NFL releases updated list of Legends and Active Players scheduled to announce 2019 draft picks

PRESS RELEASE WRITTEN BY Taylor Kielpinski-Rogers, NFL; COURTESY NHLmedia.com

 

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 2019 NFL Draft by announcing various selections and participating in festivities in Nashville.

 

Pro Football Hall of Famer and the 1979 NFL Man of the Year JOE GREENE will announce the Pittsburgh Steelers 2019 NFL Draft Round 1 selection.

 

Round 2 Draft selections will be announced by previous NFL club first-round picks, while Round 3 will be announced by players who were drafted in later rounds. Players will represent their clubs regardless of whether the team possesses a Round 2 or Round 3 pick.

 

In addition to announcing NFL Draft selections, players are on-site to mentor the Draft prospects and give back to the city of Nashville through a variety of service-driven events to celebrate this momentous occasion as the NFL commemorates its 100th season.

 

On Tuesday, April 23, NFL Legends MARK BRUNELL, TRENT DILFER, MAURICE JONES-DREW, JORDAN PALMER, CHAD PENNINGTON, MICHAEL ROBINSON, and BOBBY TAYLOR led breakout sessions for 200 high school student-athletes to discuss important values on and off the field, the role of athletes in the community and career opportunities in the sports industry. As part of the NFL Legends Youth Advisory Committee, these players will generate inspiring conversations with youth and high school football communities about the values learned from playing football.

 

Prior to the Draft on Thursday, April 25, NFL Legends led middle school participants in an hour-long clinic focusing on fundamental football drills, skills and technique at the Play Football Legends Clinic.

 

Below is the list of players scheduled to make selections in Rounds 2 and 3 of this year’s NFL Draft:

*Bold designates Hall of Famers​

 

Posted in NFL | Comments Off

NFL Teams during Day 3 of 2019 Draft to announce picks from unique locations

PRESS RELEASE WRITTEN BY NFL COMMUNICATIONS; COURTESY NFLmedia.com

 

 

4/24/19​

Beginning on Saturday, April 27th at 12:00 PM ET, NFL teams will announce their Day 3 selections for Rounds 4 through 6 of the 2019 NFL Draft from special local locations of their choosing. Clubs will make their picks from across the country and around the world, including military bases, state landmarks, and major attractions.

To honor the NFL’s 100th season, Round 6 will also highlight the League’s 13 “Original Towns,” and with that, its 14 charter teams. To do so, select pick announcements on Day 3 will be coming from these historic cities.

All picks in Round 7 will be made on-site in Nashville by local fans.

Here is a sampling of special team announcements during Day 3 of the NFL Draft:

• ARIZONA CARDINALS: Picks will be announced from the famed O.K. CORRAL in Tombstone, Arizona.

• BUFALLO BILLS: In celebration of the League’s 100 season, the team is partnering with ROCHESTER, NY, one of the NFL’s Original Towns

• CLEVELAND BROWNS: Former Browns players will make picks from the ROCK and ROLL HALL OF FAME.

• DENVER BRONCOS: Draft picks will be announced at the WINTER PARK SKI MOUNTAIN.

• DETROIT LIONS: Team selections will be announced from the HENRY FORD MUSEUM OF AMERICAN INNOVATION in Dearborn, Michigan.

• LOS ANGELES CHARGERS: Picks will be made internationally from MEXICO CITY

• LOS ANGELES RAMS: The team will showcase their NEW STADIUM CONSTRUCTION SITE in Los Angeles, CA

• NEW YORK GIANTS: Draft pick announcements to be made by children from the “MAKE-A-WISH” CASTLE in Monroe, New Jersey.

• NEW YORK JETS: Picks will be made by Black Knights parachuting into the WEST POINT MILITARY BASE.

• OAKLAND RAIDERS: The team will showcase their NEW STADIUM CONSTRUCTION SITE in Las Vegas, NV

• WASHINGTON REDSKINS: Picks will be made directly from the nation’s capital along THE NATIONAL MALL.

The 2019 NFL Draft will be held Thursday, April 25 – Saturday, April 27 and televised nationally by NFL network, ABC, ESPN and ESPN Deportes, and can be heard nationwide on Westwood One Radio, SiriusXM NFL Radio, TuneIn Radio and ESPN Radio. Live streaming will also be available across devices (smartphone, PC, tablet and connected TVs) through the NFL app or NFL.com.

