NFL Draft tracker 2022: Pick-by-pick results, selections, live updates for Day 3, full order

By Apr 30, 2022, 7:06 PM EDT
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The 2022 NFL Draft is finally here and the Jacksonville Jaguars selected Travon Walker with the No. 1 overall pick. What will happen with Baker Mayfield and the Browns? Will Deebo Samuel be traded? NBC Sports has you covered with every pick in this year’s draft, from Round 1 through 7. Stay tuned to this page as NFL teams make their draft selections over these three days.

RELATED: How to watch the 2022 NFL Draft on TV, live streaming

The 2022 NFL Draft will air live from Thursday, April 28 through Saturday, April 30. The last four rounds will air on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. ET (Day 3). The draft will take place at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, home of the Las Vegas Raiders.

Last year, the 2021 NFL Draft was held in Cleveland, Ohio where Trevor Lawrence was selected first overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars will once again draft first overall in 2022. For a complete list of all 262 picks, click here for the full 2022 NFL Draft order.

NFL Draft 2022 Picks, Results by Team

2022 NFL Draft Live Pick-by-Pick Results

Round 7 selections

262. San Francisco 49ers – Brocky Purdy, QB, Iowa State
261. Los Angeles Rams – A.J. Arcuri, OT, Michigan State
260. Los Angeles Chargers – Zander Horvath, RB, Purdue
259. Kansas City Chiefs – Nazeeh Johnson, CB, Marshall
258. Green Bay Packers – Samori Toure, WR, Nebraska
257. Arizona Cardinals – Marquis Hayes, OG, Oklahoma
256. Arizona Cardinals – Jesse Luketa, DE, Penn State
255. Chicago Bears (from LAC) – Trenton Gill, P, NC State
254. Chicago Bears (from LAC) – Elijah Hicks, S, California
253. Los Angeles Rams – Russ Yeast, S, Kansas State
252. Cincinnati Bengals – Jeffrey Gunter, DE, Coastal Carolina
251. Kansas City Chiefs – Isiah Pacheco, RB, Rutgers
250. Las Vegas Raiders (from MIN through SF via DEN) – Brittain Brown, RB, UCLA
249. Green Bay Packers – Rasheed Walker, OT, Penn State
248. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Andre Anthony, DE, LSU
247. Miami Dolphins (from TEN) – Skylar Thompson, QB, Kansas State
246. Cleveland Browns (from BUF) – Dawson Deaton, OG, Texas Tech
245. Houston Texans (from DAL) – Andrew Stueber, OT, Michigan
244. Arizona Cardinals – Christian Matthew, CB, Valdosta State
243. Kansas City Chiefs (from LV via NE) – Jaylen Watson, CB, Washington State
242. Carolina Panthers (from NE via MIA) – Kalon Barnes, CB, Baylor
241. Pittsburgh Steelers – Chris Oladokun, QB, South Dakota State
240. Washington Commanders (from PHI via IND) – Christian Holmes, CB, Oklahoma State
239. Indianapolis Colts – Rodney Thomas, DB, Yale
238. Los Angeles Rams (from MIA) – Thayer Munford, OT, Ohio State
237. Detroit Lions (from PHI via NO) – Chase Lucas, CB, Arizona State
236. Los Angeles Chargers – Deane Leonard, CB, Ole Miss
235. Jacksonville Jaguars (from BAL) – Daniel Hardy, DE, Montana State
234. Detroit Lions (from CLE) – Jonathan Ford, DT, Miami
233. Kansas City Chiefs (from MIN) – Dareke Young, WR, Lenoir-Rhyne
232. Denver Broncos – Faion Hicks, CB, Wisconsin
231. Buffalo Bills (from ATL) – Baylon Spector, LB, Clemson
230. Washington Commanders – Chris Paul, OT, Tulsa
229. Seattle Seahawks – Bo Melton, WR, Rutgers
228. Green Bay Packers (from CHI via HOU) – Tariq Carpenter, S, Georgia Tech
227. Minnesota Vikings (from LV via CAR) – Nick Muse, TE, South Carolina
226. Chicago Bears (from CIN via NYG) – Ja’Tyre Carter, OT, Southern University
225. Pittsburgh Steelers (from NYJ) – Mark Robinson, LB, Ole Miss
224. Miami Dolphins (from HOU via NE and BAL) – Cameron Goode, DE, California
223. Cleveland Browns (from DET) – Isaiah Thomas, DE, Oklahoma
222. Jacksonville Jaguars – Montaric Brown, CB, Arkansas

