FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
4/26/17
SPECIAL GUESTS TO ANNOUNCE 2017 NFL DRAFT PICKS
Service Members, St. Jude Patient, Make-A-Wish Kid and
Youth Athletes Participate in Draft Celebrations
Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Team Winners
and NFL Legends Recognized During Multiple Rounds
The NFL will honor outstanding members of the community throughout the three-day
celebration at the 2017 NFL Draft. Special guests will take part in the excitement of the Draft by
announcing various picks and participating in festivities in Philadelphia.
Salute to Service - Military Appreciation
The NFL will recognize active duty service members, veterans and their families at Draft events
throughout the week. On Thursday evening, a joint color guard will be joined onstage with
veterans from Wounded Warrior Project during the National Anthem to open the Draft.
The NFL has teamed with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) to honor the
Frisons, a Gold Star Family. A Philadelphia native and passionate Philadelphia Eagles fan, U.S.
Army 1st Lt. DEMETRIUS FRISON lost his life in combat in Afghanistan in 2011. Frison’s wife
and son will accompany Philadelphia Eagles Legend RON JAWORSKI onstage to announce
the Eagles’ Round 2 pick along with a Joint Service Honor Guard representing all branches of
military service.
In addition, active duty service members from all five branches of the military and veterans from
the USO and Wounded Warrior Project will be guests at the Draft on Saturday for Rounds 4-7.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®
St. Jude patient KATE FOSTER will join COMMISSIONER GOODELL and Chicago Bears
Legend JAY HILGENBERG to announce the Bears’ Round 2 pick. A competitive gymnast,
Kate, 18, from Rockford, IL, lost her left leg to an infection during treatment for Acute Myeloid
Leukemia at age 12 but overcame her illness and returned to the gym less than a year later.
MAKE-A-WISH®
Make-A-Wish recipient TJ ONWUANIBE will have his wish granted when he joins
COMMISSIONER GOODELL to announce the Baltimore Ravens’ Round 1 pick. A footballloving 14-year old, TJ is a cancer survivor and devoted Ravens fan from Laurel, MD.
Youth and High School Football
ROUND 1
Football players from MARTIN LUTHER KING HIGH SCHOOL will take the stage alongside
COMMISSIONER GOODELL and represent the Philadelphia Eagles during their Round 1 pick.
Due to lack of resources and funding, Germantown High School’s football program merged with
former crosstown rival Martin Luther King High School. Prior to the pick announcement, the
team will walk the Red Carpet alongside Draft prospects.
In addition, LIAM MCCLURE, a Methacton High School football player diagnosed with autism,
will walk the Red Carpet on Thursday and hand out New Era Caps to Draft picks with his
teammates. McClure fell in love with football after attending a Philadelphia Eagles Training
Camp and further developed his passion for the game after joining the Methacton Warriors.
ROUND 3
In memory of the late legendary Pennsylvania high school football coach MIKE PETTINE SR.,
the Central Bucks West High School football team will accompany Philadelphia Eagles long
snapper and 2016 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year team winner JON DORENBOS in
making the Eagles’ Round 3 pick. Pettine Sr. had 16 undefeated seasons in his 33 years as
head coach and won four state championships with Central Bucks West High School.
ROUND 6
For the first time, Round 6 of the NFL Draft will be youth football-themed. Youth football players
from Pop Warner, NFL FLAG and local teams will represent various NFL clubs in their local
markets during pick selections.
ROUND 7
The NFL Draft 7-on-7 tournament champions will be recognized onstage during the Philadelphia
Eagles’ Round 7 selection.
NFL Legends and Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Recognition
Thirty-two former players from the NFL Legends Community, one representing each team, will
be featured in Round 2. 15 Pro Football Hall of Fame members will announce picks, including
MORTEN ANDERSEN, JIM BROWN, WILLIE BROWN, FRANCO HARRIS, JIM TAYLOR and
THURMAN THOMAS.
Round 3 Draft announcements will feature past recipients and team winners of the Walter
Payton NFL Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide. Carolina Panthers linebacker and
2014 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year THOMAS DAVIS will make the Round 1 pick
selection on behalf of his team.
The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award recognizes a player for his excellence on and
off the field and represents the best of the NFL’s commitment to philanthropy and community
impact.
Below is the list of former players scheduled to make selections in Round 2, as well as Walter
Payton NFL Man of the Year national and team winners announcing Round 3 picks. There are a
total of 15 Pro Football Hall of Famers listed below.
Bold designates Hall of Famers
Team
Round 2
Round 3
Arizona Cardinals
Jim Hart
Mike Leach
Atlanta Falcons
Gerald Riggs
Matt Bosher
Baltimore Ravens
Buffalo Bills
Jermaine Lewis
Thurman Thomas
Edwin Mulitalo
Bryan Scott
Carolina Panthers
Travelle Wharton
Greg Olsen
Chicago Bears
Jay Hilgenberg
Sam Acho
Cincinnati Bengals
Anthony Muñoz
Vincent Rey
Cleveland Browns
Jim Brown
Josh Cribbs
Dallas Cowboys
Drew Pearson
Bradie James
Denver Broncos
Floyd Little
Rod Smith
Detroit Lions
Lem Barney
Don Carey
Green Bay Packers
Jim Taylor
Jayrone Elliott
Houston Texans
Andre Johnson
Brian Cushing
Indianapolis Colts
Robert Mathis
Joe Reitz
Jacksonville Jaguars
Tony Boselli
Josh Scobee
Kansas City Chiefs
Carlos Carson
Will Shields
Los Angeles Chargers
Shawne Merriman
Jeremiah Attaochu
Los Angeles Rams
Jack Youngblood
Steven Jackson
Miami Dolphins
Larry Little
Chris Chambers
Minnesota Vikings
John Randle
Madieu Williams
New England Patriots
Andre Tippett
Matthew Slater
New Orleans Saints
Morten Andersen
Lance Moore
New York Giants
Harry Carson
Jessie Armstead
New York Jets
Joe Klecko
Brandon Moore
Oakland Raiders
Willie Brown
Willie Brown
Philadelphia Eagles
Ron Jaworski
Jon Dorenbos
Pittsburgh Steelers
San Francisco 49ers
Franco Harris
Tom Rathman
Arthur Moats
Justin Smith
Seattle Seahawks
Jacob Green
Cliff Avril
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Mike Alstott
Ryan Nece
Tennessee Titans
Mike Rozier
Jurrell Casey
Washington Redskins
Clinton Portis
London Fletcher
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Media Contacts:
Ana Blinder, NFL
[email protected]
Catherine Boyle, NFL
[email protected]
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