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Rock Island Will Host Part of NFL Draft

Credit NFL Draft / NFL Draft Facebook profile photo
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NFL Draft Facebook profile photo

Rock Island will help the NFL announce a few draft picks in the spring.

Michelle O'Neill reports the city jumped at the chance.Radio story

April 27th, the final day of the 2019 NFL Draft, the Quad Cities will host 6th round player selections.

Todd Winter, from Rock Island Parks and Recreation, says the National Football League called Mayor Mike Thoms to ask if the city where the NFL was born would host part of its draft. 

Credit submitted / Rock Island Parks and Recreation Department
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Rock Island Parks and Recreation Department

Winter says Rock Island and Augustana College are discussing where to hold the NFL announcements, probably at the school's football stadium and Ken Anderson Academic All-America Club.

The city hopes to host a number of events to celebrate the history of the NFL in Rock Island and Douglas Park, such as a punt, pass, and kick competition for kids. 

The Rock Island Independents hosted the first NFL game in September, 1920, beating the Saint Paul Ideals, 48 to 0.

Rock Island Independents 1912 team photo
Credit submitted / Rock Island Parks and Recreation Department
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Rock Island Parks and Recreation Department
Rock Island Independents 1912 team photo

Order of teams for the NFL's first round draft
NFL Draft website /
Order of teams for the NFL's first round draft
Promotional flyer for  an Independents' football game at Douglas Park
submitted / Rock Island Parks and Recreation Department
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Rock Island Parks and Recreation Department
Promotional flyer for an Independents' football game at Douglas Park
Rock Island announced plans for a football museum in the old firehouse in Douglas Park in August, 2017.
Herb Trix / WVIK News
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WVIK News
Rock Island announced plans for a football museum in the old firehouse in Douglas Park in August, 2017.

Copyright 2019 WVIK, Quad Cities NPR

Officially, Michelle's title is WVIK News Editor which really just means she wears many hats, doing everything there is to do in the newsroom and around the radio station. She's a multimedia journalist and serves as Assignment Editor, reporter, radio news producer, copy editor, announcer, news anchor/host, and photographer. She also writes and produces content for WVIK.org and social media. In recent broadcast journalism contests, Michelle's work contributed to WVIK winning various awards for excellence in both Illinois and Iowa. Tweets by MichelleONeilll