 high schools contributed to the 259 players selected in the seven rounds of the April 29-May 1 Draft. “It’s great to see the football path continue for these prospects who represent 229 different high schools from around the country, and increasingly, the world,” said ROMAN OBEN, the NFL’s Vice President of Football Development. “We believe football is a great game that instills character, resiliency, and confidence in many young men and women, whether they end up playing on Sundays or not.” AMERICAN HERITAGE (Florida) and IMG ACADEMY (Florida) led the way with six players each, while 14 high schools – ALLEN (Texas), ARCHBISHOP WOOD CATHOLIC (Pennsylvania), BINGHAM (Utah), BISHOP O’DOWD (California), EPISCOPAL (Texas), LAWRENCE CENTRAL (Indiana), LINCOLN (Ohio), MIAMI NORTHWESTERN (Florida), OAK RIDGE (Texas), PARKWAY (Louisiana), RANCHO CUCAMONGA (California), RIVERDALE BAPTIST (Maryland), SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS (Florida) and WESTLAKE (Texas) – each had two players selected. IMG Academy ties for the lead after leading all high schools with four players selected in the 2020 NFL Draft last year. “I think a huge reason for everybody wanting to go to IMG Academy is just being surrounded by the best players in the country,” said quarterback and Minnesota Vikings third-round pick KELLEN MOND, who attended the school alongside Jacksonville Jaguars third-round pick ANDRE CISCO, Carolina Panthers sixth-round pick THOMAS FLETCHER, Tampa Bay Buccaneers third-round pick ROBERT HAINSEY, Kansas City Chiefs fourth-round pick JOSHUA KAINDOH and Los Angeles Chargers third-round pick TRE’ MCKITTY. “All of the starters and everyone who was around there, everybody had dreams of going to the NFL and had dreams of being great college players. Just surrounding myself with people that had that mentality is exactly what I wanted as a football player.” The breakdown of the 16 high schools that had multiple players drafted by NFL clubs:
HIGH SCHOOL | TOTAL | PLAYERS (NFL TEAM/ROUND) | American Heritage (Plantation, FL) | 6 | Patrick Surtain (Denver/1); Tyson Campbell (Jacksonville/2); Anthony Schwartz (Cleveland/3); Marco Wilson (Arizona/4); Tedarrell Slaton (Green Bay/5); Khalil Herbert (Chicago/6) | IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) | 6 | Andre Cisco (Jacksonville/3); Kellen Mond (Minnesota/3); Robert Hainsey (Tampa Bay/3); Tre’ McKitty (Los Angeles Chargers/3); Joshua Kaindoh (Kansas City/4); Thomas Fletcher (Carolina/6) | Allen (Allen, TX) | 2 | Levi Onwuzurike (Detroit/2); William Sherman (New England/6) | Archbishop Wood Catholic (Warminster, PA) | 2 | Kyle Pitts (Atlanta/1); Mark Webb (Los Angeles Chargers/7) | Bingham (South Jordan, UT) | 2 | Jay Tufele (Jacksonville/4); Dax Milne (Washington/7) | Bishop O’Dowd (Oakland, CA) | 2 | Alijah Vera-Tucker (New York Jets/1); Jevon Holland (Miami/2) | Episcopal (Bellaire, TX) | 2 | Jaylen Waddle (Miami/1); Walker Little (Jacksonville/2) | Lawrence Central (Indianapolis, IN) | 2 | Cameron McGrone (New England/5); Gerrid Doaks (Miami/7) | Lincoln (Gahanna, OH) | 2 | Camaron Cheeseman (Washington/6); Jonathon Cooper (Denver/7) | Miami Northwestern (Miami, FL) | 2 | Tutu Atwell (Los Angeles Rams/2); Rachad Wildgoose (Buffalo/6) | Oak Ridge (Conroe, TX) | 2 | Joseph Ossai (Cincinnati/3); Grant Stuard (Tampa Bay/7) | Parkway (Bossier City, LA) | 2 | Terrace Marshall (Carolina/2); Israel Mukuamu (Dallas/6) | Rancho Cucamonga (Alta Loma, CA) | 2 | Darren Hall (Atlanta/4); Thomas Graham (Chicago/6) | Riverdale Baptist (Upper Marlboro, MD) | 2 | Christian Darrisaw (Minnesota/1); Zech McPhearson (Philadelphia/4) | Saint Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, FL) | 2 | Elijah Moore (New York Jets/2); Josh Palmer (Los Angeles Chargers/3) | Westlake (Austin, TX) | 2 | Kylen Granson (Indianapolis/4); Sam Ehlinger (Indianapolis/6) |
STATES WITH MOST NFL PLAYERS DRAFTED IN 2021 PER CAPITA
STATE | POPULATION * | NFL PLAYERS | NFL PLAYERS PER CAPITA | Louisiana | 4,657,757 | 13 | | 1 NFL player per 358,289 people | Utah | 3,271,616 | 7 | | 1 NFL player per 467,374 people | Georgia | 10,711,908 | 20 | | 1 NFL player per 535,595 people | Florida | 21,538,187 | 37 | | 1 NFL player per 582,113 people | District of Columbia | 689,545 | 1 | | 1 NFL player per 689,545 people | | | | | | UNITED STATES | 331,449,281 | 257 | | 1 NFL player per 1,289,696 people | * Based on most recent U.S. Census Data (2020) |
STATE BREAKDOWN STATE | PLAYERS DRAFTED | STATE | PLAYERS DRAFTED | Florida | 37 | Wisconsin | 4 | Texas | 33 | Illinois | 3 | Georgia | 20 | Kansas | 3 | California | 19 | Nevada | 3 | Louisiana | 13 | Oklahoma | 3 | North Carolina | 10 | South Carolina | 3 | Ohio | 9 | Connecticut | 2 | Michigan | 8 | New York | 2 | Pennsylvania | 8 | Arkansas | 1 | Alabama | 7 | Arizona | 1 | Utah | 7 | Idaho | 1 | Indiana | 6 | Iowa | 1 | Maryland | 6 | Nebraska | 1 | Oregon | 6 | Rhode Island | 1 | Virginia | 6 | South Dakota | 1 | Massachusetts | 5 | Washington | 1 | Tennessee | 5 | | | Kentucky | 4 | District of Columbia | 1 | Minnesota | 4 | | | Mississippi | 4 | International | 2 | Missouri | 4 | | | New Jersey | 4 | TOTAL | 259 |
Some interesting notes on high schools in the 2021 NFL Draft:
- Thirty-eight states, as well as Washington, D.C., had at least one player drafted.
