City of Rochester
News Release
(Tuesday, March 26, 2019) - Mayor Lovely A. Warren announced today that the City of Rochester will host live hometown events for the National Football League’s Day 3 Draft picks for the Buffalo Bills on April 27. The initiative is part of “NFL100”, a year-long commemoration of the League’s centennial season bringing together generations of football fans, players, communities and all 32 clubs for an exciting line-up of activities.
“We are very excited and proud, to be included in the 2019 “NFL100” as one of the league’s ‘Original Towns,’” said Mayor Warren. “This national recognition is a testament to the greatness of our city’s people as well as to our rich history.”
“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.
Rochester is one of the 13 communities that were home to the 14 teams of the NFL’s inaugural season, which was established in 1920. The City’s team was the Rochester Jeffersons or “Jeffs” which was formed in 1898, and played in the national league from 1920 -1925.
The “Jeffs” began as a group of Rochester-area teenagers who played on a field on Jefferson Avenue. The team played other amateur and semi-pro teams in Upstate New York before going professional.
During the Day 3 “Original Towns” Draft picks, Mayor Warren will join a Bills professional football player or NFL alumni to make the 6th round pick.
The event time and place has yet to be disclosed.
The League will be honoring the following “Original Towns”:
- Akron, Ohio (Akron Pros)
- Buffalo, New York (Buffalo All- Americans)
- Canton, Ohio (Canton Bulldogs)
- Chicago, Illinois (Racine Cardinals)
- Hammond, Indiana (Hammond Pros)
- Cleveland, Ohio (Cleveland Tigers)
- Rochester, New York (Rochester Jeffersons)
- Columbus, Ohio (Columbus, Panhandles)
- Rock Island, Illinois (Rock Island Independents)
- Dayton, Ohio (Dayton Triangles)
- Decatur, Illinois, (Decatur Stanleys)
- Detroit, Michigan (Detroit Heralds)
- Munice, Indiana (Munice Flyers)
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News Media: For more information, contact Jessica Alaimo at 428-7135.