The first NFL Draft was held in Philadelphia in 1936 and the city hosted the event often in the 1950s, but it has been 55 years since players have learned their first NFL homes in the City of Brotherly Love.
That will change in 2017. As expected, the NFL announced on Thursday that Philadelphia will host the draft next year. The festivities will take place along Benjamin Franklin Parkway with the first round taking place in an outdoor theater. It will also incorporate the famous steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art -- think Rocky Balboa -- by having drafted players climb them after their selections.
No word on if they’ll also be incorporating chicken chasing or raw egg chugging into the combine, but we doubt anyone would complain if they did.
“On behalf of the City and our legion of Philadelphia Eagles fans, we’re proud to be chosen as host city for the 2017 NFL Draft,” Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said in a statement. “We are excited to showcase Philadelphia and our passion for football, and fully expect an awesome experience for all those attending in 2017 and for those watching at home. I’m thankful for the incredible team at the NFL and the Philadelphia CVB for making this happen.”
The draft will be held from April 27-29.