Philadelphia is prepping to host the biggest NFL Draft in league history, with an outdoor event never seen before in league history on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
The first round begins on Thursday, April 27th, but the fan friendly NFL Draft events will begin as early as Monday April 24th.
There will be events and draft hysteria around the clock, but here are the 10 events the NFL is hosting around Philadelphia during the draft week that you don’t want to miss.
Tuesday, April 25th
1. NFL Draft Community Kickoff (12:45 p.m.) at Starr Garden Park to celebrate the beginning of Draft Week
The NFL will host a flag football clinic for local students from General George A. McCall Elementary and Middle School after the event
Wednesday, April 26th
2. NFL Draft Prospects Shriners Hospital Visit (10:00 a.m.) – Draft prospects will spend with time pediatric patients and their families, who will play in a PLAY 60 obstacle course at Shriners Hospitals for Children
3. Character Playbook Philadelphia Launch, William Ziegler Elementary School (1:00 p.m.) – The NFL and United Way Worldwide will launch their digital course on how to maintain healthy relationships during middle school.
Thursday, April 27th
4. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Visit (11:00 a.m.) – A group of NFL players visit Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
5. Play Football Clinic, Play Football Field presented by Danimals, Benjamin Franklin Parkway (9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.) – A group of NFL Draft prospects will lead 100 local children in a youth football clinic
6. NFL PLAY 60 Clinics, Play Football Field presented by Danimals, Benjamin Franklin Parkway – Children from local schools and organizations will take part in private youth football clinics at the Play Football Field presented by Danimals April 27-29.
Local schools and organizations taking part in the private clinics include: Cook-Wissahickon School; Hamilton Disston Elementary School; Haverford School; Lewis Elkin Elementary School; Munoz-Marin Luis School; MVP360 Community Programs; Steppingstone Scholars
7. NFL PLAY 60 Zone presented by Danimals, Benjamin Franklin Parkway – An interactive area for young fans to be active with things like an obstacle course, a kids’ long snap, a QB challenge, an extra pointFriday, April 28th
8. Special Olympics Unified Flag Football Game and Skills Clinic, Play Football Field presented by Danimals, Benjamin Franklin Parkway (10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.) – Eagles players will lead skills and drills stations and serve as coaches for the game.
9. NFL Draft High School 7-on-7 Tournament (6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.) – Eight local high school teams will compete in a single elimination 7-on-7 tournament at South Philadelphia Supersite (2926 S. 10th St). Current Eagles WR Jordan Matthews and former Eagles WR Jason Avant will speak in between games.
Downingtown West High School
John Bartram High School
Malvern Preparatory School
Methacton High School
Simon Gratz High School
South Philadelphia High School
Joes Preparatory School
West Catholic Preparatory School
Saturday, April 29th10. NFL Draft Family Football Clinic, Play Football Field presented by Danimals, Benjamin Franklin Parkway – This event will give local kids an opportunity to participate in a youth football clinic with USA Football coaches while their parents listen to football-themed discussion panels on topics ranging from the X’s and O’s of the game to health and safety, heat and hydration and strength and conditioning.
Participants will include Donovan McNabb’s parents Sam and Wilma, as well as former Eagles tackle and NFL VP of football operations Jon Runyan.
The Philadelphia NFL Draft event is slated to be the largest fan experience ever produced by the NFL.