NFL ACADEMY TO MOVE OPERATIONS TO LOUGHBOROUGH Centre of sporting excellence to be new home from September 2022 The National Football League's UK-based NFL Academy will relocate to Loughborough College and Loughborough University for the start of the 2022-23 academic year, it was announced today. Set up in 2019 and currently based at Barnet and Southgate College in London, the NFL Academy provides students aged 16-19 with pathways into employment, further education and the opportunity to play NCAA college football in the United States by combining full-time education with professional-level American football coaching. From September 2022, all football and academic operations will move to Loughborough, where a partnership between the College and the University will provide an opportunity for young players to become part of a world-renowned centre of sporting excellence. Throughout the partnership, the College will provide high-quality coaching, education, accommodation and pastoral support to its cohort of players, while the University will provide performance staff and world-class facilities to focus on the physical development of students.
"Barnet and Southgate College has been an excellent partner in getting the Academy established, and we are now very excited about the opportunity to further develop both the academic and athletic offering in a move to Loughborough," said Brett Gosper, NFL Head of Europe and UK. "Operating at an elite athletic performance centre with a global reputation, combined with the excellent classroom offering, gives the students the greatest chance of future achievement in all fields. It will allow us to achieve our aim of creating life-changing opportunities for young people through the sport of American football." Professor Nick Jennings, Vice-Chancellor and President of Loughborough University, said: "We are delighted to work alongside the NFL on this ground-breaking partnership. "By working collectively with colleagues from Loughborough College, we will provide young players with a first-class education and world-renowned training environment across both campuses. By providing this solid foundation in their early sporting careers, we will play a key role in the growth of American football in the UK and around the world." Chancellor of Loughborough University, Lord Sebastian Coe, a double Olympic track and field gold medallist, said: "We are very pleased to have the opportunity to partner Loughborough, the premier sporting university in the UK, with the NFL, the world's most valuable sport's league. We look forward to playing a key role in the development of American football and are excited about the opportunity this gives Loughborough to expand our brand and our reputation in the US and globally." Jo Maher, Principal and CEO at Loughborough College, said: "Loughborough College is incredibly proud and excited to partner with the NFL and Loughborough University on the NFL's only global Academy. With a track record of nurturing and developing elite athletes through high-quality pastoral support and teaching, we cannot wait to welcome our first cohort of students on the NFL pathway. "This is a golden opportunity for everyone involved to forge a truly impactful and successful academy which creates potential NFL stars of the future and it's one we're delighted to be part of." Both Loughborough College and Loughborough University have a proven track record of developing hundreds of elite level athletes including Olympic and Paralympic champions. Recent high-profile names to benefit from the sporting ecosystem include Adam Peaty, Alex Yee, Holly Bradshaw, Thomas Young, and Sophie Hahn. Other international athletes to come through Loughborough's pathway include England football internationals Ben Chilwell, Jude Bellingham and Steph Houghton, England Netball stars Nat Panagarry and Beth Cobden, and Olympic medallist Keely Hodgkinson. Loughborough was recently named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects for the sixth year running on the global QS higher education league table. It has won that accolade every year since its inception in 2017. Since its launch, the NFL Academy, which attracts students from all over the UK and Europe, has proved to be a breeding ground of high-level football talent, with five students receiving scholarship offers from NCAA Division 1 colleges in the US. "This is a hugely important initiative for the growth of football and for the many young athletes who get the opportunity to showcase their talents," said Osi Umenyiora, two-time Super Bowl winner with the New York Giants and now an NFL ambassador and broadcaster in the UK. "Developing international athletes and ensuring they have pathways into elite football is becoming a cornerstone of the NFL's global strategy and the partnership with Loughborough will drive that initiative forward." On the field, the Academy team is scheduled to close out the season with its third European game on May 7 and is planning to embark on competition against US-based teams in the future. Gosper continued: "The success on the field and in the classroom has been a testament to everyone involved: the coaches, the staff at Barnet and Southgate College and, of course, the student athletes themselves. To have achieved so much despite almost two years of virtual learning and reduced practice because of the pandemic demonstrated the potential of the programme and gives us great hope for the future development of the NFL Academy."