 

Posted in NFL | Comments Off

NFL to launch Legends Youth Advisory Committee

PRESS RELEASE WRITTEN BY Taylor Kielpinski-Rogers, NFL; COURTESY NFLmedia.com

 

The NFL recently announced the NFL Legends Youth Advisory Committee to assist and guide efforts to preserve and grow youth & high school football through peer-to-peer engagement.

 

NFL Legends MARK BRUNELL, TRENT DILFER, MAURICE JONES-DREW, WILLIE McGINEST, JORDAN PALMER, CHAD PENNINGTON, MICHAEL ROBINSON, DEION SANDERS and BOBBY TAYLOR will generate inspiring conversations with youth and high school football communities about the values learned from playing football.

 

“These NFL Legends are dedicated to the love of the game, the values it transfers to life, and to serving communities by sharing their experience and knowledge with parents, coaches and players,” said TROY VINCENT, NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations. “They are champions of growing youth and high school football – stressing values, playing technique and player protection.”

At Play Football Draft High School Day in Nashville TN., the committee led breakout sessions for 200 high school student-athletes to discuss important values on and off the field, the role of athletes in the community and career opportunities in the sports industry.

 

Participating high schools in the Nashville area included Fairview, Gallatin, Hunters Lane, Oakland, Overton, Ravenwood, Stratford andWhites Creek.

 

MARK BRUNELL: Brunell enjoyed a 19-year NFL playing experience, highlighted by his nine seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars where he was a three-time Pro Bowl selection and holds the franchise record for passing yards, touchdown passes and 300-yard games. He also played for the Green Bay Packers, Washington Redskins, New Orleans Saints and New York Jets and was a member of New Orleans’ Super Bowl XLIV winning team. Brunell remains active in the football community, currently serving as the head coach for the Episcopal School of Jacksonville.

 

TRENT DILFER: A native of California, Dilfer was the sixth overall pick in the 1994 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A Pro Bowler in 1997, Dilfer played 14 seasons and was the winning quarterback in Super Bowl XXXV with the Baltimore Ravens. He then became an analyst for NFL Network and ESPN. He is currently the head coach of Lipscomb Academy in Nashville, Tennessee.

 

MAURICE JONES-DREW: Jones-Drew, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ second-round selection and 60th overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, was a three-time Pro Bowl running back. In 2009, he established the Maurice Jones-Drew Foundation to assist youth organizations. While playing, he routinely hosted football camps for youth in Jacksonville and in his hometown of Antioch, California. Jones-Drew became an analyst for NFL Network and is currently a color analyst for the Los Angeles Rams.

 

WILLIE McGINEST: A two-time Pro Bowl selection and three-time Super Bowl champion, McGinest was a vital member of the New England Patriots dynasty of the early 2000s. His 15-year NFL playing experience was highlighted by his 12 seasons with New England, where he recorded an NFL-record 16 postseason sacks, including a single-game playoff record 4.5 sacks in the Patriots’ 2005 AFC Wild Card game. McGinest, who finished with the Cleveland Browns, currently serves as an analyst for the NFL Network. McGinest is the founder of the Willie McGinest Freedom School, a non-profit foundation that provides social and cultural enrichment for at-risk youth.

 

JORDAN PALMER: Palmer was selected in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. While at the University of Texas at El Paso, Palmer threw for 11,084 yards with 88 touchdowns, both ranking second on the school’s all-time list. He spent time with four NFL teams (Cincinnati Bengals, 2008-10; Jacksonville Jaguars, 2012; Chicago Bears, 2013; Tennessee Titans, 2014). Thereafter, Jordan began working as a quarterbacks coach. Prior to the 2018 NFL Draft, he mentored first-round picks Sam Darnold (New York Jets) and Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills).

 

CHAD PENNINGTON: A first-round draft pick of the New York Jets in 2000, Pennington enjoyed an 11-year NFL playing experience with the Jets and Miami Dolphins. The Marshall University graduate is the only player in league history to win the AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award twice, doing so in 2006 and 2008, when he also finished second in MVP voting. Pennington is the Co-Executive Director of the NFL Legends Community and created the 1st and 10 Foundation in 2003, which works to help build stronger communities and improve quality of life. Pennington currently serves as the Director of Football Operations at the Sayre School in Lexington, KY, where he has assisted in reviving a high school football program that had been dormant since 1976. Pennington has also served in youth and middle school football as both a coach and administrator.