Round 6 selections

221. San Francisco 49ers – Tariq Castro-Fields, CB, Penn State
220. San Francisco 49ers – Kalia Davis, DT, UCF
219. Tennessee Titans – Chance Campbell, LB, Ole Miss
218. Los Angeles Rams – Ko Kieft, TE, Minnesota
217. Detroit Lions – James Houston, TE, Jackson State
216. Indianapolis Colts – Curtis Brooks, DT, Cincinnati
215. Arizona Cardinals – Lecitus Smith, OG, Virginia Tech
214. Los Angeles Chargers – Ja’Sir Taylor, CB, Wake Forest
213. Atlanta Falcons – John FitzPatrick, TE, Georgia
212. Los Angeles Rams – Derion Kendrick, CB, Georgia
211. Los Angeles Rams – Quentin Lake, S, UCLA
210. New England Patriots (from LAR) – Chasen Hines, OG, LSU
209. Buffalo Bills (from CIN) – Luke Tenuta, OT, Virginia Tech
208. Pittsburgh Steelers (from KC – Conditional) – Connor Heyward, TE, Michigan State
207. Chicago Bears (from HOU through SF via NYJ) – Doug Kramer, C, Illinois
206. Denver Broncos (from TB via NYJ and PHI) – Matt Henningsen, DE, Wisconsin
205. Houston Texans (from GB) – Austin Deculus, OT, LSU
204. Tennessee Titans – Theo Jackson, DB, Tennessee
203. Chicago Bears (from BUF) – Trestan Ebner, RB, Baylor
202. Cleveland Browns (from DAL) – Michael Woods II, TE, Oklahoma
201. Arizona Cardinals – Keaontay Ingram, RB, USC
200. New England Patriots – Sam Roberts, DT, Missouri State
199. Carolina Panthers (from LV) – Cade Mays, OG, Tennessee
198. Philadelphia Eagles (from JAX via PIT) – Grant Calcaterra, TE, SMU
197. Jacksonville Jaguars (from PHI) – Gregory Junior, CB, Ouachita Baptist
196. Baltimore Ravens (from MIA) – Tyler Badie, RB, Missouri
195. Los Angeles Chargers – Jamaree Salyer, OG, Georgia
194. New Orleans Saints (from IND via PHI) – Jordan Jackson, DT, Air Force
193. Dallas Cowboys (from CLE) – Devin Harper, LB, Oklahoma State
192. Indianapolis Colts (from MIN) – Andrew Ogletree, TE, Youngstown State
191. Minnesota Vikings (from BAL via KC – Conditional) – Jalen Nailor, WR, Michigan State
190. Atlanta Falcons – Justin Shaffer, OG, Georgia
189. Carolina Panthers (from WAS) – Amare Barno, DE, Virginia Tech
188. Detroit Lions (from JAX via SEA) – Malcolm Rodriguez, LB, Oklahoma State
187. San Francisco 49ers (from DEN) – Nick Zakelj, OT, Fordham
186. Chicago Bears – Zachary Thomas, OT, San Diego State
185. Buffalo Bills (from CAR) – Christian Benford, CB, Villanova
184. Minnesota Vikings (from NYJ) – Vederian Lowe, OT, Illinois
183. New England Patriots (from HOU) – Kevin Harris, RB, South Carolina
182. New York Giants – Darrian Beavers, LB, Cincinnati
181. Philadelphia Eagles (from DET) – Kyron Johnson, DE, Kansas
180. Buffalo Bills (from JAX via TB) – Matt Araiza, P, San Diego State