Recruitment for the class of 2022-23 is now underway. Student athletes wishing to apply for a place can register interest at: https://nfl-academy.loucoll.ac.uk/ Follow the NFL Academy on Instagram and Twitter: @NFLAcademy | FOUR PLAYERS ADDED TO ROSTERS FOR 2022 SEASON THROUGH NFL INTERNATIONAL PLAYER PATHWAY PROGRAM |
FOUR PLAYERS ADDED TO ROSTERS FOR 2022 SEASON
THROUGH NFL INTERNATIONAL PLAYER PATHWAY PROGRAM Chigbo Roy Mbaeteka and Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi signed by NFL clubs
following International Player Pathway Pro Day Players from Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom have earned a spot in the 2022 International Player Pathway program, the NFL announced today. The program, which enters its sixth year in 2022, is part of the NFL's efforts to strengthen the pipeline of international players and 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. As a first step in the IPP process, the NFL conducted international Combine's in the UK and Mexico last October that featured 66 athletes from 21 countries. Following the Combine, the players were among a group of 12 selected to receive additional training and development alongside NFL players and draft hopefuls in the United States this past winter at the OLP performance academy run by NFL Legend and NFL Senior Advisor of Player Development & Performance, LeCharles Bentley. They then had the opportunity to showcase their talent at a pro day in March. Two players stood out at the pro day and were signed by clubs in April. Chigbo Roy Mbaeteka and Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi, both from Nigeria, were signed by the New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals, respectively. Both players were discovered through The Uprise, a football program in Nigeria established by Osi Umenyiora, NFL Legend and two-time Super Bowl winning defensive end with the New York Giants. "The IPP program is instrumental in the discovery and development of international players, and we are excited the quality of players continues to increase each year," said Damani Leech, NFL Chief Operating Officer of International. "We've seen great momentum in the program with Roy and Haggai having already signed with teams this year. They, along with the players allocated to teams through the program, will now have the chance to further develop their skills in an NFL environment. Teams are looking forward to welcoming the players to their camps this summer." This year's participants are: | Player | Position | Country | NFL Club | | Marcel Dabo | DB | Germany | Marcel Dabo | | Adedayo Odeleye | DL | United Kingdom | Houston Texans | | Thomas Odukoya | TE | Netherlands | Tennessee Titans | | Ayo Oyelola | DB | United Kingdom | Jacksonville Jaguars |
The four AFC South 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. Clubs have the opportunity to elevate the player to the active roster during the season. The AFC South was chosen to receive these players in a random draw and becomes the sixth division to participate in the program. This year's class brings the total number of players that have been assigned to clubs through the program to 24. Players that participated in the program in 2021 will rejoin their NFC West teams – Aaron Donkor (Seattle Seahawks), Alfredo Gutierrez (San Francisco 49ers), Max Pircher (Los Angeles Rams) and Bernhard Seikovits (Arizona Cardinals). This is in addition to Isaac Alarcon (Dallas Cowboys), David Bada (Washington Football Team), Matt Leo (Philadelphia Eagles) and Sandro Platzgummer (New York Giants), who are set to enter their third year of the program with their NFC East teams. Since the program's inception in 2017, more than 50 players from 18 countries have trained in the U.S. In addition to Mbaeteka and Ndubuisi, the program has also helped players such as Efe Obada (Washington Commanders), Jakob Johnson (Las Vegas Raiders), Jordan Mailata (Philadelphia Eagles) and Sammis Reyes (Washington Commanders) earn a place in the NFL after participating in the program's training session. Last season, both Johnson and Mailata recorded their 1,000th career snap joining Efe Obada of the Washington Commanders in IPP players to reach this milestone in their NFL career. The new players taking part in the 2022 International Player Pathway Program: Marcel Dabo, DB, (Germany) - Indianapolis Colts Played in the Stuttgart Scorpions youth football program before entering the European League of Football as a cornerback and kick returner for the Stuttgart Surge last season, recording 28 tackles and 1 interception. Earned a spot on the 2021 ELF All-Star team and won the league's defensive rookie of the year award. Adedayo Odeleye, DL, (United Kingdom) - Houston Texans Born in Nigeria and raised in the UK since age 9. Started playing football in 2017 at Loughborough University where he played DL for three years and was named a team captain in his second year. Participated in the 2021 International Player Pathway training phase but was not allocated to a team. Spent last season with the Berlin Thunder of the European League of Football where he was named to the ELF All-Star team. Thomas Odukoya, TE, (Netherlands) - Tennessee Titans Started playing football at age 16 in the Netherlands where he was named the Dutch National MVP. Played college football at East Michigan University, where he was team captain for two seasons and received Academic All-MAC honors. Ayo Oyelola, DB (United Kingdom) - Jacksonville Jaguars Introduced to football at the University of Nottingham where he graduated from in 2020. Participated in the 2021 International Player Pathway training phase but was not allocated to a team. Spent last season with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. | NDEPENDENT REVIEW INTO ALLEGATIONS BY FORMER BROWNS’ COACH HUE JACKSON CONCLUDES; ALLEGATIONS COULD NOT BE SUBSTANTIATED | Following a 60-day independent review into comments made by former Cleveland head coach Hue Jackson that the Browns paid or otherwise provided incentives to lose games during the 2016-17 seasons, former U.S. Attorney and SEC Chair Mary Jo White and a team of lawyers from the Debevoise firm determined that none of the allegations could be substantiated. The investigation found no evidence to suggest that the Browns' Four-Year Plan or the club's ownership or football personnel sought to lose or incentivized losses and made no decisions deliberately to weaken the team to secure a more favorable draft position. The comprehensive review included the full cooperation of the Browns and interviews with Jimmy Haslam and current and former members of the organization. While Coach Jackson initially agreed to meet with the investigators, he ultimately did not do so. Although unable to speak directly to Coach Jackson, the Debevoise team had access to his public statements and to his filings and testimony in a prior arbitration proceeding. The club also produced thousands of pages of documents, including emails, texts, internal memos and presentation decks as well as other material relating to club operations and the filings and testimony in the arbitration proceeding between the club and Coach Jackson. | 2022 NFL Draft Round 1 Notes | For 2022 NFL Draft reports and audio from on-site prospect interviews, click here.
