NFL Hosts Community and Flag Football Events Across Pittsburgh Throughout 2026 NFL Draft Week

Image Credit: NFL

Community members and fans invited to participate in the Draft process by announcing picks

PITTSBURGH, PA — The NFL recently announced a series of community-focused events taking place throughout Pittsburgh as part of the 2026 NFL Draft presented by Bud Light on April 23-25. Community events and flag football activations will uplift the greater Pittsburgh area and celebrate its rich football tradition, bringing together community members, partners and fans for a week of impact and engagement.

As part of these efforts, the NFL will also continue its commitment to supporting local businesses through the Draft Source Program, the league’s supplier development initiative that connects local and underrepresented businesses to opportunities tied directly to the Draft. Through the program, a number of Pittsburgh-based businesses have secured contracts supporting Draft operations, including roles across catering, facilities and event production. The program helps ensure local businesses share in the economic impact of Draft week.

On Tuesday, April 21, the NFL will kick off its 2026 NFL Draft community events with a greening project in partnership with Verizon, the Pittsburgh Steelers, Allegheny CleanWays and Friends of the Riverfront to clean and beautify neighborhoods in Pittsburgh’s West End neighborhood.

As part of the NFL’s ongoing efforts to empower youth and support the next generation of leaders, on Tuesday, April 21, the NFL will host a special event with the Duquesne City School District to promote both physical and emotional health for local middle school students. This event will bring together two longstanding NFL youth initiatives – Character Playbook and PLAY 60 – to help kick off the launch of the new NFL FLAG-In-School PLAY 60 Champions program. NFL FLAG-In-School PLAY 60 Champions is powered through partnerships with national nonprofits GENYOUth and Action for Healthy Kids to help school districts build active, healthy school environments for youth across the country.

On Wednesday, April 22, the NFL will host its annual Play Football Prospect Clinic. At the event, top prospects in Pittsburgh for the 2026 NFL Draft will participate in a flag football clinic, engaging and connecting with local Special Olympics athletes and youth football players. The Prospect Clinic will take place at Hazelwood Green Park Field – a new, state-of-the-art multipurpose facility designed to expand access to recreation, youth sports, and community space in the Hazelwood neighborhood and across the Pittsburgh region. The new field was supported in part by the NFL Foundation and Pittsburgh Steelers.

On Thursday, April 23, Inspire Change, the NFL’s social justice initiative to reduce barriers to opportunity, will bring together the NFL, Pittsburgh Steelers and local partners to address homelessness in the greater Pittsburgh area. The event will feature a care kit packing activity in support of Pittsburgh Mercy’s Operation Safety Net, followed by a mentorship session with youth from the Homeless Children’s Education Fund. Participants, including NFL and Steelers leadership and players, will engage directly with youth through career development conversations and community-building activities. The event will also highlight the work of local organizations, including the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and Light of Life Rescue Mission, and their ongoing efforts to support individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

Also on Thursday, as a part of the NFL Crucial Catch initiative in partnership with the American Cancer Society, Pittsburgh Steelers long snapper Cal Domitis will visit UPMC Hillman Cancer Center to deliver blankets to cancer patients undergoing treatment.

Throughout the 2026 NFL Draft, onsite prospects will sign their first official autographed team jersey to be auctioned off at NFL.com/auction. All funds raised via the auction of the jersey will be donated to the player’s high school football program.

On Friday, April 24, the NFL will team up with the Bob Woodruff Foundation — an NFL Salute to Service partner — and Move United to host a USA Wheelchair Football League Veteran All-Star Game, where the USA Wheelchair Football League’s top players will play on two teams representing various military branches.

Continuing on Friday, April 24, flag football will take center stage through a special showcase of top girls high school flag football athletes. Eighty of the best girls high school flag players from across the region will convene in Pittsburgh to participate in a combine-style workout in front of college coaches to demonstrate their skills.

The NFL is also teaming up with the American Heart Association (AHA) and Damar Hamlin’s Chasing M’s Foundation on Friday, April 24 to train thousands of community members in Hands-Only CPR, attempting to set a world record by training 4,000 people in this lifesaving tool in just one hour during the 2026 NFL Draft.

Throughout the week, NFL partners will also host events celebrating the Pittsburgh community. On Tuesday, April 21, the NFL and Little Caesars will bring the Little Caesars Love Kitchen® to Veterans Place of Washington Boulevard to support the organization’s efforts to address food insecurity in the community. As a part of Lowe’s and the NFL’s longstanding commitment to improving the communities it serves, on Wednesday, April 22, Pittsburgh Steelers Legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis will join Lowe’s red vest associates to support the construction of townhomes in Pittsburgh’s east-end neighborhood of Larimer. Lowe’s role as the NFL’s official home improvement partner and continued support of this commitment reflects its mission of solving problems and fulfilling dreams for the home.

In addition, this year in Pittsburgh, inspirational fans, community leaders and special guests will participate in the 2026 NFL Draft by announcing select picks live on stage. This year’s special guests will include representatives from NFL non-profit partners like Special Olympics and GENYOUth, as well as NFL Salute to Service military charitable partners, the USO, Pat Tillman Foundation (PTF) and Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS). The NFL will also help grant wishes for two Make-A-Wish kids when they announce the first-round pick of their favorite teams on Day 1 of the Draft.

Throughout the Draft, the NFL will recognize our country’s military community through the league’s Salute to Service initiative. During the opening ceremony and national anthem performance, the Military District of Washington’s Joint Armed Forces will provide the military honor guard, and the flyover will be performed by United States Marine Corps members stationed in New River, North Carolina and Fort Worth, Texas.

On Day 2, members of the military community will celebrate the 250^th anniversary of our country and armed forces through a special video package to tee up the New England Patriots’ second round pick. In addition, in between Rounds 2 & 3, there will be a special ceremony honoring our nation’s military community who are in attendance in Pittsburgh, and on Day 3, military recruits from each branch of service will raise their hand and recite the Oath of Enlistment in a live enlistment ceremony.

Information Courtesy of the National Football League

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