Round 5 selections

179. Green Bay Packers (from IND) – Kingsley Enagbare, DE, South Carolina
178. Dallas Cowboys – John Ridgeway, DT, Arkansas
177. Detroit Lions – James Mitchell, TE, Virginia Tech
176. Dallas Cowboys – Damone Clark, LB, LSU
175. Las Vegas Raiders (from LAR) – Matthew Butler, DT, Tennessee
174. Chicago Bears (from CIN) – Dominique Robinson, DE, Miami (OH)
173. New York Giants (from KC via BAL) – Marcus McKethan, OG, North Carolina
172. San Francisco 49ers – Samuel Womack, CB, Toledo
171. Denver Broncos (from GB) – Luke Wattenberg, C, Washington
170. Houston Texans (from NE via TB) – Teagan Quitoriano, TE, Oregon State
169. Minnesota Vikings (from TEN) – Ty Chandler, RB, North Carolina
168. Chicago Bears (from BUF) – Braxton Jones, OT, Southern Utah
167. Dallas Cowboys – DaRon Bland, CB, Fresno State
166. Cincinnati Bengals (from PHI via AZ) – Tycen Anderson, S, Toledo
165. Minnesota Vikings (from LV) – Esezi Otomewo, DE, Minnesota
164. Los Angeles Rams (from LV via NE) – Kyren Williams, RB, Notre Dame
163. Tennessee Titans (from NYJ via PIT) – Kyle Philips, WR, UCLA
162. Denver Broncos (from PHI) – Montrell Washington, WR, Samford
161. New Orleans Saints – D’Marco Jackson, LB, Appalachian State
160. Los Angeles Chargers – Otito Ogbonnia, DT, UCLA
159. Indianapolis Colts – Eric Johnson, DT, Missouri State
158. Seattle Seahawks (from NE via MIA) – Tyreke Smith, DE, Ohio State
157. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from JAX via MIN) – Zyon McCollum, CB, Sam Houston
156. Cleveland Browns (from MIN via BAL) – Jerome Ford, RB, Cincinnati
155. Dallas Cowboys (from CLE) – Matt Waletzko, OT, North Dakota
154. Jacksonville Jaguars (from PHI via WAS) – Snoop Conner, RB, Ole Miss
153. Seattle Seahawks – Tariq Woolen, CB, UTSA
152. Denver Broncos – Delarrin Turner-Yell, S, Oklahoma
151. Atlanta Falcons – Tyler Allgeier, RB. BYU
150. Houston Texans – Thomas Booker, DT, Stanford
149. Washington Commanders – Cole Turner, TE, Nevada
148. Buffalo Bills (from CHI via HOU) – Khalil Shakir, WR, Boise State
147. New York Giants – DJ Davidson, DT, Arizona State
146. New York Giants (from NYJ) – Micah McFadden, LB, Indiana
145. Kansas City Chiefs (from SEA through DET via DEN) – Darian Kinnard, OT, Kentucky
144. Washington Commanders (from CAR via JAX) – Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina

