Updates

The impact of the NFL Draft will extend far beyond the Auditorium Theatre with the NFL’s community events taking place throughout Chicago during Draft week. From hospitals to schools, NFL PLAY 60 events to Heads Up Football^® family clinics, thousands of local children and their families will experience the excitement of Draft through a series of free events.

The following are some of the NFL’s community activities planned for Draft week in Chicago. Media advisories with full details on each event will be issued throughout Draft week.

NFL Draft Prospects Clinic, NFL PLAY 60 Clinic Field presented by Danimals, Grant Park

NFL Draft prospects and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will lead 100 local children in a youth football clinic on Wednesday, April 27, from 10:00-11:00 a.m. at the NFL PLAY 60 Clinic Field presented by Danimals in Grant Park. The clinic will be followed by a 30-minute media availability with the prospects from 11:00-11:30 a.m.

Youth Character Education Program, Ariel Elementary Community Academy

A group of NFL Draft prospects, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, United Way President and CEO Brian Gallagher, Chicago Bears Chairman George H. McCaskey, and Chicago Bears alumni, including James “Big Cat” Williams, will visit a local middle school on Thursday, April 28, at 10 a.m. to speak with students as part of the NFL and United Way’s youth character education initiative. The prospects will discuss topics including character education and healthy relationships.

Shriners Hospital Visit

For the second year, NFL Draft prospects will return to Shriners Hospitals for Children to spend time with patients and families, in addition to cheering them on while they participate in NFL PLAY 60 activities. The visit will take place on Thursday, April 28, at 10 a.m.

NFL Draft Family Football Clinic, NFL PLAY 60 Clinic Field presented by Danimals, Grant Park

The NFL Draft Family Football Clinic will be held on Saturday, April 30, from 9:30-11:45 a.m. This event will give kids an opportunity to participate in a youth football clinic while their parents listen to football-themed discussion panels. The event will conclude with kids and parents taking the field together to participate side-by-side in USA Football Heads Up Tackling drills.

Clinic participants include NFL Consultant on Youth Football Chris Golic and her husband Mike Golic of ESPN’s Mike & Mike, as well as local youth and high school coaches and representatives from the Chicago Bears.

Families can register for the free Family Football Clinic using the Fan Mobile Pass – NFL Draft app, which can be downloaded at NFL.com/DraftApp.

Youth Football Clinics, NFL PLAY 60 Clinic Field presented by Danimals, Grant Park

Thousands of children from the Chicagoland community are invited to take part in free public NFL PLAY 60 youth football clinics, which will take place in Grant Park April 28-30. Clinics are free and open on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Thursday, April 28:    4-8 p.m.
• Friday, April 29:         4-8 p.m.
• Saturday, April 30:     10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Additionally, approximately 1,000 children from local schools and organizations will take part in private NFL PLAY 60 youth football clinics at the NFL PLAY 60 Clinic Field presented by Danimals in Grant Park April 27-30.

Designed to tackle childhood obesity, NFL PLAY 60 is part of the NFL’s commitment to youth health and wellness, encouraging kids to get active for 60 minutes each day. Local area youth will participate in NFL PLAY 60 clinics, led by USA Football coaches, alongside current and former NFL players.

NFL FLAG Football Festival

Together with USA Football and the Chicago Sport & Social Club, the NFL will host the second-annual NFL FLAG Football Festival on Saturday, April 30 in Grant Park. The event is open to youth and adults, and games will be played on Hutchinson Fields. Teams can register at nflflagfestival.com in the following categories:

• 7/8 co-ed, 9/10 co-ed, 11/12 co-ed, 13/14 boys, 15/16 boys, 15/16 girls, adult co-ed recreational, adult co-ed intermediate, adult women’s, and adult men’s. 

Draft Town presented by Oikos Triple Zero:

As previously announced, thousands of fans will have the opportunity to take part in free activities throughout Draft week at Draft Town presented by Oikos Triple Zero in Grant Park and Selection Square, located next to the iconic Buckingham Fountain. Spanning the size of more than 20 football fields, the expanded Draft Town celebration will feature interactive games, food, free player autographs, youth football clinics and more.

Draft Town hours of operation are: Thursday, April 28: 12-10 p.m.; Friday, April 29: 12-10 p.m.; and Saturday, April 30: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

For more information on Draft media opportunities or community events, visitNFL.com/DraftTown or download the Draft Town app at NFL.com/DraftApp.