Sports

Philly breaks NFL Draft record, gets praise

Sunday, April 30, 2017
Action News was there for the NFL Draft in Philadelphia on April 27, 2017. (Bruce B. Neumann)
Action News was there for the NFL Draft in Philadelphia on April 27, 2017. (Bruce B. Neumann)
Action News was there for the NFL Draft in Philadelphia on April 27, 2017. (Bruce B. Neumann)
Action News was there for the NFL Draft in Philadelphia on April 27, 2017. (Bruce B. Neumann)
Action News was there for the NFL Draft in Philadelphia on April 27, 2017. (Bruce B. Neumann)
Action News was there for the NFL Draft in Philadelphia on April 27, 2017. (Bruce B. Neumann)
Action News was there for the NFL Draft in Philadelphia on April 27, 2017. (Bruce B. Neumann)
Action News was there for the NFL Draft in Philadelphia on April 27, 2017. (Bruce B. Neumann)
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks during the first round of the 2017 NFL football draft, Thursday, April 27, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) (AP)
A fan arrive through security ahead of the 2017 NFL football draft in Philadelphia, Thursday, April 27, 2017. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) (AP)
Fans arrive ahead of the 2017 NFL football draft in Philadelphia, Thursday, April 27, 2017. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) (AP)
Fans arrive ahead of the 2017 NFL football draft in Philadelphia, Thursday, April 27, 2017. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) (AP)
Fans arrive ahead of the 2017 NFL football draft in Philadelphia, Thursday, April 27, 2017. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) (AP)
Fans make selfies with Philadelphia Eagles' Carson Wentz, top rear, ahead of the 2017 NFL football draft in Philadelphia, Thursday, April 27, 2017. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) (AP)
Fans pose for photos before the first round of the 2017 NFL football draft, Thursday, April 27, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) (AP)
Philly Mayor Jim Kenney, left, and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, right, pose on the red carpet before the first round of the 2017 NFL football draft. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) (AP)
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell greets fans before the first round of the 2017 NFL football draft, Thursday, April 27, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) (AP)
Fans relax before the first round of the 2017 NFL football draft, Thursday, April 27, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) (AP)
Utah's Garett Bolles arrives with his son Kingston and wife Natalie for the first round of the 2017 NFL football draft (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) (AP)
College players pose before the first round of the 2017 NFL football draft, Thursday, April 27, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) (AP)
College coaches pose before the first round of the 2017 NFL football draft, Thursday, April 27, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) (AP)
College players pose before the first round of the 2017 NFL football draft, Thursday, April 27, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) (AP)
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney falls into a ball pit before the first round of the 2017 NFL football draft, Thursday, April 27, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) (AP)
Fans cheer after Texas A&M's Myles Garrett was selected with the number one overall pick by the Cleveland Browns (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) (AP)
Fans cheer after Texas A&M's Myles Garrett was selected with the number one overall pick by the Cleveland Browns (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) (AP)
Indianapolis Colts' Jack Doyle takes a photo with Fran Klene, left, and Sharon Smith during the NFL football team's draft party (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) (AP)
Indianapolis Colts fan Michael Sisk waits for the Colts to draft as he watches during the NFL football team's draft party. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) (AP)
Fans watch as the Carolina Panthers are on the clock for their selection during the first round of the 2017 NFL football draft (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) (AP)
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- "Philadelphia, you ought to be proud of yourselves."

Philadelphia Eagles great Brian Dawkins summed up what many are others are saying.

After three days, seven rounds, and 253 picks, the 2017 NFL Draft has wrapped in Philly.



The NFL announced Philadelphia broke the record for attendance for any draft in history, with 250,000 people, breaking Chicago's record of 225,000 set last year.



But how did the city that hosted the pope in 2015 and the Democratic National Convention in 2016, fare with hosting a large group of NFL hopefuls, legends, and passionate fans?

Fans party on the Parkway during NFL draft
The crowd thinned out once the Eagles made their pick, but before that, everyone had a great time.


Here are just some of the reactions:

Adam Schefter, NFL Insider for ESPN





Brian McCarthy, Vice President of Communications at National Football League



Kevin Negandhi, SportsCenter anchor



Trey Wingo, ESPN NFL Live host



Ian Rapoport, National Insider for NFL Network



Phil Savage, Reese's Senior Bowl Executive Director



Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Network Analyst



Gil Brandt, Former VP of player personnel for the Dallas Cowboys



Detroit Lions Cheerleaders



EA SPORTS Madden NFL



But nobody could say it better than Dawkins, who was joined by fellow Eagles legend Brian Westbrook.

"You have set the bar of what the draft is supposed to be like. That's how you do it. That's how we do it," Dawkins said.



Now, the question is: Will the NFL Draft return to Philadelphia next year?


------
Send a breaking news alert to Action News
Report a correction or typo
Learn more about the 6abc family of apps
Copyright © 2024 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.