Round 4 selections

143. Tennessee Titans – Chigoziem Okonkwo, TE, Maryland
142. Los Angeles Rams – Decobie Durant, CB, South Carolina State
141. Baltimore Ravens – Damarion Williams, CB, Houston
140. Green Bay Packers – Zach Tom, OT, Wake Forest
139. Baltimore Ravens – Isaiah Likely, TE, Coastal Carolina
138. Pittsburgh Steelers – Calvin Austin III, WR, Memphis
137. New England Patriots (from CAR through LAR via HOU) – Bailey Zappe, QB, Western Kentucky
136. Cincinnati Bengals – Cordell Volson, OT, North Dakota State
135. Kansas City Chiefs – Joshua Williams, CB, Fayetteville State
134. San Francisco 49ers – Spencer Burford, OT, UTSA
133. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jake Camarda, P, Georgia
132. Green Bay Packers – Romeo Doubs, WR, Nevada
131. Tennessee Titans – Hassan Haskins, RB, Michigan
130. Baltimore Ravens (from BUF) – Jordan Stout, P, Penn State
129. Dallas Cowboys – Jake Ferguson, TE, Wisconsin
128. Baltimore Ravens (from AZ) – Charlie Kolar, TE, Iowa State
127. New England Patriots – Pierre Strong, RB, South Dakota State
126. Las Vegas Raiders – Neil Farrell, DT, LSU
125. Miami Dolphins (from PIT) – Erik Ezukanma, WR, Texas Tech
124. Cleveland Browns (from PHI) – Cade York, K, LSU
123. Los Angeles Chargers – Isaiah Spiller, RB, Texas A&M
122. Las Vegas Raiders (from IND via MIN) – Zamir White, RB, Georgia
121. New England Patriots (from KC via MIA) – Jack Jones, CB, Arizona State
120. Carolina Panthers (from NO via WAS) – Brandon Smith, LB, Penn State
119. Baltimore Ravens – Jalyn Armour-Davis, CB, Alabama
118. Minnesota Vikings (from CLE) – Akayleb Evans, CB, Missouri
117. New York Jets (from MIN) – Micheal Clemons, DE, Texas A&M
116. Denver Broncos (from SEA) – Eyioma Uwazurike, DT, Iowa State
115. Denver Broncos – Damarri Mathis, CB, Pittsburgh
114. New York Giants (from ATL) – Dane Belton, S, Iowa
113. Washington Commanders – Percy Butler, S, Louisiana
112. New York Giants (from CHI) – Daniel Bellinger, TE, San Diego State
111. New York Jets (from CAR) – Max Mitchell, OT, Louisiana
110. Baltimore Ravens (from NYG) – Daniel Faalele, OT, Minnesota
109. Seattle Seahawks (from NYJ) – Coby Bryant, CB, Cincinnati
108. Cleveland Browns (from HOU) – Perrion Winfrey, DT, Oklahoma
107. Houston Texans (from DET via CLE) – Dameon Pierce, RB, Florida
106. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from JAX) – Cade Otton, TE, Washington

Round 3 selections

105. San Francisco 49ers – Danny Gray, WR, SMU
104. Los Angeles Rams – Logan Bruss, G, Wisconsin
103. Kansas City Chiefs – Leo Chenal, LB, Wisconsin
102. Miami Dolphins (from SF) – Channing Tindall, LB, Georgia
101. New York Jets (from NO via PHI and TEN) – Jeremy Ruckert, TE, Ohio State
100. Arizona Cardinals (from BAL) – Myjai Sanders, DE, Cincinnati
99. Cleveland Browns – David Bell, WR, Purdue
98. Washington Commanders (from NO) – Brian Robinson Jr., RB, Alabama
97. Detroit Lions – Kerby Joseph, S, Illinois
96. Indianapolis Colts (from DEN via LAR) – Nick Cross, S, Maryland
95. Cincinnati Bengals – Zachary Carter, DT, Florida
94. Carolina Panthers (from KC via NE) – Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss
93. San Francisco 49ers – Tyrion Davis-Price, RB, LSU
92. Green Bay Packers – Sean Rhyan, G, UCLA
91. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Rachaad White, RB, Arizona State
90. Las Vegas Raiders (from TEN) – Dylan Parham, G, Memphis
89. Buffalo Bills – Terrel Bernard, LB, Baylor
88. Dallas Cowboys – Jalen Tolbert, WR, South Alabama
87. Arizona Cardinals – Cameron Thomas, DE, San Diego State
86. Tennessee Titans (from LV) – Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
85. New England Patriots – Marcus Jones, CB, Houston
84. Pittsburgh Steelers – DeMarvin Leal, DE, Texas A&M
83. Philadelphia Eagles – Nakobe Dean, LB, Georiga
82. Atlanta Falcons (from IND) – DeAngelo Malone, LB, Western Kentucky
81. New York Giants (from MIA) – Cordale Flott, CB, LSU
80. Denver Broncos (from HOU via NO) – Greg Dulcich, TE, UCLA
79. Los Angeles Chargers – JT Woods, S, Baylor
78. Cleveland Browns – Alex Wright, DE, UAB
77. Indianapolis Colts (from MIN) – Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan
76. Baltimore Ravens – Travis Jones, DT, UConn
75. Houston Texans (from DEN) – Christian Harris, LB, Alabama
74. Atlanta Falcons – Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
73. Indianapolis Colts (from WAS) – Jelani Woods, TE, Virginia
72. Seattle Seahawks – Abraham Lucas, OT, Washington State
71. Chicago Bears – Velus Jones Jr., WR, Tennessee 
70. Jacksonville Jaguars (from CAR) – Chad Muma, LB, Wyoming
69. Tennessee Titans (from NYJ) – Nicholas Petit-Frere, OT, Ohio State
68. Cleveland Browns (from HOU) – Martin Emerson, CB, Mississippi State
67. New York Giants – Joshua Ezeudu, G, North Carolina
66. Minnesota Vikings (from DET) – Brian Asamoah, LB, Oklahoma
65. Jacksonville Jaguars – Luke Fortner, C, Kentucky

