It’s finally #NFLDraft week, where the stage is set for dreams to come true.
For the first time, Kansas City will play host - but as we know, KC is no stranger to the NFL spotlight. (THREAD 🧵⬇️)
Downtown Kansas City has been the epicenter of football dreams coming true in 2023.
February 15th: The @Chiefs Super Bowl LVII parade
This week: The #NFLDraft
When the @Chiefs won Super Bowl LIV in 2020, more than 800,000 fans packed the KC streets for the parade.
After their #SBLVII victory in February, about a million people reportedly celebrated outside the iconic Union Station.
May have to ask @tkelce to come out and make a vintage Kansas City hype speech this weekend. 😂
To kick off the Draft celebration on Thursday, attending prospects will walk the NFL Draft Red Carpet on the Memorial Courtyard at the National WWI Museum and Memorial.
A walk across the NFL Draft stage to meet the Commissioner will be an unforgettable moment with Union Station and the Kansas City skyline in the background.
The NFL Draft Experience will take place throughout the weekend on the South side of the National WWI Museum and Memorial and will offer fans the chance to test their football skills, enjoy interactive exhibits and more!
Of course, you can’t forget about the barbecue when you’re talking about Kansas City. Resident BBQ expert Andy Reid can’t wait for everyone to give it a try. 😋🍗 (via @Chiefs)
If you’re looking for local barbecue recs, Kansas City’s own @kimmichex has you covered. (via @gmfb)
Three days away from experiencing all the fun Kansas City has to offer, and like the defending Super Bowl MVP @PatrickMahomes, we are READY. 🙌
The NFL Draft is FREE to attend!
Register now to be there for this historic Draft moment: nfl.com/draftaccess
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
The #WPMOY Award is the most prestigious honor in the NFL, given to a player that exemplifies greatness on and off the field.
But to understand the significance of this achievement, it's important to the know the man who the award was named after. 🧵
Walter Payton was born on July 25th, 1954, in Columbia, Mississippi. As a child, he was involved with his church and Boy Scouts, which shaped his strong character.
He did not play football until his junior year of high school, not wanting to compete with his brother Eddie.
Once Eddie graduated, Walter agreed to play on the team and immediately became a star. During his senior year, his all-Black school integrated, and Payton’s athletic performance and sheer determination helped ease the tension around desegregation in his community.
On Saturday, the @Lions and @Broncos meet for the first time since 2021. Both teams are top 2 in their respective divisions and vying for playoff spots.
But there’s an added layer of competitiveness between these clubs’ HCs.🧵
Dan Campbell and @SeanPayton have known each other for nearly 25 years, and this is the first time they’ll meet as head coaches.
Their friendship began when TE Dan Campbell was drafted in 1999 by the @Giants, where Payton was a QB coach.
When @SeanPayton moved to Dallas to become the @dallascowboys assistant HC, Campbell was one of the first free agents to sign with Dallas. He was there for 3 years before signing with Detroit.
Born in the Republic of Gambia, Ali Gaye’s journey to the NFL Draft has been anything but ordinary. 🇬🇲
(THREAD 🧵⬇️)
LSU edge prospect Ali Gaye grew up in The Gambia, Africa’s smallest mainland country, and immigrated to the United States when he was 12. Gaye, along with his parents and two siblings, settled in Lynwood, Washington.
As a kid, Ali Gaye’s favorite sport was soccer. When he adjusted to American culture, Gaye turned to football in 8th grade at the age of 14. He had the footwork with his soccer background and developed as a three-star recruit coming out of Edmonds Woodway High School.
After back-to-back 1,800 yard seasons with @OhioStateFB, a 20-year-old kid heard his name called 4th overall by the @dallascowboys in the 2016 Draft.
Two rushing titles and seven remarkable seasons later, @EzekielElliott leaves Dallas as one of the historic franchise's best. 🧵
It didn’t take long for Zeke to make his mark. His rookie season was the best of his Cowboys career.
He rushed for a league-high 1,631 yards, the third-most ever by a rookie, adding 15 TDs. A first-team All-Pro selection in his first year, the ‘Boys had their RB of the future.
Zeke added three more 1,000+ yard seasons while wearing the star on his helmet, adding another rushing title in 2018.
His 80 total TDs and 8,262 rushing yards rank third all-time in franchise history behind Emmett Smith and Tony Dorsett.