DEFENSE FIRST: Five defensive players were selected with the first five selections in the 2022 NFL Draft: linebacker TRAVON WALKER (No. 1 overall, Jacksonville), defensive end AIDAN HUTCHINSON (No. 2, Detroit), defensive back DEREK STINGLEY JR. (No. 3, Houston), defensive back SAUCE GARDNER (No. 4, New York Jets) and defensive end KAYVON THIBODEAUX (No. 5, New York Giants).
The 2022 NFL Draft marked the second time since 1967 that each of the first five selections were from the defensive side of the ball, joining the 1991 NFL Draft (NFL-record first six players selected).
With the selections of Stingley Jr. (No. 3) and Gardner (No. 4), it marks the first time since the 1997 NFL Draft [SHAWN SPRINGS (No. 3) and BRYANT WESTBROOK (No. 5)] that two defensive backs were selected among the top-five picks.
DOUBLING UP: Nine teams selected multiple players during the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, the most teams to make multiple first-round selections in a single draft since 1967.
The New York Giants (No. 5 and No. 7 overall) and New York Jets (No. 4 and No. 10) each made two selections within the first 10 picks. It marked the fourth time in the common-draft era that two teams each made multiple top-10 selections in the same NFL Draft, joining 2000 (Baltimore and Washington), 1979 (Buffalo and Chicago) and 1973 (Baltimore Colts and Philadelphia).
Teams to make multiple first-round selections in the 2022 NFL Draft:
TEAM | PLAYERS SELECTED | Baltimore | DB Kyle Hamilton (No. 14); C Tyler Linderbaum (No. 25) | Detroit | DE Aidan Hutchinson (No. 2); WR Jameson Williams (No.12) | Green Bay | LB Quay Walker (No. 22); DT Devonte Wyatt (No. 28) | Houston | DB Derek Stingley Jr. (No. 3); G Kenyon Green (No. 15) | Jacksonville | LB Travon Walker (No. 1); LB Devin Lloyd (No. 27) | Kansas City | DB Trent McDuffie (No. 21); DE George Karlaftis (No. 30) | New Orleans | WR Chris Olave (No. 11); T Trevor Penning (No. 19) | N.Y. Giants | DE Kayvon Thibodeaux (No. 5); T Evan Neal (No. 7) | N.Y. Jets | DB Sauce Gardner (No. 4); WR Garrett Wilson (No. 10); LB Jermaine Johnson (No. 26) |
TOP DAWGS: Five defensive players from the University of Georgia were selected in the first round, the most defensive players from one school selected in the first round of the same NFL Draft since 1967: linebacker TRAVON WALKER (No. 1 overall, Jacksonville), defensive tackle JORDAN DAVIS (No. 13, Philadelphia), linebacker QUAY WALKER (No. 22, Green Bay), defensive tackle DEVONTE WYATT (No. 28, Green Bay) and defensive back LEWIS CINE (No. 32, Minnesota).
ROLL TIDE: The University of Alabama saw tackle EVAN NEAL selected No. 7 overall by the New York Giants while wide receiver JAMESON WILLIAMS was selected with the 12th pick by the Detroit Lions.
Alabama became the second school in the common-draft era to have multiple offensive players selected in the first round in four consecutive NFL Drafts, joining the University of Miami (four consecutive drafts from 2001-04), and the first school since 1967 to have an offensive player selected in the first round in eight consecutive NFL Drafts (2015-22).
The Crimson Tide joined Texas A&M (2013-16) and Southern California (1980-83) as the only schools to have an offensive lineman selected in the first round in four consecutive NFL Drafts since 1967 and joined the University of Tennessee (1982-84) as the only schools since 1967 to have a wide receiver chosen in the first round in three consecutive NFL Drafts.
RUN ON RECEIVERS: Six wide receivers were selected within the top-20 picks for first time in the common-draft era: DRAKE LONDON (No. 8 overall, Atlanta), GARRETT WILSON (No. 10, New York Jets), CHRIS OLAVE (No. 11, New Orleans), JAMESON WILLIAMS (No. 12, Detroit), JAHAN DOTSON (No. 16, Washington) and TREYLON BURKS (No. 18, Tennessee).
At least two wide receivers have been selected in the first round of 14 consecutive NFL Drafts, the longest such streak in the common-draft era, and at least five wide receivers were selected in the first round in three consecutive NFL Drafts for the first-time since 1967.
The most consecutive NFL Drafts with multiple wide receivers selected in the first round since 1967:
DRAFTS | CONSECUTIVE DRAFTS WITH MULTIPLE WRs IN 1ST ROUND | 2009-2022 | 14* | 1993-2005 | 13 | 1967-1974 | 8 | *Active streak | | | | |
Ohio State wide receivers GARRETT WILSON (No. 10, New York Jets) and CHRIS OLAVE (No. 11, New Orleans) were selected with consecutive picks in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. It marks the fourth time since 1991 that consecutive first round choices were players from the same college that played the same position.