- For the 15th time in the past 16 seasons, at least one player who attended high school outside of the United States was selected in the NFL Draft [RB Chuba Hubbard (Alberta, Canada) and DB Benjamin St-Juste (Quebec, Canada)]. It also marks the second consecutive year that multiple players from Canadian high schools were drafted.
- Florida (37) and Texas (33) each had at least 30 players selected, marking the first year since 2016 that features two states with at least 30 players selected. That year it was also Florida (30) and Texas (32).
- Florida leads all states in drafted players for the third time in the past four years.
- Florida and Georgia lead all states with five first-round selections each.
- American Heritage and IMG Academy each having six players selected is the highest total for any school in a single NFL Draft since at least 2013.
The 2021 NFL Draft broken down by state listing of high schools: ALABAMA (7) PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY) | LB K.J. Britt | Tampa Bay (5) | Auburn | Oxford | G Deonte Brown | Carolina (6) | Alabama | Austin (Decatur) | WR Nico Collins | Houston (3) | Michigan | Clay Chalkville (Pinson) | K Evan McPherson | Cincinnati (5) | Florida | Fort Payne | LB Monty Rice | Tennessee (3) | Georgia | James Clemens (Huntsville) | WR Kadarius Toney | New York Giants (1) | Florida | M T Blount (Prichard) | WR Seth Williams | Denver (6) | Auburn | Paul W. Bryant (Cottondale) |
ARIZONA (1)
PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY) | DT Roy Lopez | Houston (6) | Arizona | Mesquite (Gilbert) |
ARKANSAS (1)
PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY) | DB Tre Norwood | Pittsburgh (7) | Oklahoma | Northside (Fort Smith) |
CALIFORNIA (19)
PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY) | G Aaron Banks | San Francisco (2) | Notre Dame | El Cerrito | QB Ian Book | New Orleans (4) | Notre Dame | Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) | DB Camryn Bynum | Minnesota (4) | California | Centennial (Corona) | C Drew Dalman | Atlanta (4) | Stanford | Palma (Salinas) | G Wyatt Davis | Minnesota (3) | Ohio State | St. John Bosco (Bellflower) | RB Demetric Felton | Cleveland (6) | UCLA | Great Oak (Temecula) | DB Thomas Graham | Chicago (6) | Oregon | Rancho Cucamonga (Alta Loma) | DB Darren Hall | Atlanta (4) | San Diego State | Rancho Cucamonga (Alta Loma) | RB Najee Harris | Pittsburgh (1) | Alabama | Antioch | DB Jevon Holland | Miami (2) | Oregon | Bishop O’Dowd (Oakland) | RB Jermar Jefferson | Detroit (7) | Oregon State | Narbonne (Harbor City) | DB Deommodore Lenoir | San Francisco (5) | Oregon | Salesian (Los Angeles) | DE Jaelan Phillips | Miami (1) | Miami (FL) | Redlands East Valley (Redlands) | WR Amon-Ra St. Brown | Detroit (4) | Southern California | Mater Dei (Santa Ana) | DB Keith Taylor | Carolina (5) | Washington | Servite (Anaheim) | G Alijah Vera-Tucker | New York Jets (1) | Southern California | Bishop O’Dowd (Oakland) | DB Chris Wilcox | Tampa Bay (7) | Brigham Young | Roosevelt (Fresno) | DB Avery Williams | Atlanta (5) | Boise State | Jserra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano) | DB Nahshon Wright | Dallas (3) | Oregon State | James Logan (Union City) |
CONNECTICUT (2)
PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY) | TE Ben Mason | Baltimore (5) | Michigan | Newtown (Sandy Hook) | DB Jason Pinnock | New York Jets (5) | Pittsburgh | Windsor |
FLORIDA (37)
PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY) | WR Tutu Atwell | Los Angeles Rams (2) | Louisville | Miami Northwestern (Miami) | DB Tyson Campbell | Jacksonville (2) | Georgia | American Heritage (Plantation) | RB Michael Carter | New York Jets (4) | North Carolina | Navarre | DB Andre Cisco | Jacksonville (3) | Syracuse | IMG Academy (Bradenton) | DB Shawn Davis | Indianapolis (5) | Florida | Miami Southridge Senior (Miami) | LS Thomas Fletcher | Carolina (6) | Alabama | IMG Academy (Bradenton) | T Stone Forsythe | Seattle (6) | Florida | West Orange (Winter Garden) | DB Tyree Gillespie | Las Vegas (4) | Missouri | Vanguard (Ocala) | DB Richie Grant | Atlanta (2) | Central Florida | Choctawhatchee (Fort Walton Beach) | T Robert Hainsey | Tampa Bay (3) | Notre Dame | IMG Academy (Bradenton) | TE Jacob Harris | Los Angeles Rams (4) | Central Florida | Palm Harbor University (Palm Harbor) | RB Khalil Herbert | Chicago (6) | Virginia Tech | American Heritage (Plantation) | DB Shemar Jean-Charles | Green Bay (5) | Appalachian State | Miramar | DB Jamar Johnson | Denver (5) | Indiana | Riverview | QB Mac Jones | New England (1) | Alabama | Bolles (Jacksonville) | DE Joshua Kaindoh | Kansas City (4) | Florida