Meet Our Local Football Elite at Windsor’s NFL Draft Party
Windsor’s National Football League (NFL) Draft Party will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2024, and this is your chance to meet some of the greatest football players the area has ever produced:
Luke Willson: former NFL tight end, now a football analyst at TSN
- 2014 Super Bowl XLVIII Champion
- Past NFL Teams: Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions, Oakland Raiders, Baltimore Ravens
Brett Romberg: former NFL centre
- Past NFL Teams: Jacksonville Jaguars, St Louis Rams, Atlanta Falcons
Dakoda Shepley: Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle
- Past NFL Teams: Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers
O.J. Atogwe: former NFL safety
- Past NFL Teams: St. Louis Rams, Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles
Ed Philion: former NFL defense tackle and former defensive line coach
- Past NFL Teams: Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars
From noon until 6:00 p.m. on April 27, the lawn in front of Windsor City Hall (350 City Hall Square West) will transform into gridiron glory, featuring an NFL Canada fan experience, fan competitions, a free skills and coaching clinic (organized by the region’s best coaches and players), Draft viewing area and so much more. The first 500 youth clinic participants will receive a free t-shirt and NFL lanyard.
After the City Hall event, the fun moves to Ouellette Avenue where The Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association (BIA) will host a “Downtown Block Party” from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
The downtown event will continue the celebration with live music and extended patios.
“We’re getting closer to the NFL Draft in Detroit, and to ‘Windsor’s NFL Draft Party’, which will include a free football skills and coaching clinic for local youth on the front lawn of City Hall. Youth sports play a vital role in our community. Having local NFL players like Luke, Brett, Dakoda, OJ, and Ed coming home to join in the festivities helps to showcase youth sports programs, while encouraging a greater involvement in sports, recreation, and healthy and active living in our community. Sincere thanks to local superstar coaches Dan Hogan and Rob McIntyre for assembling the best players and coaches in the region to help make this activity, and the overall event possible. Thanks also to Windsor Minor Football, Essex Ravens, St. Clair Saints, and Windsor Lancers for your amazing support of this initiative, and to our sponsors and partners, including NFL Canada, for helping to bring this celebration to life.”
- Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens
“Windsor’s NFL Draft Party is a great way to celebrate the excitement of the NFL Draft in Detroit. I am so happy that our football community has come together to support the event and create this incredible free clinic for local youth. Thanks to our great event sponsors and our amazing city, 5 of the 7 local players who have played in the NFL will join us on the 27th. I truly believe this will be a day that our community remembers for years to come. I am so proud to be a part of it.”
- Dan Hogan, Head Coach Holy Names Catholic H.S.
Windsor’s NFL Draft events have been made possible thanks to the following generous partners: Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island, NFL Canada, LIUNA 625, Rocket Companies, Unifor Local 444, St. Clair College, the Downtown Windsor BIA and Hogan’s Printing.