AKRON, Ohio — The NFL will honor the City of Akron as one of its “Original Towns” during the NFL100 centennial celebration; the city will host a sixth-round draft pick live on April 27.
Akron was home to one of the 14 teams during the NFL’s inaugural season, and has been chosen as one of the eight “Original Towns” outside the current 32 NFL markets that will announce a pick via live telecast, according to a news release from the City of Akron.
“There’s no better way to bring the League’s hundred years of history full circle than to partner with these communities and recognize their important place in history as part of the NFL’s centennial celebration,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
Akron’s hometown celebration will showcase local football history, the release states. The April 27 event will take place from 2:30 p.m to 5:30 p.m. at Lock 3. Round Six of the draft pick is expected to begin no later than 3:10 p.m. and end no later than 5:20 p.m. The free, family-friendly event will feature little league, high school and university players, live trivia, inflatables, giveaways, food vendors and more.
“We are thrilled with the opportunity to celebrate Akron’s important place in the history of the NFL as they start their centennial season,” Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan said. “We invite the entire community down to Lock 3 for an exciting afternoon of fun, family, and football as we take place in the live draft.”
The Akron Pros were a professional football team that played in Akron from 1908 to 1926, and was a charter member in the NFL, back when it was the American Professional Football Association, the release states. The Pros were the champions of the inaugural season of the APFA in 1920.
The first African-American head coach in the NFL, Fritz Pollard, co-coached the Pros in 1921.
Visit NFL.com/100 for more information on other “Original Towns” being celebrate for the NFL’s 100th season.