 

MICHAEL ROBINSON: Robinson was the 100th overall selection in the 2006 NFL Drafted by the San Francisco 49ers. Robinson, a Penn State graduate, was the first Nittany Lion to throw for over 2,000 yards and rush for over 500 yards in the same season. He wrapped up his eight-years in the NFL playing for the San Francisco 49ers (2006-09) and Seattle Seahawks (2010-13). Robinson was a 2011 Pro Bowler and Super Bowl Champion with the Seattle Seahawks after they defeated the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII. Robinson became an analyst for NFL Network. In 2010, he founded Excel to Excellence, a charity that encourages youth to excel in school and society.

 

DEION SANDERS: Recognized as one of the most prolific defensive players in NFL history, Deion Sanders was selected fifth overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 1989 NFL Draft. During his 14-years in the NFL, Sanders played for the Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins and Baltimore Ravens. He was recognized as the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1994 and is the all-time leader with 19 defensive and return touchdowns. Sanders was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011, selected to the Pro Bowl eight times and is a two-time Super Bowl Champion. After football, Sanders pursued a career in broadcasting, where he is currently an analyst for CBS Sports and NFL Network. He also currently serves as the offensive coordinator at Trinity Christian-Cedar Hill High School, where his sons attend.

 

BOBBY TAYLOR: Bobby Taylor was a second-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1995 NFL Draft. A Texas native, Taylor was the first player in Longview (Texas) High School history to have his jersey retired. In 2012, he was inducted into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame. Taylor enjoyed 10 years with the Eagles (1995-2003) and the Seattle Seahawks (2004). For the last nine years, Taylor has hosted the Fun Camp (Fundamentals of Football) alongside former Eagles teammate N.D. Kalu in Houston, TX, where they have coached thousands of kids ages 6-16. In 2013, Taylor started the BT Defensive Backs Skills & Athlete Training operated at Zoe’s Sports Performance in Richmond, TX.

 

About Play Football: Play Football is a year-round initiative celebrating youth and high school football. Play Football works to shape the football experience, advocates for player protection, promotes football values and connects football communities. For more information, featured football stories, best practices and resources aimed to create a positive playing experience, please visit PlayFootball.com or follow @NFLPlayFootball. Join the conversation on social media using #LetsPlayFootball.

 

Posted in NFL | Comments Off

NFL releases 2019 Thursday Night Football and NFL Network schedule

PRESS RELEASE WRITTEN BY NFL COMMUNICATIONS; COURTESY NFLmedia.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers Kicks Off 2019 ‘Thursday Night Football’ Schedule on Thursday, September 12​

Second Season of ‘Thursday Night Football’ Across FOX, NFL Network & Amazon Prime Video

NFL Network to Exclusively Televise Seven Games, Including Two ‘Thursday Night Football’ Games, Two International Series Games & Week 16 Tripleheader

NFL Network and FOX announced the 2019 Thursday Night Football Presented by Bud Light schedule today.

The 13-game Thursday Night Football slate of games features 11 FOX games which are scheduled to be simulcast on NFL Network and Amazon Prime Video*, in addition to two NFL Network exclusive games.

The 2019 Thursday Night Football schedule kicks off Week 2 when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit the Carolina Panthers on Thursday, September 12 in an NFC South divisional matchup exclusively on NFL Network. All Thursday Night Football games are expected to kick off at 8:20 PM ET.

The 2019 FOX Thursday Night Football schedule begins Week 4 when the Green Bay Packers host the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday, September 26. This year marks the second year of the current NFL Thursday Night Football partnership with FOX and Amazon.

Adding to television availability, several streaming options will be available to fans. NFL Network exclusive games will be available through NFL digital properties and on mobile via Yahoo Sports and other Verizon Media properties. FOX Thursday Night Football games will be available to stream on Amazon via Prime Video and Twitch in addition to NFL, FOX and FOX Deportes digital properties across devices.* During the season, fans can learn all of the ways to watch at NFL.com/TNF.

Live game audio of Thursday Night Football will be broadcast nationally by Westwood One, and carried on SiriusXM and the TuneIn app.

In addition to the Thursday Night Football games, NFL Network will televise two International Series games from London (Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6 and Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 9) and a Week 16 tripleheader on Saturday, December 21 with matchups to be determined. Kickoff times for Saturday, December 21 are 1:00 PM ET, 4:30 PM ET and 8:15 PM ET, and will feature three of the following five potential matchups: Detroit Lions vs. Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders vs. Los Angeles Chargers, Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers and Houston Texans vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

FOX will produce all 18 games across Thursday Night Football and NFL Network’s exclusive games this season, which collectively feature 11 playoff teams from 2018, including the Super Bowl LIII champion New England Patriots.