State | IMG Academy (Bradenton) | T Alex Leatherwood | Las Vegas (1) | Alabama | Booker T. Washington (Pensacola) | TE Tre’ McKitty | Los Angeles Chargers (3) | Georgia | IMG Academy (Bradenton) | QB Kellen Mond | Minnesota (3) | Texas A&M | IMG Academy (Bradenton) | WR Elijah Moore | New York Jets (2) | Mississippi | Saint Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) | DB Greg Newsome | Cleveland (1) | Northwestern | Bradenton Bayshore (Bradenton) | WR Tre Nixon | New England (7) | Central Florida | Viera | WR Josh Palmer | Los Angeles Chargers (3) | Tennessee | Saint Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) | DB Aaron Robinson | New York Giants (3) | Central Florida | Deerfield Beach | DE Janarius Robinson | Minnesota (4) | Florida State | Panama City Christian (Panama City) | DE Gregory Rousseau | Buffalo (1) | Miami (FL) | Monarch (Coconut Creek) | LB Chris Rumph | Los Angeles Chargers (4) | Duke | Bucholz (Gainesville) | DB Asante Samuel | Los Angeles Chargers (2) | Florida State | Saint Andrew’s (Boca Raton) | WR Anthony Schwartz | Cleveland (3) | Auburn | American Heritage (Plantation) | LB Jamien Sherwood | New York Jets (5) | Auburn | Jensen Beach | DT Tedarrell Slaton | Green Bay (5) | Florida | American Heritage (Plantation) | DB Patrick Surtain | Denver (1) | Alabama | American Heritage (Plantation) | DB Shaun Wade | Baltimore (5) | Ohio State | Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville) | LB Rashad Weaver | Tennessee (4) | Pittsburgh | Cooper City | DB James Wiggins | Arizona (7) | Cincinnati | South Dade (Homestead) | DB Rachad Wildgoose | Buffalo (6) | Wisconsin | Miami Northwestern (Miami) | DB Marco Wilson | Arizona (4) | Florida | American Heritage (Plantation) |
GEORGIA (20)
PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY) | WR Kawaan Baker | New Orleans (7) | South Alabama | Hapeville Charter Career Academy (Atlanta) | WR Rashod Bateman | Baltimore (1) | Minnesota | Tift County (Tifton) | WR Jalen Camp | Jacksonville (6) | Georgia Tech | South Forsyth (Cumming) | DB Michael Carter | New York Jets (5) | Duke | South Paulding (Paulding County) | G Ben Cleveland | Baltimore (3) | Georgia | Stephens County (Toccoa) | LB Jamin Davis | Washington (1) | Kentucky | Long County (Ludowici) | QB Justin Fields | Chicago (1) | Ohio State | Harrison (Kennesaw) | DB Tay Gowan | Arizona (6) | Central Florida | Newton County (Covington) | C Trey Hill | Cincinnati (6) | Georgia | Houston County (Warner Robbins) | DB Jaycee Horn | Carolina (1) | South Carolina | Alpharetta | LB Ernest Jones | Los Angeles Rams (3) | South Carolina | Ware County (Waycross) | QB Trevor Lawrence | Jacksonville (1) | Clemson | Cartersville | DB Richard LeCounte | Cleveland (5) | Georgia | Liberty County (Hinesville) | QB Davis Mills | Houston (3) | Stanford | Greater Atlanta Christian (Norcross) | LB Azeez Ojulari | New York Giants (2) | Georgia | Marietta | DE Cameron Sample | Cincinnati (4) | Tulane | Shiloh (Snelville) | RB Trey Sermon | San Francisco (3) | Ohio State | Sprayberry (Marietta) | T D’Ante Smith | Cincinnati (4) | East Carolina | Grovetown | LB Jordan Smith | Jacksonville (4) | Alabama-Birmingham | Lithonia | TE Tommy Tremble | Carolina (3) | Notre Dame | Wesleyan (Peachtree Corners) |
IDAHO (1)
PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY) | NT Tommy Togiai | Cleveland (4) | Ohio State | Highland (Pocatello) |
ILLINOIS (3)
PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY) | C Kendrick Green | Pittsburgh (3) | Illinois | Peoria | T Royce Newman | Green Bay (4) | Mississippi | Nashville Community (Nashville) | LB Nick Niemann | Los Angeles Chargers (6) | Iowa | Sycamore |
INDIANA (6)
PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY) | RB Gerrid Doaks | Miami (7) | Cincinnati | Lawrence Central (Indianapolis) | WR D’Wayne Eskridge | Seattle (2) | Western Michigan | Bluffton | RB Chris Evans | Cincinnati (6) | Michigan | Ben Davis (Indianapolis) | LB Cameron McGrone | New England (5) | Michigan | Lawrence Central (Indianapolis) | WR Ben Skowronek | Los Angeles Rams (7) | Notre Dame | Homestead (Fort Wayne) | LB Pete Werner | New Orleans (2) | Ohio State | Cathedral (Indianapolis) |
IOWA (1)
PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY) | T Spencer Brown | Buffalo (3) | Northern Iowa | Lenox Community (Lenox) |
KANSAS (3)
PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY) | DE Wyatt Hubert | Cincinnati (7) | Kansas State | Shawnee Heights (Tecumseh) | T Teven Jenkins | Chicago (2) | Oklahoma State | Topeka | DE Isaiahh Loudermilk | Pittsburgh (5) | Wisconsin | West Elk (Howard) |
KENTUCKY (4)
PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY) | LB Derrick Barnes | Detroit (4) | Purdue | Holy Cross (Louisville) | DB Nate Hobbs | Las Vegas (5) | Illinois | Louisville Male (Louisville) | WR Rondale Moore | Arizona (2) | Purdue | Trinity (Louisville) | T Landon Young | New Orleans (6) | Kentucky | Lafayette (Lexington) |
LOUISIANA (13)
PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY) | WR Ja’Marr Chase | Cincinnati (1) | LSU | Archbishop Rummel (Metairie) | RB Travis Etienne | Jacksonville (1) | Clemson | Jennings | DB Kelvin Joseph | Dallas (2) | Kentucky | Scotlandville Manget (Baton Rouge) | WR Terrace Marshall | Carolina (2) | LSU | Parkway (Bossier City) | WR Racey McMath | Tennessee (6) | LSU | Edna Karr (New Orleans) | RB Elijah Mitchell | San Francisco (6) | Louisiana-Lafayette | Erath | DB Israel Mukuamu | Dallas (6) | South Carolina | Parkway (Bossier City) | DB Robert Rochell | Los Angeles Rams (4) | Central Arkansas | Fair Park (Shreveport) | NT Tyler Shelvin | Cincinnati (4) | LSU | Notre Dame (Crowley) | WR DeVonta Smith | Philadelphia (1) | Alabama | Amite | WR Marquez Stevenson | Buffalo (6) | Houston | Northwood (Lena) | LB Garret Wallow | Houston (5) | TCU | John Curtis Christian (New Orleans) | DB Rodarius Williams | New York Giants (6) | Oklahoma State | Calvary Baptist (Shreveport) |
MARYLAND (6)
PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY) | RB Gary Brightwell | New York Giants (6) | Arizona | St. Frances (Baltimore) | T Christian Darrisaw | Minnesota (1) | Virginia Tech | Riverdale Baptist (Upper Marlboro) | LB Victor Dimukeje | Arizona (6) | Duke | Boys’ Latin (Baltimore) | RB Jake Funk | Los Angeles Rams (7) | Maryland | Damascus | DB Zech McPhearson | Philadelphia (4) | Texas Tech | Riverdale Baptist (Upper Marlboro) | LB Quincy Roche | Pittsburgh (6) | Miami (FL) | New Town (Owings Mills) |
MASSACHUSETTS (5)
PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY) | T Larnel Coleman | Miami (7) | Massachusetts | Saint Clement’s (Somerville) | TE Pat Freiermuth | Pittsburgh (2) | Penn State | Brooks (North Andover) | TE Noah Gray | Kansas City (5) | Duke | Leominster | TE Hunter Long | Miami (3) | Boston College | Deerfield | DB Ifeatu Melifonwu | Detroit (3) | Syracuse | Grafton |
MICHIGAN (8)
PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY) | T Larry Borom | Chicago (5) | Missouri | Brother Rice (Bloomfield Hills) | WR Dez Fitzpatrick | Tennessee (4) | Louisville | Waterford Mott (Waterford) | DE Chauncey Golston | Dallas (3) | Iowa | East English Village Preparatory (Detroit) | LB Daelin Hayes | Baltimore (5) | Notre Dame | Skyline (Ann Arbor) | G Jalen Mayfield | Atlanta (3) | Michigan | Catholic Central (Grand Rapids) | T Jaylon Moore | San Francisco (5) | Western Michigan | Consortium College Prep (Detroit) | LB Adetokunbo Ogundeji | Atlanta (5) | Notre Dame | Walled Lake Central (Walled Lake) | DB Ambry Thomas | San Francisco (3) | Michigan | Martin Luther King (Detroit) |
MINNESOTA (4)
PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY) | T Tommy Doyle | Buffalo (5) | Miami (Ohio) | Edina (Minneapolis) | QB Trey Lance | San Francisco (1) | North Dakota State | Marshall | T Dillon Radunz | Tennessee (2) | North Dakota State | Becker | LB Elerson Smith | New York Giants (4) | Northern Iowa | South (Minneapolis) |
MISSISSIPPI (4)
PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY) | DB Brandin Echols | New York Jets (6) | Kentucky | Southaven | RB Kenneth Gainwell | Philadelphia (5) | Memphis | Yazoo County (Yazoo City) | RB Kylin Hill | Green Bay (7) | Mississippi State | Columbus | DE Marquiss Spencer | Denver (7) | Mississippi State | Greenwood |
MISSOURI (4)
PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY) | DE William Bradley-King | Washington (7) | Baylor | Hogan (Kansas City) | LB Jabril Cox | Dallas (4) | LSU | Raytown | TE Zach Davidson | Minnesota (5) | Central Missouri | Webb City | DE Ronnie Perkins | New England (3) | Oklahoma | Lutheran North (St. Louis) |
NEBRASKA (1)
PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY) | DB Eric Stokes | Green Bay (1) | Georgia | Lincoln East (Lincoln) |
NEVADA (3)
PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY) | LB Tony Fields | Cleveland (5) | West Virginia | Las Vegas | TE Brevin Jordan | Houston (5) | Miami (FL) | Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) | RB Rhamondre Stevenson | New England (4) | Oklahoma | Centennial (Las Vegas) |
NEW JERSEY (4)
PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY) | WR Frank Darby | Atlanta (6) | Arizona State | Lincoln (Jersey City) | T Will Fries | Indianapolis (7) | Penn State | Cranford | LB Jayson Oweh | Baltimore (1) | Penn State | Blair Academy (Blairstown) | WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette | Minnesota (5) | Iowa | Weequahic (Newark) |