Round 2 selections

64. Denver Broncos (from LAR) – Nik Bonitto, LB, Oklahoma
63. Buffalo Bills (from CIN) – James Cook, RB, Georgia
62. Kansas City Chiefs – Bryan Cook, S, Cincinnati
61. San Francisco 49ers – Drake Jackson, LB, USC
60. Cincinnati Bengals (from BUF via TB) – Cam Taylor-Britt, S, Nebraska
59. Minnesota Vikings (from GB) – Ed Ingram, G, LSU
58. Atlanta Falcons (from TEN) – Troy Andersen, LB, Montana State
57. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from BUF) – Luke Goedeke, OT, Central Michigan
56. Dallas Cowboys – Sam Williams, LB, Ole Miss
55. Arizona Cardinals – Trey McBride, TE, Colorado State
54. Kansas City Chiefs (from NE) – Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan
53. Indianapolis Colts (from LV via GB via MIN) – Alec Pierce, WR, Cincinnati
52. Pittsburgh Steelers – George Pickens, WR, Georgia
51. Philadelphia Eagles – Cameron Jurgens, C, Nebraska
50. New England Patriots (from KC through MIA) – Tyquan Thornton, WR, Baylor
49. New Orleans Saints – Alontae Taylor, S, Tennessee
48. Chicago Bears (from LAC) – Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn State
47. Washington Commanders (from IND) – Phidarian Mathis, DT, Alabama
46. Detroit Lions (from MIN) – Josh Paschal, DE, Kentucky
45. Baltimore Ravens – David Ojabo, LB, Michigan
44. Houston Texans (from CLE) – John Metchie III, WR, Alabama
43. New York Giants (from ATL) – Wan’Dale Robinson, WR, Kentucky
42. Minnesota Vikings (from IND via WAS) – Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson
41. Seattle Seahawks – Ken Walker III, RB, Michigan State
40. Seattle Seahawks (from DEN) – Boye Mafe, LB, Minnesota
39. Chicago Bears – Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington
38. Atlanta Falcons (from NYG via NYJ via CAR) – Arnold Ebiketie, DE, Penn State
37. Houston Texans – Jalen Pitre, S, Baylor
36. New York Jets (from NYG) – Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State
35. Tennessee Titans (from NYJ) – Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn
34. Green Bay Packers (from MIN through DET) – Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State
33. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from JAX) – Logan Hall, DE, Houston

