The Detroit Lions introduced the world to the city with a warm welcome to kick off the NFL draft.
Current players and past legends joined NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Detroit hip-hop icon Eminem on the draft stage in the heart of Campus Martius Park to start the 2024 NFL draft. Jared Goff, freshly-extended Amon-Ra St. Brown, Aidan Hutchinson, Calvin Johnson and Barry Sanders walked out onto the stage with a dramatic entrance.
Goodell came out first to a wave of boos, as is custom, then it turned into a raucous cheer when Eminem came out. Then, The Detroit Lions legends graced the stage, and the crowd went crazy. St. Brown, now $120 million richer, was the first player to greet the crowd. He welcomed the massive crowd in attendance and then started a chant for his quarterback standing behind him.
“Before we get off the stage, I need to hear one thing, JA-RED GOFF, JA-RED GOFF,” St. Brown said, before trailing off and letting the strong Honolulu blue contingent in attendance take it from there. Goff and Hutchinson also addressed the crowd. “Welcome to Detroit, let’s go baby!” Goff yelled into the mic. Hutchinson then took over, and also greeted the crowd standing under a massive poster of the franchise defensive end. “Let’s turn up tonight baby, let’s go!” The crowd then broke out into more Goff chants to fill in the silence before the Lions’ players exited the stage for the draft to begin. Watch the videos below:
Whaddup doe? 🙌@eminem and @nflcommish take the Draft stage in the 313. pic.twitter.com/rhwbe0KxyI
— NFL (@NFL) April 26, 2024
The Pride of Detroit 🦁👑
📺: #NFLDraft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/9fmGFTk0ec— NFL (@NFL) April 26, 2024
