Chicago fans at Soldier Field welcome Leonard Floyd
By Caley Chelios Chicago Bears fans came out to Soldier Field in full force to welcome their new draft pick outside linebacker from Georgia Leonard Floyd. The Bears traded up from pick eleven to pick number nine to land Floyd. Fans at the draft party are excited the Bears are building their defense, and hopeful […]
Moving on? The windy city hosts the 2016 NFL Draft
By Nicole Sedivy In 2015, the NFL Draft moved to Chicago after its 50 year run in New York City. Now in its second year in Chicago, the draft celebration is bigger and better than last year. But NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said a change may be made. [vimeo 164719576 w=474] Photo at top: NFL […]
NFL Draft prospects are bigger than ball at Shriners Hospital
By Hannah Gebresilassie The NFL Draft is more than contract negotiations and draft picks. It’s a time for the top players in the country to give back. On Thursday morning, fifteen future NFL players participated in an NFL Play 60 Clinic at Shriners Hospital for Children. Seventeen kids received certificates for completing the clinic. [vimeo […]
NFL Draft Town: Fans line up for three days of football fun
By Nicole Sedivy NFL fans lined up to get inside Draft Town Thursday. Located in Grant Park, the gates to the football playground opened around noon. The three-day festival is for all ages and admission is free. Fans can race the clock in a 40-yard dash, kick a football through the uprights, take a ride […]
Before the business of the NFL draft, prospects hang with elementary school kids
By Caley Chelios The NFL and United Way Worldwide team up to tackle character education for kids. Commissioner Roger Goodell, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and many top prospects spoke to students at Ariel Elementary Community Academy in Kenwood. Medill’s Caley Chelios was there. [vimeo 164628389 w=474]
Northwestern’s Vitale a ‘superback’ suited for many positions in NFL, too
By Tolly Taylor To work on his route running, Dan Vitale catches passes from Denver Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian. To improve his blocking explosiveness, Vitale uses specific band and barbell exercises. Everything he does is to make him stronger, faster and better at a variety of positions for the NFL. Everything he can do makes […]
Head case: Concussion collaboration tries to reduce brain trauma in college athletes
By Tolly Taylor Geoff Mogus walked to the sideline after a blow to the head sent a “tingling, burning sensation” from his head to his toes. A concerned trainer told him, “You’ve got to let me know if you’re not feeling well. It’s not worth it.” Still, the Northwestern University left guard reentered the November […]
Danny Vitale shows NFL scouts tight end potential at Northwestern pro day
By Tolly Taylor Danny Vitale shot out of his break, spinning his head around to track the football. He tapped his toes just before the sideline and lunged his arms out, reaching for another fingertip grab. Too far. That one got away from him. He shook his head as he got back in line with […]
Northwestern’s “superback” turns in super performance at the NFL Combine
By Tolly Taylor INDIANAPOLIS — The day before he recorded the fastest 40-yard dash of any fullback in five years, Danny Vitale walked into the NFL Scouting Combine media center for interviews. Eight or nine reporters gathered around, crowding close to him, shoving recorders in his face. They wanted to know if he thought the […]
Gridlock on the gridiron: Scouts torn over varied showings at NFL Combine
By Tolly Taylor Some 1,200 journalists tried to tackle the 335 prospects at the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. The takeaway: there are so many strong prospects on the defensive line, third rounders will look like first rounders in April’s draft. Wide receivers? Raised eyebrows as well, but for all the wrong reasons. Coachspeak […]
