Tag: 2028

Dec 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; A general view inside the stadium during warmups before the game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Minneapolis selected to host 2028 NFL Draft

Posted on | by Field Level Media

NFL owners voted to award the 2028 draft to Minneapolis.

The Twin Cities were chosen to host the event on Tuesday at the meeting of franchise owners in Orlando, the culmination of what Vikings president and CEO Mark Wilf described as a “terrific opportunity.” Minnesota hosted the Super Bowl in February 2018 and becomes the final NFC North division team to be chosen as the draft stage.

“Minnesota knows how to show up for big moments, and we’ve experienced it firsthand,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement Tuesday. “Working with the Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Sports and Events, we look forward to bringing the 2028 NFL Draft to this great community, driving positive economic impact throughout the region, and hosting an incredible event for fans and the next generation of the NFL.”

The 2026 draft took place in Pittsburgh last month, with the 2027 event scheduled for the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Wilf and the draft host city planning committee noted events will be held outside of downtown Minneapolis, where U.S. Bank Stadium is located. A portion of the event will take place near the team’s headquarters and practice facility and at other spots to be determined within the Twin Cities.

“For three days, Minnesota will become the center of the football world,” Wilf said. “The 2028 NFL Draft will give us an opportunity to showcase not just U.S. Bank Stadium, but the energy, hospitality and pride that define Minneapolis-St. Paul and the entire state and region. We have no doubt the community will deliver a world-class event that is unique to Minnesota.”

The NFL conducted the annual draft in New York until opting to take the show on the road in 2015. The extremely popular road show changes locations each year.

Since then, the draft has been held in the home cities of 10 franchises: the Bears, Eagles, Cowboys, Titans, Browns, Raiders, Chiefs, Lions, Packers and Steelers.

The 2020 draft was held virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pittsburgh set the record for largest total attendance in NFL draft history with 805,000 attendees over three days from April 23-25. Organizers in Washington, D.C., have said they expect a crowd of more than 1 million people.

Cincinnati is reportedly the leading contender to host the 2029 NFL Draft.

–Field Level Media

A general view during the South Bend Riley-South Bend Washington high school football game on Friday, September 23, 2022, at TCU School Field in South Bend, Indiana. South Bend Riley Vs South Bend Washington

Two-way Florida football player ranked No. 1 in 2028 class by 247Sports

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A’mir Sears, a rising high school junior being compared to two-way NFL player Travis Hunter, is the No. 1 player in the Class of 2028, according to 247Sports, which released its first rankings for the group on Wednesday.

He also received the first — and only, for now — 5-star ranking in the class.

Listed at 6-foot-1, 178 pounds, Sears was a wide receiver and defensive back at West Broward High School in Pembroke Pines, Fla., last fall, leading the school to its first appearance in the state championship game in the 6A division. According to 247Sports, he had 61 tackles, three interceptions and 11 pass breakups on defense as a sophomore. On the other side of the ball, he caught 49 passes for 942 yards with 11 touchdowns.

After the conclusion of the 2025 season, Sears announced he would be playing his final two high school seasons at sports powerhouse Christopher Columbus High School in Miami. Most recently, that’s the school that sent basketball players Cameron and Cayden Boozer to Duke, and where Fernando Mendoza laid the foundation for winning the Heisman Trophy and being selected No. 1 in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Here are the top 10 players, as ranked by 247Sports. College coaches and recruiters already know these names well, and fans will learn them over the next two high school seasons.

1. A’mir Sears, athlete, Christopher Columbus (Miami)
2. Jayden Wade, quarterback, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.). Committed to Georgia.
3. Kameron McGee, edge, Brother Rice (Chicago)
4. Brysen Wright, wide receiver, Mandarin (Jacksonville, Fla.)
5. Christopher Vargas, quarterback, St. John’s Prep (Danvers, Mass.)
6. Asher Ghioto, edge, The Bolles School (Jacksonville, Fla.)
7. Darieon Prescott, edge, Bolingbrook (Bolingbrook, Ill.)
8. Maui Tonata, offensive tackle, Orem (Orem, Utah)
9. Tyzon Swann, defensive lineman, Henry E. Lackey (Indian Head, Md.)
10. Casey Barner, safety, McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.)

–Field Level Media

Minnesota Vikings  fans are shown before the start of the first round of the NFL Draft Thursday, April 24, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It is the first time the draft will be held in Green Bay, the smallest market in the National Football League.

Minneapolis submits bid to host 2028 NFL Draft

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Minneapolis has submitted a formal bid to host the 2028 NFL Draft at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Wendy Blackshaw, president and CEO of the Minnesota Sports and Events Commission, confirmed the bid to ESPN on Wednesday.

The draft is taking place in Pittsburgh next month and in Washington, D.C., in 2027.

The NFL typically selects a site about two years out, so Minneapolis could receive an answer soon, per ESPN.

After being staged in New York every year from 1965-2014, the draft has taken place in Chicago (2015-16), Philadelphia (2017), Arlington, Texas (2018), Nashville, Tenn. (2019), Cleveland (2021), Las Vegas (2022), Kansas City (2023), Detroit (2024) and Green Bay, Wis. (2025).

There was a virtual draft in 2020 due to the pandemic.

–Field Level Media

Feb 2, 2025; Orlando, FL, USA; A general overall view as NFC quarterback Jared Goff of the Detroit Lions (16) throws the ball on the NFL shield logo at midfield during the 2025 Pro Bowl Games at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

NFL to consider players competing in Olympic flag football

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NFL owners are planning to discuss a resolution to allow players to participate in flag football at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

The resolution under consideration for next week’s spring meeting in Minneapolis would permit no more than one player from each NFL team to participate.

Each team’s designated international player also would be allowed to participate for his country when the Summer Games features flag football for the first time.

The NFL proposal includes a few caveats that would protect teams in case of injuries, including providing salary cap credit for any players hurt while participating and establishing “certain minimum standards for medical staff and field surfaces.”

In addition, the flag football schedule and related events cannot “unreasonably” conflict with an NFL player’s team and league commitments. The gold medal game is the same week teams report to training camp.

–Field Level Media

Sep 13, 2020; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; A general view of the stadium prior to the game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Seattle Seahawks at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Report: Atlanta to be awarded Super Bowl LXII

Posted on | by Field Level Media

With an owners’ vote on the horizon, the NFL plans to award Super Bowl LXII in February 2028 to Atlanta, Sports Business Journal reported Thursday.

Team owners are scheduled to meet in Atlanta in October to hold a vote on the matter.

It would mark the second Super Bowl held in the Falcons’ Mercedes-Benz Stadium, following the 2019 game that saw the New England Patriots edge the Los Angeles Rams 13-3. The city also hosted two Super Bowls at the Falcons’ previous home, the Georgia Dome.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium was recently awarded the 2031 Final Four, its first chance to hold that event after its turn in 2020 was wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic. The stadium will be home to the 2025 College Football Playoff national championship game and eight matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including one semifinal.

The Super Bowl for the current season is slated for New Orleans. California has the next two: The San Francisco 49ers’ Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara hosts in February 2026 and the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers’ SoFi Stadium in Inglewood gets its second turn in five years in February 2027.

–Field Level Media