Consecutive first-round choices from the same college that played the same position since 1991:
DRAFT | COLLEGE | POSITION | SELECTIONS | 2022 | Ohio State | WR | Garrett Wilson (No. 10, N.Y. Jets); Chris Olave (No. 11, New Orleans) | 1997 | Miami (Fla.) | DE | Kenard Lang (No. 17, Washington); Kenny Holmes (No. 18, Tennessee Oilers) | 1993 | Alabama | DE | John Copeland (No. 5, Cincinnati); Eric Curry (No. 6, Tampa Bay) | 1991 | Tennessee | T | Charles McRae (No. 7, Tampa Bay); Antone Davis (No. 8, Philadelphia) |
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| 2022 NFL Draft Rounds 2-3 Notes | For 2022 NFL Draft reports, click here.
RECORD-TYING RECEIVERS: 13 wide receivers were selected in the first two rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft, tied with the 2020 NFL Draft for the most in the first two rounds in the common-draft era (since 1967), while the 17 wide receivers selected in the first three rounds were tied with the 2007 and 1994 NFL Drafts for the most in the first three rounds since 1967.
WIDE RECEIVERS SELECTED IN THE FIRST THREE ROUNDS OF THE 2022 NFL DRAFT
PLAYER | COLLEGE | NFL TEAM | ROUND (PICK) | Drake London | Southern California | Atlanta | 1 (8) | Garrett Wilson | Ohio State | New York Jets | 1 (10) | Chris Olave | Ohio State | New Orleans | 1 (11) | Jameson Williams | Alabama | Detroit | 1 (12) | Jahan Dotson | Penn State | Washington | 1 (16) | Treylon Burks | Arkansas | Tennessee | 1 (18) | Christian Watson | North Dakota State | Green Bay | 2 (34) | Wan’Dale Robinson | Kentucky | New York Giants | 2 (43) | John Metchie | Alabama | Houston | 2 (44) | Tyquan Thornton | Baylor | New England | 2 (50) | George Pickens | Georgia | Pittsburgh | 2 (52) | Alec Pierce | Cincinnati | Indianapolis | 2 (53) | Skyy Moore | Western Michigan | Kansas City | 2 (54) | Velus Jones | Tennessee | Chicago | 3 (71) | Jalen Tolbert | South Alabama | Dallas | 3 (88) | David Bell | Purdue | Cleveland | 3 (99) | Danny Gray | SMU | San Francisco | 3 (105) |
NINE THROUGH THREE: After a record five defensive players from Georgia were selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, four additional Bulldogs were selected on Day 2: WR GEORGE PICKENS (No. 52, Pittsburgh), RB JAMES COOK (No. 63, Buffalo), LB NAKOBE DEAN (No. 83, Philadelphia) and LB CHANNING TINDALL (No. 102, Miami).
The seven defensive players from Georgia are the most by a single school in the first three rounds of a single NFL Draft since 1967, surpassing the previous high of six from Alabama (2017) and LSU (2013).
Georgia’s nine selections in the first three rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft are tied with Alabama (nine players in 2017 and 2020) for the second-most players in the first three rounds by a single Draft in the common-draft era. Only LSU in 2020 (10 players) and Ohio State in 2016 (10) had more in the first three rounds.
GEORGIA PLAYERS SELECTED IN THE FIRST THREE ROUNDS OF THE 2022 NFL DRAFT
POS. | PLAYER | NFL TEAM | ROUND (PICK) | LB | Travon Walker | Jacksonville | 1 (1) | DT | Jordan Davis | Philadelphia | 1 (13) | LB | Quay Walker | Green Bay | 1 (22) | DT | Devonte Wyatt | Green Bay | 1 (28) | DB | Lewis Cine | Minnesota | 1 (32) | WR | George Pickens | Pittsburgh | 2 (52) | RB | James Cook | Buffalo | 2 (63) | LB | Nakobe Dean | Philadelphia | 3 (83) | LB | Channing Tindall | Miami | 3 (102) |
HOMEWARD BOUND: Seven players selected in the first three rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft were drafted by a team in the same state as their college football program.
PLAYERS DRAFTED BY AN NFL TEAM IN SAME STATE
AS THEIR COLLEGE FOOTBALL PROGRAM
POS. | PLAYER | ROUND (PICK) | NFL TEAM | COLLEGE | DE | Aidan Hutchinson | 1 (2) | Detroit Lions | Michigan | T | Ikem Ekwonu | 1 (6) | Carolina Panthers | North Carolina State | G | Kenyon Green | 1 (15) | Houston Texans | Texas A&M | QB | Kenny Pickett | 1 (20) | Pittsburgh Steelers | Pittsburgh | DB | Jalen Pitre | 2 (37) | Houston Texans | Baylor | DE | Drake Jackson | 2 (61) | San Francisco 49ers | Southern California | T | Abraham Lucas | 3 (72) | Seattle Seahawks | Washington State |
FOOTBALL IS FAMILY: Many of the prospects chosen in the 2022 NFL Draft have family members with NFL experience, including:
- RB JAMES COOK (No. 63, Buffalo): Brother, Dalvin, is a three-time Pro Bowl running back for the Minnesota Vikings and is one of three players with at least 1,250 scrimmage yards in each of the past three seasons (2019-21).
- RB BREECE HALL (No. 36, New York Jets): Cousin, Roger Craig, was selected in the second round by San Francisco in the 1983 NFL Draft and was a four-time Pro Bowl selection and three-time Super Bowl champion.
