BLAYRE HOLMES DAVIS IS SR. DIRECTOR, COMMUNITY RELATIONS FOR THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS. (PHOTO BY KARL ROSER/STEELERS)
Deadline to apply is May 7
by Naomi C. Ilochi
For New Pittsburgh Courier
The 2026 NFL Draft is on its way to Pittsburgh, and the NFL is looking for Pittsburgh-area Black businesses and Black entrepreneurs to hire.
It’s called the NFL Draft Source Procurement Program, a program run by the NFL that’s usually in partnership with the Draft host city. For 2026, the NFL is in partnership with the Steelers and VisitPittsburgh. This program is an opportunity for local, certified diverse businesses including minority, woman, those with disabilities, LGBTQ+, and veteran-owned to “gain exposure to subcontracting opportunities related to the 2026 NFL Draft and provide networking and capacity-building for all accepted businesses,” according to an NFL release.
Though the procurement program’s process is rather competitive, the incentives available to those who are chosen stand alone. The NFL has spearheaded similar programs in cities like Detroit, Michigan (2024) and Kansas City, Mo. (2023). In Detroit, Visit Detroit and the Detroit Sports Commission, in partnership with the NFL, found that the NFL’s total spend on local, minority-owned businesses during the Draft was $12.1 million, according to an economic report on Detroitsports.org. The Michigan Black Business Alliance (MBBA), Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC), Visit Detroit and Detroit Sports Commission helped Black-owned businesses secure 34 contracts to work directly with the NFL, totaling nearly 40 percent of local contracts.
Blayre Holmes Davis, Sr. Director, Community Relations, Pittsburgh Steelers and Co-Chair, Community Impact Subcommittee for the 2026 NFL Draft, has high hopes for the 2026 NFL Draft Source Procurement Program. “We’re grateful to the NFL not only for bringing the 2026 NFL Draft to Pittsburgh, but also for championing the inclusion of local and diverse suppliers through their 2026 NFL Draft Source Program,” Davis told the New Pittsburgh Courier. “Their dedication ensures that businesses in our 10-county region can have an opportunity to play a meaningful role in this historic event, which is expected to generate an economic impact between $120-213 million. Companies selected for the competitive program will gain exposure to subcontracting opportunities related to the 2026 NFL Draft and will experience networking and capacity-building that can benefit their businesses well into the future. The program will also deliver value for the region beyond the three-day event by catalyzing efforts that can help Pittsburgh to thrive. Regionally-based companies that apply for the Source program—even if not selected—will become part of a database of potential vendors that members of the local organizing committee, including VisitPittsburgh and the Steelers—can utilize for years to come. We strongly encourage our local business community to apply for the Source Program.”
MYISHA BOYCE, NFL DRAFT SOURCE LEAD, IN PITTSBURGH DURING A NEWS CONFERENCE. (PHOTOS BY KARL ROSER/STEELERS)
Given the history of programming and partnerships with the NFL in various Draft host cities, and the potential for the 2026 NFL Draft Procurement program to help diverse businesses, it’s safe to say it has local business owners in anticipation of it. Barãta A. Bey, President of the African American Chamber of Commerce of Western Pennsylvania, told the Courier he believes “every Black and minority business should apply. For those that don’t, I understand because we have a history of everyone talking, promoting something positive, saying all of the right things, and then when you get into the process, you go through the labor of applying only to be rejected, or never given a true opportunity to participate. It’s deflating, and after you experience that on a continuous basis, it’s like, ‘why should I even bother?’ I would say that this is one of those opportunities where I would say, don’t hold on to that: actually step out on faith and apply. The NFL has been very clear that not everyone is going to be accepted, because you can’t accept everybody, but there’s going to be an honest opportunity offered, an honest effort to try to make sure that all of those businesses that are a good fit can participate.”
“The priority is to keep the spends local. We’re looking to make the largest local economic impact possible.” said Myisha Boyce, 2026 NFL Draft Source Lead, in a recent news conference in Pittsburgh announcing the program.
The business types being sought after for this program are: food and beverage (ex: catering, food trucks); event promotion (ex: graphic design, marketing and outreach services); construction and maintenance (ex: contact labor, electrical, fabrication); transportation (ex: high-capacity passenger vehicles, freight); event support (ex: event production, entertainment, photography/videography); consulting management and advisory (ex: administrative, security, construction); and security (ex: security staffing and augmentation).
The deadline to apply for the program is Wednesday, May 7, 2025. The website to apply and other program guidelines can be found at:
2026nfldraftsuppliers.com.
THE NFL DRAFT IS GOING TO MAKE A SERIOUS POSITIVE FINANCIAL IMPACT FOR THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH.