The 2027 NFL Draft officially is heading to the nation’s capital.
President Donald Trump announced the news on Monday afternoon in the Oval Office of the White House, with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Washington Commanders managing partner Josh Harris and Washington D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser in attendance.
The three-day event will be held at the National Mall and Pennsylvania Avenue.
“We think it’s going to be a great site. … We are happy to be coming back home,” Trump said.
Goodell and Harris each stated that they expect as many as 1 million people to attend the event.
Washington will be a first-time host since the NFL began rotating the sites from New York in 2015.
The annual spring draft is scheduled for Pittsburgh in 2026.
“The NFL Draft has become a marquee event, uniting fans across the country and around the world,” Goodell said. “We are excited to bring the 2027 Draft to Washington, D.C., a city rich in history and national pride. With the support of President Trump, the Commanders, Events DC, and Mayor Bowser we’re looking forward to delivering an unforgettable experience as we celebrate the next generation of NFL stars.”
The 2024 draft in Detroit drew a record crowd of 775,000 fans over three days, with an estimated 600,000 attending last month’s three-day draft in Green Bay, Wis.
“The NFL Draft is one of the biggest moments in sports — and we’re incredibly proud to help bring it to Washington, D.C.,” Harris said. “It will bring hundreds of thousands of visitors, millions of viewers around the world, and generate jobs, tax revenue, and meaningful economic impact across the city.
“The Draft is a powerful reminder of how sports bring people together — and we’re honored to play a role in that. Since we started this journey less than two years ago, we’ve seen an NFC Championship Game, an agreement to return to RFK, and now the NFL draft in Washington. Thank you to President Trump for your leadership, to Mayor Bowser for your partnership, and to Commissioner Roger Goodell for your support in bringing the Draft back to the nation’s capital.
“We look forward to welcoming the football world to Washington in 2027. Today is a great day for the DMV, and I can’t wait to see what the future brings.”