- DB DAXTON HILL (No. 31, Cincinnati): Brother, Justice, plays for the Baltimore Ravens after being selected in the fourth round in the 2019 NFL Draft.
- DB ROGER MCCREARY (No. 35, Tennessee): Uncle, Angelo James, played for the Philadelphia Eagles during the 1987 season.
- T EVAN NEAL (No. 7, New York Giants): Uncle, Cleveland Gary, was selected in the first round in the 1989 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams and a six-year NFL veteran; Uncle, Jimmie Jones, was drafted by Dallas in the third round of the 1990 NFL Draft and was an eight-year NFL veteran and two-time Super Bowl champion.
- DB DEREK STINGLEY JR. (No. 3, Houston): Grandfather, Darryl, was selected in the first round by New England in the 1973 NFL Draft and a five-year NFL veteran.
- WR CHRISTIAN WATSON (No. 34, Green Bay): Father, Tim, was selected by Green Bay in the sixth round in the 1993 NFL Draft and a five-year NFL veteran.
- QB MALIK WILLIS (No. 86, Tennessee): Uncle, James Anderson, was selected in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft by Carolina and a 10-year NFL veteran.
INTERNATIONAL NFL: Five players selected in the first three rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft were born outside of the United States.
- DE ARNOLD EBIKETIE (No. 38, Atlanta) was born in Yaounde, Cameroon.
- DE GEORGE KARLAFTIS (No. 30, Kansas City) was born in Athens, Greece.
- WR JOHN METCHIE (No. 44, Houston) was born in Taiwan, moved to Ghana, and emigrated to Canada with his family at age six.
- LB DAVID OJABO (No. 45, Baltimore) was born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, and his family moved to Aberdeen, Scotland in 2007.
- T BERNHARD RAIMAINN (No. 77, Indianapolis) was born in Steinbrunn, Austria.
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| LOS ANGELES CHARGERS VS. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS ANNOUNCED AS FIRST THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL GAME ON PRIME VIDEO | CHARGERS VS. CHIEFS ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 Tonight during the First Round of the 2022 NFL Draft, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the Kansas City Chiefs will host the Los Angeles Chargers in the first Thursday Night Football game on Prime Video Week 2 on September 15.
The complete Thursday Night Football schedule will be announced on Thursday, May 12.
Kicking off September 15, Prime Video will become the first streaming service to air a season-long exclusive national broadcast package with the NFL. The 11-year deal includes 15 regular-season games and one preseason game per year, with Prime Video also delivering new pregame, halftime, and postgame shows as well as fan-favorite interactive features like X-Ray and Next Gen Stats powered by AWS. Prime Video and the NFL will continue to collaborate on exclusive NFL content and enhanced fan-viewing experiences around Thursday Night Football, with more information to follow in the coming months. The games will also stream live on Twitch and will be available on over-the-air TV stations in the two home markets of the competing teams. For all the latest information regarding TNF on Prime Video, visit amazon.com/TNF. | NFL LEGENDS AND ACTIVE PLAYERS SCHEDULED TO ANNOUNCE 2022 NFL DRAFT SELECTIONS | 2022 NFL DRAFT PRESENTED BY BUD LIGHT TO KICK OFF IN PRIMETIME AT 8:00 PM ET ON THURSDAY, APRIL 28 In the NFL’s continuing effort to connect the game’s greats with the next generation of stars, NFL Legends and active players will add to the excitement of the 2022 NFL Draft by announcing various selections in Las Vegas, including the commemoration of two historic anniversaries Pro Football Hall of Famer and the 1976 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year FRANCO HARRIS will announce the Pittsburgh Steelers first round selection in honor of the 50th anniversary of the “Immaculate Reception”. Day 2 Draft selections will be highlighted by Pro Football Hall of Famer LARRY CSONKA who will announce Miami’s third round choice. Csonka was a member of the Dolphins 1972 undefeated team that went 17-0, capped by a win in Super Bowl VII, and celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2022. In addition to announcing NFL Draft selections, players are on-site to mentor the prospects and give back to the city of Las Vegas through a variety of service driven events to celebrate this momentous occasion. Below is the list of players scheduled to make selections in Rounds 2 and 3 of this year’s NFL Draft: TEAM | PLAYER | ANNOUNCEMENT ROUND | Arizona Cardinals | Aeneas Williams | Round 2 | Atlanta Falcons | Warrick Dunn | Round 2 | Baltimore Ravens | Matt Stover | Round 2 | Buffalo Bills | Stevie Johnson | Round 2 | Carolina Panthers | Thomas Davis | Round 2 | Chicago Bears | Matt Forte | Round 2 | Cincinnati Bengals | Isaac Curtis | Round 2 | Detroit Lions | Barry Sanders | Round 2 | Green Bay Packers | Aaron Jones | Round 2 | Houston Texans | Jonathan Joseph | Round 2 | Indianapolis Colts | Anthony Castanzo | Round 2 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Tony Boselli | Round 2 | Kansas City Chiefs | Tony Gonzalez | Round 2 | Minnesota Vikings | Ed Marinaro | Round 2 | New England Patriots | Lawrence Guy | Round 2 | New Orleans Saints | Cameron Jordan | Round 2 | New York Jets | Darrelle Revis | Round 2 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Chase Claypool | Round 2 | San Francisco 49ers | Arik Armstead | Round 2 | Washington Commanders | Santana Moss | Round 2 | Cleveland Browns | Andrew Hawkins | Round 3 | Dallas Cowboys | Emmitt Smith | Round 3 | Denver Broncos | Elvis Dumervil | Round 3 | Las Vegas Raiders | Marcus Allen | Round 3 | Los Angeles Chargers | Austin Ekeler | Round 3 | Los Angeles Rams | Steven Jackson | Round 3 | Miami Dolphins | Larry Csonka | Round 3 | New York Giants | Amani Toomer | Round 3 | Philadelphia Eagles | Jon Dorenbos | Round 3 | Seattle Seahawks | Shaquem Griffin | Round 3 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Simeon Rice | Round 3 | Tennessee Titans | Billy "White Shoes" Johnson | Round 3 |
*Bold designates Hall of Famers | For more from NFL Communications, visit NFLCommunications.com and follow @NFL345.