Round 1 selections

32. Minnesota Vikings (from DET via LAR) – Lewis Cine, S, Georgia
31. Cincinnati Bengals – Daxton Hill, S, Michigan
30. Kansas City Chiefs – George Karlaftis, DE, Purdue
29. New England Patriots (from KC through SF via MIA) – Cole Strange, G, Chattanooga
28. Green Bay Packers – Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia
27. Jacksonville Jaguars (from TB) – Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
26. New York Jets (from TEN) – Jermaine Johnson II, DE, Florida State
25. Baltimore Ravens (via BUF) – Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa
24. Dallas Cowboys – Tyler Smith, OT, Tulsa
23. Buffalo Bills (from BAL through ARZ) – Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
22. Green Bay Packers (from LV) – Quay Walker, ILB, Georgia
21. Kansas City Chiefs (from NE) – Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
20. Pittsburgh Steelers – Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh
19. New Orleans Saints (from PHI) – Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
18. Tennessee Titans (from PHI via NO) – Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
17. Los Angeles Chargers – Zion Johnson, G, Boston College
16. Washington Commanders (from NO through IND via PHI) – Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
15. Houston Texans (from PHI through MIA) – Kenyon Green, G, Texas A&M
14. Baltimore Ravens – Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
13. Philadelphia Eagles (from HOU through CLE) – Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia
12. Detroit Lions (from MIN) – Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
11. New Orleans Saints (from WAS) – Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
10. New York Jets (from SEA) – Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
9. Seattle Seahawks (from DEN) – Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
8. Atlanta Falcons – Drake London, WR, USC
7. New York Giants (from CHI) – Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
6. Carolina Panthers – Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State
5. New York Giants – Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon
4. New York Jets – Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
3. Houston Texans – Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU
2. Detroit Lions – Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan
1. Jacksonville Jaguars – Travon Walker, DE, Georgia

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Super Bowl squares 2023: Explanation, how to play, rules and printable template

By Feb 12, 2023, 12:00 PM EST
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Star quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts are set to go head-to-head today, Super Bowl Sunday, when the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII.

Even if you’re home watching on the couch, you can still get in on the action by filling out your squares, which has become a Super Bowl tradition.

What are Super Bowl squares and what is the format?

A board features 10 rows and 10 columns, adding up to 100 squares total. One of the teams is assigned the rows, while the other team is assigned the columns.

RELATED: What food to eat during Super Bowl LVII

Each person in the pool then chooses one (or multiple) squares, depending on your pool’s rules. In some pools, squares are randomly assigned, while you may choose your own square in other pools.

After all the squares have been filled, numbers between zero and nine are randomly chosen for each row and column.

How do Super Bowl squares work? How do I win?

Each square has a corresponding row and column number. At the end of each quarter, the player whose two numbers match the end digits of each team’s point total will win.

RELATED: Why does the Super Bowl use Roman numerals for naming?

For example, if the score at the end of the first quarter is Chiefs 13, Eagles 7, the player whose box corresponds with “3” for Kansas City and “7” for Philadelphia would win.

Most pools pay out for the final score at the end of each quarter, for a total of four winners (1st quarter, halftime, 3rd quarter, final score). Some pools pay out for every score throughout the game.

Where can I find a template for Super Bowl squares?

NBC Sports has provided a template below, complete with a 10 by 10 grid. Fans can click here to print this template out to use for their Super Bowl squares.

How can I watch and live stream Super Bowl 2023?

  • When: Sunday, February 12, 2023
  • Where: State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona
  • TV Channel: FOX
  • Follow along with ProFootballTalk and NBC Sports for NFL news, updates, scores, injuries, and more

Follow along with ProFootballTalk for the latest news, storylines, and updates surrounding the 2022 NFL Season and Playoffs, and be sure to subscribe to NFLonNBC on YouTube!

Marry Your Passion With Your Curiosity: Panelists Discuss Building Your Brand in Leadup to Super Bowl LVII

By Feb 11, 2023, 12:07 PM EST
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Fans in every color jersey of the rainbow internationally will tune into Super Bowl LVIII this Sunday. Ahead of the game, NBCU Academy partnered with PNE Showcase and Arizona State University to bring students and professionals an inside look at the people who color outside the lines for the National Football league.

The three powerhouses co-hosted the Building and Being Your Brand seminar in hopes of helping students and other national professionals identify their brand and the best ways to communicate the pillars of their brand to the masses.

There are just under 4,000 people employed by the NFL, which makes for hundreds of job paths within the league. As the panel began, NFL international marketing and player relations manager Emily Wirtz spoke about how her roots in Germany translated into the role she has now.

