The NFL Draft is not just an opportunity for teams to get better every year. It’s a celebration of college kids realizing their dreams.
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff is helping young students have a similar experience, as they take the next step in their educational journey. On Sunday, July 26, Goff will be a presenter for the “2026 Fate Draft Day.”
The event celebrates graduates from the FATE program—sponsored by the non-profit Merit—which is described as follows on their official website:
This four-year, cohort-based program provides innovative programming that blends project-based learning, character development, career exposure, and mentorship into a co-curricular experience that emphasizes the value of education and its role in achieving long-term career and personal goals.
Goff has been a longtime supporter of Merit, and now he will host a draft-like event where graduates will announce the next step in their educational and professional journeys. It will even feature a red-carpet experience for graduates to get the full VIP treatment.
Click On Detroit did a segment on the event, with Merit Co-Founder and Executive Director Kuhu Saha and FATE graduate Martz Rich as guests. Watch it below.
“Making us actually feel like celebrities and athletes is very special to us,” Rich said.
If you want to support FATE, you can donate here. If you’d like to attend the FATE Draft Day on July 26, tickets are available here.
- Over on The Feed, AttilaTheHun offers their four most important Lions players of 2026. It’s a solid list, although I would include Alim McNeill:
- MLive’s Jacob Richman has a good story on the strides Isaac TeSlaa has already made in his young career.
- Dan Skipper appeared to have a surprise (player) retirement party. The Lions assistant coach posted photos from the event, which features appearances from Graham Glasgow and Tate Ratledge amongst others:
- Over the weekend, Jahmyr Gibbs held a youth football camp in Lansing. Here are some fun pictures from the event.
- Speaking of youth football camps, if you’re a Californian, Amon-Ra St. Brown’s camp is coming up soon. (Register here)
- If you want to make a road trip for a Lions preseason game—hold on, hear me out—the Colts are offering a “Beer Blitz” package. A $50 ticket (plus a $7.80 fee) gets you a ticket to the game, a ticket to a beer tasting with more than 10 breweries, and a complimentary sample cup.