| 18th Annual 'Run Rich Run' Benefiting St. Jude to Air During NFL Network's 2022 NFL Draft Coverage | 'Run Rich Run' to Air During NFL Network's Round 4-7 Coverage on Saturday, April 30 Rich Eisen Ran 40-Yard Dash at the Rose Bowl Stadium NFL Legends Cris Carter, Michael Vick, Rod Woodson, Robert Griffin III & Eric Metcalf Ran w/ Entrepreneurs The 18th annual 'Run Rich Run' campaign continues to raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®.
Highlighting 'Run Rich Run' each year is NFL Network's Emmy-nominated host Rich Eisen donning his trademark suit and tie to run a 40-yard dash, and this year Eisen conducted his run at the iconic Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena. Eisen was joined by St. Jude patient Alexander, 11, who served as the official time and motivator for the participating runners. Alexander was diagnosed in 2017 with medulloblastoma, a form of brain cancer. He was treated at St. Jude and is now cancer-free.
Over the past seven years, Eisen's annual 40-yard dash has blossomed into a premier philanthropic fundraising event benefiting the kids of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, with last year's campaign raising a record $1.7 million.
For this year's run, Eisen enlisted the help of numerous NFL legends including Cris Carter, Michael Vick, Rod Woodson, Robert Griffin III and Eric Metcalf to be partnered with some of the country's most celebrated entrepreneurs.
Provided below are the entrepreneurs who took part:
- Vinit Bharara – Co-Founder and CEO of Mojo
- Melissa Bridgeford – Co-Founder and CEO of Wizard
- Michael Jaconi – Co-Founder and CEO of Button
- Alex Lieberman – Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Morning Brew
- Marc Lore – CEO and Chairman of Wonder
- Sebastian Tomich – Chief Commercial Officer of The Athletic
For the second consecutive year, serial entrepreneur Marc Lore brought entrepreneurs together to donate to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and provide the opportunity to be paired with an NFL Legend to create a fun competition in which each pair ran a 40-yard dash, with the lowest combined time being declared the winner.
Additionally, this year's NFL PLAY 60 Super Kid Aubrey Anaya, 11, attended the run as an ambassador and enthusiastic supporter of Eisen, Alexander, St. Jude and healthy kids everywhere. From Indio, California, Anaya was the official NFL PLAY 60 Ambassador during Super Bowl Week in Los Angeles and participated in a variety of community events and behind-the-scenes opportunities leading up to Super Bowl LVI.
Eisen's 40-yard dash, sponsored by Zebra Technologies, will air during NFL Network's coverage of Rounds 4-7 of the 2022 NFL Draft in Las Vegas on Saturday, April 30 at 12 Noon ET.
"It's clear to everyone why Rich Eisen was named 2021 St. Jude Ambassador of the Year – just watch him, back once again using this incredible platform to share his passion of fundraising for the kids of St. Jude," said Richard C. Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "We will all be tuning in to cheer as Rich sprints to the finish line, knowing every stride helps St. Jude get closer to realizing the goals of its six-year, $11.5 billion strategic plan that focuses on increasing childhood cancer survival rates across the globe."
"Each year, our 'Run Rich Run' fundraiser keeps getting more special and holding this year's event in The Rose Bowl is yet another dream come true to help raise money for St. Jude," said Eisen.
Fans are encouraged to submit their 40-yard dash videos or unique variation on social media using the hashtag #RunRichRun or #RunYour40.
'Run Rich Run' has grown to become a defining and leading charitable campaign. Since Eisen began supporting St. Jude through 'Run Rich Run' fundraising seven years ago, approximately $4.2 million has been raised to benefit the mission of St. Jude: Finding cures. Saving Children. Eisen's commitment to charity was formally recognized in 2017 when he was bestowed with the Pat Summerall Award at the Legends of Charity Dinner during Super Bowl LI week in Houston. Additionally, St. Jude presented Eisen with their Ambassador of the Year Award in October 2021, a tremendously special and prestigious honor.