The first door opened for Wirtz in the NFL was as a digital video editor and producer. Wirtz transparently admitted she did not feel qualified for the job but with an extra push from her father, she decided to still go after the interview.

“My dad told me that even if I do not land the job, it will at least be good interview practice,” Wirtz said.

RELATED: How to watch Super Bowl 2023

Wirtz still thanks her father to this day. Her video supervisor learned she spoke German and instantly recommended her for a role within the NFL’s global expansion. She would go on to execute the first NFL game in Germany. Germany’s first official exposure to American football at the highest level sold out of millions of tickets in three minutes.

“When we are on the way to these international games in London, Germany and Mexico City, the NFL staff, we’re usually on a big bus or van,” Wirtz said. “In the van it’s about 40 of us and we’re literally trying to find a fan in one of the jerseys of all 32 teams. When we see someone we are like Chargers, Rams or whatever the team is! Every international game I’ve been to, all 5, we’ve been able to spot someone in each jersey.”

By showing up as her authentic self, Wirtz was able to leverage her job. All five of the panelists promoted a “helmet-off” approach to the game. This idea promotes getting to know the stories of the players to help advance the game.

Director of NFL college and club social marketing Sana Merchant-Rupani discussed taking on tasks that require you to grow. Before joining the league, Merchant-Rupani worked in digital marketing at Empire State Realty Trust. In the position, she was tasked with creating an Instagram presence for the company.

Merchant-Rupani had no experience with Instagram when taking on this task but it directly led her into her current role.

RELATED: Super Bowl national anthem 2023

“You have to marry your passion with your curiosity,” Merchant-Rupani said.

Senior manager of NFL game operations Karley Berry further emphasized Merchant-Rupani’s message by presenting the contrast. Berry posited that if a job is presented to someone and they check off all the job requirements, then the job is not for them.

The entire audience was initially confused by the statement but as Berry went on, she explained you must take a job that will offer you something new and will leave you with an extra skill you did not have going into the position.

Prior to stepping into the game operations realm, Berry took her first step into the football world when she was a recruiting assistant at Penn State University.

Growing up around Nittany Lion football her entire life, she knew the brand of the university’s football team. While in State College, PA, she challenged the recruitment staff to go after men with outstanding character.

“When we would go on home visits, I would make sure to pay attention,” Berry said. Berry wanted to be intentional with her tactics and believed the best players were those that were good people on and off the field.

Merchant-Rupani, Berry and Wirtz all used elements of their personal brand to succeed in their current spaces to get to their dream work destination. This message was passed on to the audience through painting their journey through experiences.

“We all know about Patrick Mahomes. There are other stories,” senior manager of NFL social marketing Jordan Dolbin said.

RELATED: Chiefs Super Bowl history

Dolbin called on storytellers to push their limits. She wanted to ensure she was challenging audience members to go beneath the surface of the performers with the best stat numbers.

She brought up a story she came across during her Super Bowl preparation that was a “where are they now’ approach to telling the stories of all the players that caught interceptions against Maholmes in high school.

“Now, that is the story I will remember when this is all over,” Dolbin said.

Cincinnati Bengals special teamer Trayveon Williams added his experience to the panel, emphasizing exploring his other interests outside of football. He also commended today’s players for the tenacity in their approach to leaving a legacy outside of football.

The panel agreed collectively their main reason for taking time away from all the Super Bowl work obligations and festivities was to provide the representation they did not see while carving out their career paths.

NBCU Academy will be virtually hosting the Next Level Summit on March 22, 2023.

Author’s Note: Alexis Davis is currently in her last semesters in Walter Cronkite’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. She received her bachelor’s from North Carolina A&T State University in multimedia journalism in May 2022. Davis is a featured writer for the MEAC conference. Davis also switches between play-by-play announcer, analyst and sideline reporter for the PAC-12 conference’s app. She also hosts a podcast focusing on international basketball players and their fashion experiences called What’s in Your Bag?