Lance Briggs is currently an unsigned free agent, but the seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker with the Chicago Bears is very interested in what Da Bears and other teams do with their picks in this year’s NFL Draft. He’ll share those thoughts and more with an audience of business professionals and sports enthusiasts at The Underground in Chicago on Thursday evening, April 30, the first night of the draft.
The football draft watch party is part of an event series produced by Thuzio Executive Club, a platform that provides members and their guests with access to memorable business events featuring pro athletes, coaches and sports personalities. At the same time, Thuzio Executive Club gives these sports celebrities the chance to tell their stories to an audience of business people as opposed to the usual sports fanatics.
The NFL Draft has been held in New York City for the past 50 years, since the last time Chicago hosted the annual event in December of 1963, but the league decided to move it back to the Windy City for 2015. The Bears, who missed the playoffs last season, have the No. 7 pick in the first round this year and their fans are pondering the team’s options, which could include selecting a quarterback to replace the much-maligned Jay Cutler or a linebacker to take over for Briggs.
As for Briggs, who is still contemplating his next move, he could possibly replace the newly retired Patrick Willis in San Francisco or maybe return to the Bears. Regardless, he’ll be on hand at the Thuzio Executive Club event on April 30 to watch the draft, mingle with guests and weigh in on what the rebuilding Bears should do with their top draft pick.
The evening, which will be moderated by Chicago television personality Ted Brunson, will include dinner, an open bar and giveaways. Thuzio is also partnering with Brigg’s Briggs4Kidz outreach program for the event.
Meanwhile, also on April 30, Thuzio Executive Club will hold the “Steve Weatherford Man Cave Draft Party” at Suite 36 in New York City.
Weatherford, the New York Giants punter, played on the Big Blue team that defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI. He’ll hang with the crowd and offer his thoughts on which player the Giants should select with their first-round draft pick, No. 9 overall, to help them return to the post-season after a three-year absence.
The moderator will be Tiki Barber, former Giants running back and co-founder of Thuzio. Weatherford’s Steve Weatherford World Champion Foundation is partnering with Thuzio for the event and will benefit from a portion of the proceeds.
Past Thuzio Executive Club members come from industries such as banking, insurance, legal, media, real estate and wealth management. Typically, they are sports enthusiasts seeking a unique way to entertain their clients and/or employees.
“Members of Thuzio Executive Club and their guests can expect the most interesting business evening of the year, each time,” said Mark Gerson, chairman of the Gerson Lehrman Group and co-founder of Thuzio. “The combination of stories that yield enduring lessons directly from the top talent in the sport, the congregation of business leaders at each event, and the ambiance create an experience that our members and their guests remember for months that follow.”
With all of the surprises and intrigue that often coincide with the first round of the NFL Draft, being able to get immediate feedback from players still connected to the game will be valuable and interesting to fans attending the event, and provide a memorable experience for years to come.