Fans around the globe have since rallied around Eisen's passion for this cause, knowing that not only will it be fun to participate, but their generous donations support research and treatment toward a cure for childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Continued participation will ensure that families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food, so they can focus on helping their child live.
Since 2012, the NFL has partnered with St. Jude through NFL PLAY 60, which is the "Official Champion of Play" at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. As the League's national youth health and wellness campaign encouraging youth to get physically active for 60 minutes a day, the NFL PLAY 60 initiative helps patients and families at St. Jude cope with serious illnesses through play therapy, peer interaction and other activities.
Eisen is the host of the Emmy-nominated The Rich Eisen Show which airs Monday-Friday at 12 Noon ET on Peacock and SiriusXM Ch. 211.
Visit NFL.com/runrichrun or stjude.org/runrichrun to make a gift. | | 2022 NFL DRAFT SPECIAL PICKS | NEW YORK – Inspirational fans from around the country will join the NFL at this year's Draft to share the stage and their stories of strength, resilience and love of football. This year, fans joining Round 1, Round 2 and Round 3 come from organizations such as Make-A-Wish, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), the National Gay Flag Football League and more. These individuals will take the stage and announce Draft picks throughout the three-day celebration in Las Vegas in front of thousands of fans. Day 3 of the Draft will also include picks from international locations in Brazil, Germany, Mexico and the UK including the Miami Dolphins from Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer statue, the New York Jets from The Shard in London, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from Munich, site of the first NFL regular-season game in Germany which will take place this fall and feature the Buccaneers. More details on all Draft selections made by special guests throughout the first three rounds of the Draft are detailed below: DRAFT DAY 1 NFL DRAFT PICKS Sam Prince (Make-A-Wish) – Pick 5, New York Giants: Make-A-Wish recipient Sam Prince will have his wish granted when he joins Commissioner Goodell to announce his favorite team, the New York Giants, Round 1 pick. Earlier today, Sam learned that his wish would come true from New York Giants legend Eli Manning. An ESPN crew was on-hand to capture the big surprise for a feature that will air as part of the ESPN "My Wish" series in July. Sam, who has battled a heart condition, received a heart transplant and is doing much better. Sam is from North Caldwell, NJ. Local Youth Football Players – Pick 15, Philadelphia Eagles: Six local high school student-athletes from Bishop Gorman, Clark, Green Valley, Liberty, Moapa Valley and Shadow Ridge will join Commissioner Goodell on stage to announce the Philadelphia Eagles round one selection. There will also be six local high school student-athletes from Basic, Chaparral, Desert Oasis, Green Valley, Liberty and Spring Valley who will interact with NFL Prospects and receive a firsthand look at the Draft production as they participate in handing the prospect their New Era Draft cap upon being selected.
DRAFT DAY 2 NFL DRAFT SPECIAL PICKS
Ben Lepper (Make-A-Wish) – New England Patriots: Ben, a Make-A-Wish child who has overcome leukemia will see his wish come to fruition as he announces the New England Patriots' second-round pick this year alongside Patriots' 2021 Walter Payton Man of the Year Lawrence Guy. Ben was diagnosed with leukemia in 2017, and the Patriots were part of what kept his spirits up. Ben was surprised by Patriots Chairman and CEO ROBERT KRAFT who told him he was making this year's Round 2 Draft Pick. Ben is from Wellesley, MA. The Gadsden Family (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors [TAPS]) – Atlanta Falcons: The NFL's Salute to Service initiative looks to honor, empower and connect service members and military families. For this year's Draft, the NFL will highlight its partnership with TAPS, which offers compassionate care to all those grieving the loss of a military loved one. This year, the Gadsden's, a Gold Star family, will join Commissioner Goodell on stage in Round 2 to help make the team's selection. The night of the Draft Pick, April 29, is the same date that Second Lieutenant Gadsden was killed in Iraq. Joel Horton, Shigeo Iwamiya and Jodie Turner (National Gay Flag Football League [ NGFFL]) – Arizona Cardinals: As part of the NFL's ongoing work to embrace and uplift the LGBTQ+ community, representatives from the National Gay Flag Football League (NGFFL) will make the Cardinals pick. The NFL, the Cardinals, and several other NFL teams support the NGFFL. Last year, the Gay Bowl took place in Arizona. Joel serves on the National Gay Flag Football League Board of Directors, is a former commissioner for the Phoenix Gay Flag Football League, and plays on the Arizona Arsenal, one of the LGBTQ+ teams representing Phoenix. Shigeo is the current commissioner of the National Gay Flag Football League and Jodie serves on the National Gay Flag Football League Board of Directors and is part of the winningest program in the Women's+ Division and the overall NGFFL. The NGFFL supports LGBTQ+ Flag Football Leagues in 22 cities across North America and continues to build strong connections with many NFL teams across the country. The NGFFL's mission is to "foster and cultivate the self-respect of all LGBTQ+ people and promote respect, acceptance, and understanding from the larger community." DRAFT DAY 3 NFL DRAFT SPECIAL PICKS John Banaszak, Rocky Bleier, and James McCormick (Purple Heart Award Anniversary)- Washington Commanders: The NFL is proud to recognize the 240th Anniversary of the United States military