The Kansas City Chiefs Star Quarterback and Former First-Round NFL Draft Pick
Will Be Among the Special Guests for the First-Ever Prime-Time Broadcasts of the NFL Draft on ABC
Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the National Football League’s 2018 Most Valuable Player, will appear on ABC’s opening night presentation of the “2019 NFL Draft on ABC,” live coast to coast from Nashville, THURSDAY, APRIL 25 (8:00-11:30 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network and via streaming. Mahomes will join host Robin Roberts of “Good Morning America” on the set before the first pick during the prime-time broadcast of Round 1.
The 23-year-old phenom, who was a first-round pick (No. 10 overall) by the Chiefs in the 2017 NFL Draft, will be one of the special guests to be announced in the coming weeks. Mahomes will offer perspective, looking back on his own draft experience and his first two seasons as an NFL quarterback.
“Patrick Mahomes will be among the many special guests who will be part of ABC’s first-ever prime time broadcasts of the NFL Draft. The MVP and one of the biggest stars in football today, our viewers will enjoy hearing about his personal draft experience and what it’s like for the players going through the draft process,” said Seth Markman, vice president, Event and Studio Production, ESPN.
For the first time ever, ABC will broadcast all three days of the NFL Draft in 2019, including back-to-back nights live in prime time, adding to the continued coverage on ESPN and NFL Network. ABC will provide differentiated coverage that focuses on the journey of the NFL Draft prospects, as viewers go up close and personal to understand the part their families play in their success and the hard work involved in attempting to become an NFL Draft selection. In addition to Roberts and Mahomes, the ABC broadcast will feature co-host Rece Davis and the crew from “College GameDay Built by The Home Depot” and other special guests in Nashville.
In his first season as the Kansas City Chiefs starting quarterback, Mahomes was the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 2018, leading his team to a 12-4 regular-season record and an appearance in the AFC Championship game. Mahomes led the NFL with 50 touchdown passes, joining Peyton Manning (55 in 2013) and Tom Brady (50 in 2007) as the only quarterbacks in NFL history with at least 50 touchdown passes in a single season. A 2019 Pro Bowl selection, Mahomes ranked second in the NFL with a franchise-record 5,097 passing yards and became the seventh different player in NFL history with 5,000+ pass yards in a single season.
The 2019 NFL Draft will air on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network, April 25-27. This is the 40th consecutive year ESPN will televise the NFL Draft and the first year ABC will serve as the event’s exclusive broadcast home.
Schedule:
Thursday, April 25 (8:00-11:30 p.m. EDT): NFL Draft, Round 1 – ABC, ESPN, NFL Network, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Radio
Friday, April 26 (7:00-11:30 p.m. EDT): NFL Draft, Rounds 2 and 3 – ABC, ESPN/ESPN2, NFL Network, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Radio
Saturday, April 27 (12:00-7:00 p.m. EDT): NFL Draft, Rounds 4–7 – ABC (simulcast of ESPN telecast), ESPN, NFL Network, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Radio