NEW YORK (2)
PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY) | DE Malcolm Koonce | Las Vegas (3) | Buffalo | Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains) | LB Isaiah McDuffie | Green Bay (6) | Boston College | Bennett (Buffalo) |
NORTH CAROLINA (10)
PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY) | WR Dyami Brown | Washington (3) | North Carolina | West Mecklenburg (Charlotte) | LB Divine Deablo | Las Vegas (3) | Virginia Tech | Mount Tabor (Winston-Salem) | G Landon Dickerson | Philadelphia (2) | Alabama | South Caldwell (Hudson) | DB Caleb Farley | Tennessee (1) | Virginia Tech | Maiden | DT Alim McNeil | Detroit (3) | North Carolina State | Sanderson (Raleigh) | LB Hamsah Nasirildeen | New York Jets (6) | Florida State | Concord | WR Cornell Powell | Kansas City (5) | Clemson | J H Rose (Greenville) | RB Larry Rountree | Los Angeles Chargers (6) | Missouri | Millbrook (Raleigh) | LB Chazz Surratt | Minnesota (3) | North Carolina | East Lincoln (Denver) | RB Javonte Williams | Denver (2) | North Carolina | Wallace-Rose (Teachey) |
OHIO (9)
PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY) | T Jackson Carman | Cincinnati (2) | Clemson | Fairfield Senior (Fairfield) | LS Camaron Cheeseman | Washington (6) | Michigan | Lincoln (Gahanna) | LB Jonathon Cooper | Denver (7) | Ohio State | Lincoln (Gahanna) | T Liam Eichenberg | Miami (2) | Notre Dame | Saint Ignatius (Cleveland) | TE Luke Farrell | Jacksonville (5) | Ohio State | Perry | DB Darrick Forrest | Washington (5) | Cincinnati | Walnut Ridge (Columbus) | DT Phil Hoskins | Carolina (7) | Kentucky | Whitmer (Toledo) | T James Hudson | Cleveland (4) | Cincinnati | Central Catholic (Toledo) | C Josh Myers | Green Bay (2) | Ohio State | Miamisburg |
OKLAHOMA (3)
PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY) | DB Tre Brown | Seattle (4) | Oklahoma | Union (Tulsa) | LB Zaven Collins | Arizona (1) | Tulsa | Hominy | C Creed Humphrey | Kansas City (2) | Oklahoma | Shawnee |
OREGON (6)
PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY) | TE John Bates | Washington (4) | Boise State | Lebanon | DB Brady Breeze | Tennessee (6) | Oregon | Central Catholic (Portland) | DB Talanoa Hufanga | San Francisco (5) | Southern California | Crescent Valley (Corvallis) | DB Elijah Molden | Tennessee (3) | Washington | West Linn | DT Osa Odighizuwa | Dallas (3) | UCLA | David Douglas (Portland) | DT Marlon Tuipulotu | Philadelphia (6) | Southern California | Central (Independence) |
PENNSYLVANIA (8)
PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY) | DT Christian Barmore | New England (2) | Alabama | Saints John Neumann and Maria Goretti Catholic (Philadelphia) | DB Damar Hamlin | Buffalo (6) | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh Central Catholic (Pittsburgh) | C Michal Menet | Arizona (7) | Penn State | Exeter Township Senior (Reading) | C Jimmy Morrissey | Las Vegas (7) | Pittsburgh | Lasalle (Wyndmoor) | LB Micah Parsons | Dallas (1) | Penn State | Harrisburg | TE Kyle Pitts | Atlanta (1) | Florida | Archbishop Wood Catholic (Warminster) | DE Shaka Toney | Washington (7) | Penn State | Imhotep (Philadelphia) | DB Mark Webb | Los Angeles Chargers (7) | Georgia | Archbishop Wood Catholic (Warminister) |
RHODE ISLAND (1)
PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY) | DE Kwity Paye | Indianapolis (1) | Michigan | Bishop Hendricken (Warwick) |
SOUTH CAROLINA (3)
PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY) | P Pressley Harvin | Pittsburgh (7) | Georgia Tech | Sumter | DE Tarron Jackson | Philadelphia (6) | Coastal Carolina | Silver Bluff (Aiken) | WR Shi Smith | Carolina (6) | South Carolina | Union County (Union) |
SOUTH DAKOTA (1)
PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY) | G Matt Farniok | Dallas (7) | Nebraska | Washington (Sioux Falls) |
TENNESSEE (5)
PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY) | NT Quinton Bohanna | Dallas (6) | Kentucky | Cordova | LB Patrick Johnson | Philadelphia (7) | Tulane | Notre Dame (Chattanooga) | WR Amari Rodgers | Green Bay (3) | Clemson | Knoxville Catholic (Knoxville) | G Trey Smith | Kansas City (6) | Tennessee | University School of Jackson (Jackson) | LB JaCoby Stevens | Philadelphia (6) | LSU | Oakland (Murfreesboro) |
TEXAS (33)
PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY) | DB Paulson Adebo | New Orleans (3) | Stanford | Mansfield | G Jack Anderson | Buffalo (7) | Texas Tech | Frisco | DB Joshuah Bledsoe | New England (6) | Missouri | Dekaney (Houston) | LB Nick Bolton | Kansas City (2) | Missouri | Lone Star (Frisco) | NT Bobby Brown | Los Angeles Rams (4) | Texas A&M | Lamar (Arlington) | DE Earnest Brown | Los Angeles Rams (5) | Northwestern | Billy Ryan (Denton) | LB Baron Browning | Denver (3) | Ohio State | Kennedale | T Samuel Cosmi | Washington (2) | Texas | Atascocita (Humble) | WR Jaelon Darden | Tampa Bay (4) | North Texas | Dwight D. Eisenhower (Houston) | QB Sam Ehlinger | Indianapolis (6) | Texas | Westlake (Austin) | DE Ta’Quon Graham | Atlanta (5) | Texas | Temple | TE Kylen Granson | Indianapolis (4) | Southern Methodist | Westlake (Austin) | G Brenden Jaimes | Los Angeles Chargers (5) | Nebraska | Lake Travis (Austin) | LB Buddy Johnson | Pittsburgh (4) | Texas A&M | Justin F. Kimball (Dallas) | T Walker Little | Jacksonville (2) | Stanford | Episcopal (Bellaire) | DT Jonathan Marshall | New York Jets (6) | Arkansas | Shepherd | DB Trevon Moehrig | Las Vegas (2) | TCU | Smithson Valley (Spring Branch) | T Dan Moore | Pittsburgh (4) | Texas A&M | West Brook Sr. (Beaumont) | RB Kene Nwangwu | Minnesota (4) | Iowa State | Heritage Christian (Cleveland) | DE Dayo Odeyingbo | Indianapolis (2) | Vanderbilt | Carrollton Christian Academy (Carrollton) | DT Levi Onwuzurike | Detroit (2) | Washington | Allen | DE Joseph Ossai | Cincinnati (3) | Texas | Oak Ridge (Conroe) | G William Sherman | New England (6) | Colorado | Allen | T Rashawn Slater | Los Angeles Chargers (1) | Northwestern | Clements (Sugar Land) | DB Brandon Stephens | Baltimore (3) | Southern Methodist | Plano Senior (Plano) | DB Caden Sterns | Denver (5) | Texas | Byron P. Steele II (Cibolo) | LB Grant Stuard | Tampa Bay (7) | Houston | Oak Ridge (Conroe) | QB Kyle Trask | Tampa Bay (2) | Florida | Manvel | DE Payton Turner | New Orleans (1) | Houston | Westside (Houston) | DB Kary Vincent | Denver (7) | LSU | Memorial (Port Arthur) | WR Jaylen Waddle | Miami (1) | Alabama | Episcopal (Bellaire) | WR Tylan Wallace | Baltimore (4) | Oklahoma State | South Hills (Fort Worth) | DT Milton Williams | Philadelphia (3) | Louisiana Tech | Crowley |
UTAH (7)
PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY) | T Brady Christensen | Carolina (3) | Brigham Young | Bountiful | WR Simi Fehoko | Dallas (5) | Stanford | Brighton (Salt Lake City) | WR Dax Milne | Washington (7) | Brigham Young | Bingham (South Jordan) | T Penei Sewell | Detroit (1) | Oregon | Desert Hills (St. George) | NT Khyiris Tonga | Chicago (7) | Brigham Young | Granger (Salt Lake City) | DT Jay Tufele | Jacksonville (4) | Southern California | Bingham (South Jordan) | QB Zach Wilson | New York Jets (1) | Brigham Young | Corner Canyon (Draper) |
VIRGINIA (6)
PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY) | T Josh Ball | Dallas (4) | Marshall | Stafford (Fredericksburg) | DE Carlos Basham | Buffalo (2) | Wake Forest | Northside (Roanoke) | DE Patrick Jones | Minnesota (3) | Pittsburgh | Grassfield (Chesapeake) | WR Dazz Newsome | Chicago (6) | North Carolina | Hampton | LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah | Cleveland (2) | Notre Dame | Bethel (Hampton) | WR Mike Strachan | Indianapolis (7) | Charleston (W. Va.) | Liberty Christian Academy (Lynchburg) |
WASHINGTON (1)
PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY) | LB Joe Tryon | Tampa Bay (1) | Washington | Hazen (Renton) |
WASHINGTON D.C. (1)
PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY) | DT Jaylen Twyman | Minnesota (6) | Pittsburgh | Howard D. Woodson |
WISCONSIN (4)
PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY) | LB Chris Garrett | Los Angeles Rams (7) | Concordia, St. Paul | Wisconsin Lutheran (Milwaukee) | G Quinn Meinerz | Denver (3) | Wisconsin-Whitewater | Hartford Union (Hartford) | DT Daviyon Nixon | Carolina (5) | Iowa | Indian Trail (Kenosha) | G Cole Van Lanen | Green Bay (6) | Wisconsin | Bay Port (Green Bay) |
INTERNATIONAL (2)
PLAYER | NFL TEAM (ROUND) | COLLEGE | HIGH SCHOOL (CITY, PROVINCE, COUNTRY) | RB Chuba Hubbard | Carolina (4) | Oklahoma State | Bev Facey Community (Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada) | DB Benjamin St-Juste | Washington (3) | Minnesota | Cégep du Vieux Montréal (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) |
| | 2021 NFL Draft is Third Most-Watched Draft Ever | Average Audience of 6.1 Million Viewers TV + Digital Over 3 Days
Cleveland Averaged 10.9 HH Rating – Highest Host City Draft Rating on Record The 2021 NFL Draft in Cleveland was seen by an average audience of 6.1 million viewers (TV + Digital) across ABC, ESPN, NFL Network, ESPN Deportes and digital channels for the three-day event, making it the third most-watched Draft ever.
