Trump Announced that Washington Will Host the 2027 NFL Draft

President Donald Trump announced on Monday that Washington, D.C. will host the 2027 NFL Draft on the National Mall, calling it a major celebration for football fans worldwide. “Everyone in the world is going to be watching,” he said.

The Oval Office announcement included appearances by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, and Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris. Bowser emphasized the economic boost the event would bring to the capital, from hotel bookings to increased restaurant traffic, while also enhancing the city’s appeal to visitors from across the country.

News of the draft’s D.C. location had already been anticipated, with NBC News and Axios reporting on the expected move. The NFL declined to comment ahead of the formal statement.

The NFL Draft is an annual event where college football players become eligible for selection by professional teams. Eligibility requires players to be at least three years removed from high school. Though once permanently held in New York City, the draft has been hosted in various cities since 2015, with over 600,000 people attending the recent event in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

This announcement coincides with renewed efforts by Mayor Bowser and Commanders owner Josh Harris to relocate the team back to Washington after nearly three decades in Maryland. Trump endorsed their stadium plans, calling the proposed location the best in the world.

Trump, who once owned a team in the United States Football League and tried to acquire an NFL franchise, closely watched the 2025 draft and voiced outrage that Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders wasn’t picked in the first round. Posting on Truth Social, Trump praised Shedeur’s talent and lineage, calling for teams to draft him immediately.

Despite high expectations, Shedeur, son of NFL legend Deion Sanders, slipped to the fifth round, eventually being selected by the Cleveland Browns.

Trump’s strained relationship with the NFL resurfaced in this context. During his presidency, he was a vocal critic of players protesting racial injustice by kneeling during the national anthem. In 2017, he infamously suggested that team owners fire players who "disrespect the flag."

Goodell responded at the time without naming Trump, calling the remarks “divisive” and disrespectful to the league. Trump retaliated by accusing Goodell of excusing unpatriotic behavior. In a later interview, Trump suggested that protesters “maybe shouldn’t be in the country.”