 

2019 THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL & NFL NETWORK SCHEDULE

 

Week 2: Thursday, September 12 at 8:20 PM ET (NFL Network)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers

 

Week 3: Thursday, September 19 at 8:20 PM ET (NFL Network)

Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars

 

Week 4: Thursday, September 26 at 8:20 PM ET (FOX/NFL Network/Amazon Prime Video)*

Philadelphia Eagles at Green Bay Packers

 

Week 5: Thursday, October 3 at 8:20 PM ET (FOX/NFL Network/Amazon Prime Video)*

Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks

 

Week 6: Thursday, October 10 at 8:20 PM ET (FOX/NFL Network/Amazon Prime Video)*

New York Giants at New England Patriots

 

Week 6: Sunday, October 13 at 9:30 AM ET (NFL Network)

Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (London)

 

Week 7: Thursday, October 17 at 8:20 PM ET (FOX/NFL Network/Amazon Prime Video)*

Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos

 

Week 8: Thursday, October 24 at 8:20 PM ET (FOX/NFL Network/Amazon Prime Video)*

Washington Redskins at Minnesota Vikings

 

Week 9: Thursday, October 31 at 8:20 PM ET (FOX/NFL Network/Amazon Prime Video)*

San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals

 

Week 9: Sunday, November 3 at 9:30 AM ET (NFL Network)

Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars (London)

 

Week 10: Thursday, November 7 at 8:20 PM ET (FOX/NFL Network/Amazon Prime Video)*

Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland Raiders

 

Week 11: Thursday, November 14 at 8:20 PM ET (FOX/NFL Network/Amazon Prime Video)*

Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns

 

Week 12: Thursday, November 21 at 8:20 PM ET (FOX/NFL Network/Amazon Prime Video)*

Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans

 

Week 14: Thursday, December 5 at 8:20 PM ET (FOX/NFL Network/Amazon Prime Video)*

Dallas Cowboys at Chicago Bears

 

Week 15: Thursday, December 12 at 8:20 PM ET (FOX/NFL Network/Amazon Prime Video)*

New York Jets at Baltimore Ravens

 

Week 16: Saturday, December 21 (NFL Network)

Three Games at 1:00, 4:30 & 8:15 PM ET

Potential Matchups:

Detroit Lions at Denver Broncos

Oakland Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers

Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots

Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers

Houston Texans at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

*NFL Network, Amazon Prime Video and Twitch simulcast subject to change.

For more information about Thursday Night Football and NFL Network exclusive games, visit: NFL.com/TNF.

 

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 app and via Watch NFL Network on smartphones, tablets, PCs and connected TV devices (Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, PlayStation 4 and Roku). Access is available for NFL Network subscribers of participating TV providers. For more information, go to NFL.com/nflnetwork.

 

Posted in NFL | Comments Off

NFL Foundation commits $1.5 Million for Youth Wellness with USA Football, GenYouth and Fuel Up to Play 60

PRESS RELEASE WRITTEN BY Kenyah Jordan-Jackson, NFL.com; Gretel Truong, GENYOUth; Gehrig Parker, USA Football; COURTESY NFLmedia.com

 

Renewed Commitment to Get Students Active Through FLAG-IN-SCHOOLS to reach 4,200 New Schools and 2.3 Million Additional Students

NEW YORK – The NFL, USA Football, GENYOUth and Fuel Up to Play 60 announced today the fifth year of the NFL FLAG-In-Schools Program, which aims to increase physical activity among youth by providing FLAG football resources to underserved school communities. Since 2014, the partners’ efforts have resulted in 9.1 million students becoming more active before, during and after school through NFL FLAG-In-Schools. During the 2019-2020 school year, nearly 4,200 NFL FLAG Kits will be distributed nationwide, reaching approximately 2.3 million new students. The expansion was made possible by a renewed commitment from the NFL Foundation, amounting to nearly $1.5 million.

There is interest in and demand for high-quality turnkey solutions to engage students in physical education. FLAG-In-Schools is a proven resource for schools and PE teachers, both scalable and sustainable, and inspires students, including boys and girls, to be physically active daily.

“Since 2014, when this ground-breaking partnership was announced between the NFL, USA Football, GENYOUth and Fuel Up to Play 60, we have provided over 16,000 school communities with FLAG Football equipment to equip and engage students in fun physical activity before, during and after school,” said GENYOUth CEO ALEXIS GLICK.

“FLAG Football is the fastest growing youth sport across the country. We are proud that we have had a direct impact on the love of the game and the adoption in school communities thanks to the incredible support of the NFL and all 32 NFL teams,” Glick added. According to a white paper issued by the Aspen institute, participation among kids 6-12 is up 39 percent, more than any other team sport.