With 6.1 million viewers, 2021 is basically flat compared to 2019 (6.2 million), which is the second most-watched draft behind 2020 (8.3 million).
This year, the city of Cleveland averaged a 10.9 HH rating for the NFL Draft, which is the highest-rated local market for 2021 and the highest host city Draft rating on record since different cities began hosting the event in 2015.
Digitally, the 2021 NFL Draft delivered an AMA of 261K across NFL O&O, ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ABC platforms – up +36% vs. 2019 (192K).
All seven rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft were presented across ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network – the third straight year The Walt Disney Company worked with the National Football League to offer a multi-network presentation of the Draft for all seven rounds.
The second annual virtual Draft-a-Thon live fundraiser had an average daily reach of 5 million devices and 17 million total views across NFL O&O, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Yahoo, Reddit, Twitch and AVOD platforms.
ESPN's livestream coverage of the Draft went out to five platforms: YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, the ESPN App, and – for the first time ever – TikTok. Those streams tallied 8.9M total views and 57.7M minutes of watch time (live). The views were up +41% from the 2019 similar presentation.
Due to the unique presentation and circumstances surrounding the 2020 NFL Draft, the most balanced viewership comparison is to the 2019 NFL Draft. | | FOUR PLAYERS ADDED TO ROSTERS FOR 2021 SEASON THROUGH INTERNATIONAL PLAYER PATHWAY PROGRAM | Four teams will carry an additional international player on their practice squads in 2021 as part of the International Player Pathway program, the NFL announced today. Instituted in 2017, the program aims to provide elite international athletes the opportunity to compete at the NFL level, improve their skills, and ultimately earn a spot on an NFL roster.
| Player | Position | Country | NFL CLUB | | Aaron Donkor | LB | Germany | Seattle Seahawks | | Alfredo Gutierrez | OL | Mexico | San Francisco 49ers | | Max Pircher | OL | Italy | Los Angeles Rams | | Bernhard Seikovits | TE | Austria | Arizona Cardinals |
The four NFC West clubs will carry these players on their roster until the end of training camp. At that time, the players are eligible for an international player practice squad exemption, granting the team an extra practice squad member that is ineligible to be activated during the 2021 season. "The International Player Pathway Program provides athletes with a viable route to the NFL and an opportunity to further develop their skills," said Damani Leech, NFL Chief Operating Officer of International. "We are excited to welcome the 2021 class to the NFL and continue growing the game globally." The NFC West was chosen to receive these players in a random draw. This becomes the fifth division to participate in the program. Donkor, Gutierrez, Pircher and Seikovits received additional training alongside NFL players and draft hopefuls in Florida at IMG Academy this winter. Additionally, four players that participated in the program in 2020 will rejoin their NFC East teams – Isaac Alarcon (Dallas Cowboys), David Bada (Washington Football Team), Matt Leo (Philadelphia Eagles) and Sandro Platzgummer (New York Giants). This is in addition to Christian Wade (Buffalo Bill) and Durval Nieto Queiroz (Miami Dolphins), who are set to enter their third year of the program with their AFC East teams.
The new players taking part in the 2021 International Player Pathway Program:
AARON DONKOR, LB (Germany) – Seattle Seahawks A native of Germany, played with the German Football League's Dusseldorf Panthers in 2016. In 2017, joined the New Mexico Military Institute. Saw action in 12 games over two seasons and accumulated 32 tackles, 12.5 sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumbles. Transferred to Arkansas State for his remaining eligibility and posted 25 tackles during the 2019 season.
ALFREDO GUTIERREZ, OL (Mexico) – San Francisco 49ers
Grew up playing youth football in Mexico before moving to the U.S. Upon graduating high school, Gutierrez enrolled in junior college before returning home to Mexico and joining Tec de Monterrey on a full athletic scholarship. Graduated from Tec de Monterrey, where he won a National Championship in 2019.
MAX PIRCHER, OL (Italy) – Los Angeles Rams
After attending a Swarco Raiders football game in Austria, Pircher tried out for the very same team that introduced him to the game. He tested out positions such as tight end and defensive end before settling on offensive line. During the 2019 season, Pircher was named the starting right tackle for the Swarco Raiders and also played on the Italian National Team (Blue Team). Pircher has since moved on to play for the Hildesheim Invaders in Germany, where he balances playing football and attending school.
BERNHARD SEIKOVITS, TE (Austria) – Arizona Cardinals
Seikovits was first introduced to football when he started playing flag football at age 10. After his two-year introduction to the sport and its style of play, he transitioned to tackle football with the Vienna Vikings youth team at the age of 12. Seikovits was selected as a quarterback for the Austrian U19 national team when he was 16-years old. During his time in the program, he competed in two world championships and won a European championship. Following discussions with his coaches, Seikovits began transitioning to the wide receiver position. The position change did not slow him down, as he was selected to the men's national team at the age of 21, which he is now a captain of.
Sammis Reyes, who was also competing for a position in this year's International Player Pathway Program, was signed by the Washington Football Team in April.
