WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� The 2027 NFL draft is heading to the nation鈥檚 capital on the National Mall, President Donald Trump said Monday, bringing the widely popular event back to Washington for the first time in more than eight decades.
After word of Washington getting the draft two years from now surfaced Sunday night, Trump made the formal announcement in the Oval Office flanked by Commissioner Roger Goodell, Commanders controlling owner Josh Harris and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think there鈥檚 ever been anything like that,鈥� Trump said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be beautiful. It鈥檚 going to be something that nobody else will ever be able to duplicate that, I don鈥檛 suspect. It鈥檚 very exciting.鈥�
It is the latest off-field victory for the Commanders, who a week ago reached an agreement with the D.C. government to on the old , . Trump also endorsed that plan in his remarks, saying, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think there is a better site anywhere in the world.鈥�
Under former owner Dan Snyder, the team previously tried multiple times to land the draft and was unsuccessful. Now, it’ll happen behind the team’s , which from Snyder in 2023.
鈥淲hat a great day for Washington,鈥� Harris said. 鈥淚 believe we鈥檒l get over a million people, and it鈥檚 going to be an amazing day and it鈥檒l showcase what Washington鈥檚 all about.鈥�
Washington last hosted the draft in 1941 at the Willard Hotel.
鈥淲e believe in investing in sports because they have helped us transform neighborhoods, and the NFL bringing this event to the nation鈥檚 capital will help us fill hotel rooms, our restaurants,鈥� Bowser said. 鈥淎mericans from all 50 states will come to their nation鈥檚 capital and enjoy our beautiful city and museums.鈥�
Green Bay, , hosted the most recent draft in late April outside historic Lambeau Field. The NFL announced a crowd of 600,000 fans attended over the three days.
鈥淭he draft has really become one of the great entertainment and sports events,鈥� Goodell said, trumpeting the popularity of the draft in recent years. 鈥淚t will not just be an event. It will be something that will show the world how far the nation鈥檚 capital has come and where it鈥檚 going.鈥�
The NFL draft used to be a fixture at Radio City Music Hall in New York and has become an even bigger hit since it hit the road in 2015. Chicago hosted the draft in 2015 and 鈥�16. Philadelphia had it in 鈥�17, followed by Dallas and Nashville.
Goodell announced the picks from his house in 2020 during the pandemic. It went to Cleveland in 2021 followed by Las Vegas, Kansas City and Detroit. A record crowd of 750,000 attended Detroit’s draft in 2024. Pittsburgh will host next year.
The draft in Washington in 鈥�27 will mark the third anniversary of the franchise-altering selection of quarterback Jayden Daniels with the second pick. The Commanders made the playoffs and in Daniels鈥� rookie year and look to be a Super Bowl contender for years to come.
“I have to say that Josh had a very good draft a short while ago,” Trump said. 鈥淵ou have a very good quarterback 鈥� a great quarterback, I think.鈥�
Success on the field under Harris-hired general manager Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn has made Washington a premier market again, decades after the organization’s glory days that included three Super Bowl championships.
After the news conference last week unveiling plans to build a 65,000-seat stadium, Goodell said the turnaround from losing to winning is 鈥渋mmeasurable in so many ways.鈥�
鈥淭his market is obviously critical,鈥� Goodell said. 鈥淭o be able to have a franchise here that everybody here is proud of that鈥檚 gotten back on the football field in a positive way and now to have a stadium that brings their team back into D.C., I think that鈥檚 a really big step and something that鈥檚 going to be great for the NFL, too.鈥�
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AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi contributed from Tampa, Florida.
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