“The NFL is constantly seeking to enhance the football experience for participants as well as fans,” said DAWN APONTE, NFL Senior Vice President, Football Operations and Chief Football Administrative Officer. “The NFL FLAG-In-Schools program has provided access and opportunities for participants of all ages and abilities to develop their passion for football while staying active. We also greatly appreciate NFL Legends who have engaged with participating schools throughout the country.”

New for the 2019-2020 school year, high schools nationwide will be invited to apply for kits, with a focus on growing female participation in the game, expanding our reach to a new population of educators and students who are eager for the NFL FLAG-In-Schools equipment and curriculum. The evolution of the existing curriculum will include a female focus with the support of SHAPE America and guidance from USA Football, advancing FLAG-In-Schools nationwide to inspire more young athletes and families to enjoy the fun and fitness of football. USA Football is the sport’s national governing body and a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee.

JAYNE GREENBERG, Project Director U.S. D​ept. of Health and Human Services

– “The NFL FLAG-In-Schools program continues to grow at leaps and bounds and provide opportunities for our nation’s youth to learn and play football in a fun and engaging way. When educators open the curriculum this year, they’ll find a brand-new supplemental resource to address opportunities for students with disabilities and offer different options for activation and increasing opportunity for physical activity. With more than 6 million students in the U.S. with disabilities it is important that this program acknowledge, embrace, and provide access for all students.”

In the coming school year, 100 percent of school-based Boys and Girls Clubs of America will have FLAG-In-Schools kits enabling increased opportunities for students to be physically active after school in addition to the school day.

Plus, this year the program has added online tools and resources for PE teachers and coaches. The NFL FLAG-In-Schools program administered an in-person training for 200 educators at AdventHealth Training Center, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, during SHAPE America’s National Convention in Tampa, FL, where more than 5,000 PE teachers are assembling this week.

To learn more about NFL FLAG-In-Schools and request a FREE FLAG-In-Schools kit, visit FuelUpToPlay60.com. To find or start an NFL FLAG league in your community, visit NFLFLAG.com, and for NFL FLAG-In-Schools updates and more, follow @NFLPlayFootball and @GENYOUthNow on Twitter and Instagram. And be sure to share your stories of best practices, positive youth development or how NFL FLAG-In-Schools has helped your school community address a specific topic using hashtag #LetsPLAYFootball.

# # #

About The NFL Foundation

The National Football League Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of those touched by the game of football – from players at all levels to communities across the country. The NFL Foundation represents the 32 NFL clubs and supports the health, safety and wellness of athletes, youth football, and the communities that support our game. For more information on The NFL Foundation, visit: www.NFLFoundation.org.

About NFL FLAG powered by USA Football

NFL FLAG powered by USA Football (www.nflflag.com) provides opportunities for children ages 5-17 to enjoy America’s favorite sport. With more than 400,000 participants nationwide, players benefit by being physically active through non-contact, continuous action while learning the fundamentals of football, lessons in teamwork and sportsmanship.

About USA Football

USA Football designs and delivers premier educational, developmental and competitive programs to advance and grow the sport. As the sport’s national governing body, member of the U.S. Olympic Committee and organizer of the U.S. National Team for international competition, USA Football partners with leaders in medicine, child advocacy and athletics to support positive football experiences for youth, high school and other amateur players.

About GENYOUth/Fuel Up to Play 60

GENYOUth empowers students to create a healthier future for themselves and their peers by convening a network of private and public partners to raise funds for youth wellness initiatives that bolster healthy, high-achieving students, schools and communities nationwide. We believe that all students are change-agents, who deserve the opportunity to identify and lead innovative solutions that positively impact nutrition, physical activity, and student success. For more information about GENYOUth, visit: www.genyouthnow.org.

Fuel Up to Play 60 is GENYOUth’s flagship program and is an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by National Football League (NFL) and National Dairy Council (NDC), which was founded by America’s dairy farmers, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Fuel Up to Play 60 is designed to engage and empower youth to take action for their own health by implementing long-term, positive changes for themselves and their schools. The program additionally encourages youth to consume nutrient-rich foods (low-fat and fat-free dairy, fruits, vegetables and whole grains) and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. As a result of the program, last year 14 million students made better food choices and are getting more physically active during the school day. Fuel Up to Play 60 is further supported by several health and nutrition organizations: Action for Healthy Kids, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Association/Foundation, National Hispanic Medical Association, National Medical Association and School Nutrition Association.

 

Posted in NFL | Comments Off