Thousands of local children and special guests will experience the excitement of the NFL Draft as part of this year’s activities preceding the 2014 NFL Draft. The following are some of the ways that the NFL will celebrate Draft week in New York:
NFL PLAY 60 Youth Football Festival:
More than 1,500 local children will attend the annual NFL PLAY 60 Draft Youth Football Festival at Chelsea Waterside Park on May 7-8. Participants will take part in 60-minute NFL FLAG clinics, led by USA Football and Under Armour coaches, alongside current and former players. Thirty NFL Draft prospects and NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL will also spend time at the clinics. Special Olympians and local youth leagues registered for USA Football’s Heads Up Football program will take part as well.
NFL Draft Prospect Visit to Kravis Children’s Hospital at Mount Sinai
Thirty NFL Draft prospects will spend time with pediatric patients at the Kravis Children’s Hospital at Mount Sinai on May 8. Children will also have an opportunity to interview players live in the KidZone TV studios.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® Pick Announcement
St. Jude patient and Auburn offensive lineman SHON COLEMAN, and his mom DeKeishia, will join Commissioner Goodell to announce a pick during the first round of the Draft. NFL PLAY 60 is the “official champion of play” at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, helping to give all kids the chance to PLAY 60 and lead active and healthy lives. Shon’s football career was sidelined when he was diagnosed with cancer. Now healthy and ready to play, Shon is competing for a starting position on Auburn’s football team for the 2014 season. For more on Shon’s story, click here.
Service Member Recognition
Members of the United States Armed Forces from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, will be honored on stage during Day One and Day Two of the Draft, along with wounded warriors from the Wounded Warrior Project. They will be joined by their mothers when they are recognized on Day One, as part of the NFL’s Salute To Service campaign. One member of the group will also make a draft pick on Days One and Two of the Draft.
Day Three Special Guests:
On the final day of Draft, more than 300 service members will attend the Draft, along with thousands of local youth football teams, Heads Up Football leagues and students taking part in NFL PLAY 60 activities. They will be treated to prizes and giveaways, NFL player autographs and will participate in panel discussions on Heads Up Football and the important role parents and coaches play in youth sports. Panelists include USA Football Master Trainers, former players MIKE HAYNES and RUBEN BROWN, former players DONOVIN DARIUS, KEITH ELIAS, CHESTER PITTS and Heads Up Football Advisory Committee members and sports moms CHRIS GOLIC, DIANE LONG and AMANDA RODRIGUEZ.
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