SAMMIS REYES, TE (Chile) – Washington Football Team Played basketball while growing up in Chile. Reyes moved to the United States at age 13 to attend high school. Practiced as a tight end with his high school football team while also playing basketball. Went on to play collegiate basketball for the Tulane Green Wave. | AMAZON PRIME VIDEO TO BECOME THE EXCLUSIVE HOME OF THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL BEGINNING WITH THE 2022 SEASON | NFL accelerates the start of the League's first ever all-digital package one year ahead of schedule MAY 3, 2021: The National Football League announced today that Amazon Prime Video will be the exclusive home of Thursday Night Football beginning with the 2022 season. Amazon will distribute Primetime's 2nd most-watched show across hundreds of compatible digital devices. The NFL's original agreement with Amazon, [/Pages/NFL-COMPLETES-LONG-TERM-MEDIA-DISTRIBUTION-AGREEMENTS-PROVIDING-FANS-GREATER-ACCESS-TO-NFL-GAMES-THAN-EVER-BEFORE.aspx]announced as part of a larger series of media distribution deals this past March, had Amazon Prime Video distributing Thursday Night Football starting with the 2023 season.
With this development, the 2021 season will be the last for Thursday Night Football on FOX. As part of the recent long-term media deals, FOX will continue to produce the National Football Conference (NFC) package of Sunday afternoon games with a focus on America's Game of the Week, the most-watched show in all of television for the last 12 seasons and the most-watched NFL window for the last 20 seasons.
The NFL and Amazon first partnered on Thursday Night Football [/Pages/NATIONAL-FOOTBALL-LEAGUE-AND-AMAZON-PRIME-ANNOUNCE-STREAMING-PARTNERSHIP-FOR-THURSDAY-NIGHT-FOOTBALL.aspx]as part of a tri-cast distribution model during the 2017 season, initially with CBS/NBC and then with FOX starting in 2018.
With its new media distribution agreements the NFL has expanded its digital footprint to reach a broader audience and enhanced the ability of its media partners to innovate around their productions and provide interactive elements such as stats/data, chat and integrated social feeds as part of their digital presentations.
The NFL continues to be the only sports league that delivers all of its games – regular season and playoffs – on free, over-the-air television. (Thursday Night Football will be carried on free over-the-air television in the broadcast markets of the participating teams.) | 2021 NFL Draft Rounds 2-3 Notes | For 2021 NFL Draft reports, click here.
MOST THROUGH THREE: Eight quarterbacks were chosen in the first three rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft, the most in the first three rounds of a single draft since 1967. QUARTERBACKS SELECTED IN THE FIRST THREE ROUNDS
OF THE 2021 NFL DRAFT QUARTERBACK | TEAM | ROUND (PICK) | Trevor Lawrence | Jacksonville | 1 (1) | Zach Wilson | New York Jets | 1 (2) | Trey Lance | San Francisco | 1 (3) | Justin Fields | Chicago | 1 (11) | Mac Jones | New England | 1 (15) | Kyle Trask | Tampa Bay | 2 (64) | Kellen Mond | Minnesota | 3 (66) | Davis Mills | Houston | 3 (67) |
ALABAMA EIGHT: Alabama saw eight players selected in the first two rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft, marking the most from a single school in the first two rounds of a single draft since 1967. PLAYERS FROM ALABAMA SELECTED IN THE FIRST TWO ROUNDS OF THE 2021 NFL DRAFT PLAYER | TEAM | POSITION | ROUND (PICK) | Jaylen Waddle | Miami | WR | 1 (6) | Patrick Surtain II | Denver | CB | 1 (9) | DeVonta Smith | Philadelphia | WR | 1 (10) | Mac Jones | New England | QB | 1 (15) | Alex Leatherwood | Las Vegas | OL | 1 (17) | Najee Harris | Pittsburgh | RB | 1 (24) | Landon Dickerson | Philadelphia | OL | 2 (37) | Christian Barmore | New England | DL | 2 (38) |
FOOTBALL IS FAMILY: Many of the prospects chosen in the 2021 NFL Draft have family members with NFL experience, including: - CB JAYCEE HORN (No. 8 overall, Carolina): Father, Joe, was a 12-year NFL veteran and four-time Pro Bowl selection.
- CB PATRICK SURTAIN II (No. 9, Denver): Father, Patrick, was an 11-year NFL veteran and three-time Pro Bowl selection.
- T WALKER LITTLE (No. 45, Jacksonville): Grandfather, Gene, and great uncle, Jack, played in the NFL in 1950’s.
- CB ASANTE SAMUEL JR. (No. 47, Los Angeles Chargers): Father, Asante, was an 11-year NFL veteran, four-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time Super Bowl champion.
- DE CARLOS BASHAM (No. 61, Buffalo): Cousin, Tarell, plays LB for the Dallas Cowboys.
- DT OSA ODIGHIZUWA (No. 75, Dallas): Brother, Owa, was selected in the 3rd round (74th overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft by the New York Giants.
- WR AMARI RODGERS (No. 85, Green Bay): Father, Tee Martin, was a three-year NFL veteran and is currently the wide receivers coach for the Baltimore Ravens.
- G WYATT DAVIS (No. 86, Minnesota): Grandfather, Willie Davis, was a 12-year NFL veteran, five-time Pro Bowler and was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
- CB IFEATU MELIFONWU (No. 101, Detroit): Brother, Obi, was selected in the 2nd round (56th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders.
CANADA TO THE NFL: Three Canadian-born players were selected on Day 2 of the 2021 NFL Draft. - S JEVON HOLLAND (No. 36 overall, Miami) was born in Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada.
- CB BENJAMIN ST-JUSTE (No. 74, Washington) was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
- WR JOSH PALMER (No. 77, Los Angeles Chargers) was born in Brampton, Ontario, Canada.
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