decoration, the Purple Heart, awarded to those wounded or killed while serving in combat. The 240th Draft Pick honors and recognizes the sacrifices made by our brave women and men while in service to our nation. The onstage moment for the 240th Draft pick includes former NFL players who have received the Purple Heart, Rocky Bleier and John Banaszak. As well as three-time Purple Heart recipient, James McCormick. Deanne Moyle-Hicks (College Football Playoff Foundation) – Los Angeles Chargers: Deanne Moyle-Hicks, Nevada's 2022 State Teacher of the Year, is a Nationally Board Certified, 4th-grade teacher at Natchez Elementary School on the Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation in Washoe County School District. Her 29 years of educational experience have led her to advocate that every student deserves relevant and rigorous learning experiences designed and implemented by empowered teachers. Samantha Aslin and Christine McCullough (Special Olympics) – Dallas Cowboys: Special Olympics Nevada athletes, Samantha and Christine will make the Cowboys Round 4 Pick at this year's Draft. Samantha has been a Special Olympics athlete for more than 25 years and she will compete in the 2022 USA Games representing the State of Nevada. Christine has been part of Special Olympics Nevada for 27 years. She is involved in track and field, golf, bowling, basketball, and flag football. Christine participated in the NFL PLAY 60 Virtual Event alongside the Las Vegas Raiders during the 2020 NFL Draft Week when the Draft was held virtually, now she will be able to participate in person. John Brunson (United Service Organizations [USO]) – Kansas City Chiefs: John Brunson is a retired E9 with 31 years of service to our country in the US Army, including three years in senior management of Presidential transportation at the White House. John now serves as a lead driver of the NFL/USO gaming mobile unit, which will travel to austere training locations across the United States and give military service members an opportunity to connect with their friends and family through gaming. The trailer is making its public debut at the 2022 NFL Draft Experience and will be a key asset to the USO's 2022-2023 Salute to Service Madden League this fall. John is a huge Kansas City Chiefs fan. Savanna Scott (Fuel Up to Play 60) – Carolina Panthers: Savanna is a Las Vegas Native who is part of the Fuel Up to Play 60 program. Savanna likes that the program emphasizes leadership, good nutrition, and at least 60 minutes of activity a day; all things that she promotes at her school. Savanna is currently the Student Body President of her Student Council and her love for nutrition inspired her to petition Clark County School District to bring back Strawberry Milk. Savanna is also covering the Draft red carpet and interviewing the Draft prospects once they have been drafted. Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by America's Dairy Farmers and the NFL to help encourage kids to lead healthier lives. Gwen Jenkins (American Cancer Society [ACS]) – Philadelphia Eagles: Gwen Jenkins, mother of NFL Legend and Eagles Super Bowl Champion Malcolm Jenkins will make the club's Round 5 Pick on behalf of the American Cancer Society. Gwen, a breast cancer survivor, is currently the President of the NFL Professional Football Players Mothers Association and an advocate for early detection. She is currently training to become an ACS health equity ambassador. Kara L. Brumfield and Marshon Winter (Character Playbook) – Las Vegas Raiders: Las Vegas Raiders – Kara L. Brumfield and Marshon Winter (Character Playbook): Kara and Marshon will represent the NFL and United Way's Character Playbook Program - created in collaboration with leading social impact education innovator, EVERFI - which teaches students, teachers, and districts real-world skills about healthy relationships, conflict resolution, and managing emotions. Kara is a 7th- grade English teacher at Brian and Teri Cram Middle School in North Las Vegas and is a mentor to students who have behavioral and academic challenges. Marshon is a sports and fitness teacher at Nevada Prep Charter School in Las Vegas who serves as Chairman for the NV Public Charter School Network Intervention for Black & Latino males. Russell Black Jr (Inspire Change) – San Francisco 49ers: Russell will represent Operation HOPE, a nonprofit organization working to disrupt poverty and empower economic inclusion for low and moderate-income youth and adults. Operation HOPE an NFL Inspire Change social justice partner, and the 49ers partner locally with Operation HOPE as well. Russell has been a dedicated participant in Operation HOPE's HOPE Small Business Program for over a year, working alongside a financial well-being coach. Russell is the co-founder of On Melo's Menu – a BBQ and personal catering company serving the greater Las Vegas area. Ruben Cervantez (Wounded Warrior Project) – Los Angeles Rams: Ruben is a medically retired Hospital Corpsman 2nd class and a local in Las Vegas. He served 10 years in the U.S. Navy before retiring due to injuries. He was deployed to Iraq and was stationed at Camp Pendleton Hospital, USS Milius DDG 69, Balboa Hospital-San Diego, Commander Naval Surface Forces, Mcas Miramar and Naval hospital Lemoore. Ruben is a huge Los Angeles Rams fan and Wounded Warrior Project has helped him to create bonds and friendships and get back out into the community. SPECIAL MOMENTS U.S. MILITARY ENLISTMENT CEREMONY: On Day 3 of the NFL Draft, the Department of Defense will hold a joint enlistment ceremony for ten future service members joining the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines. Maj. Gen. Kevin Vereen, commanding general of the United States Army Recruiting Command, will preside over the 5-minute ceremony. The ceremony will occur at 10:30 am on the Draft stage. ###
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