On the NFL Draft Stage: Andy Burrows on a Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience

There will not be too many Washington fans who have not interacted with Andy Burrows over the years. From his hosting of The Bunker and to his regular trips to Nation’s Capitol, Andy lives and breathes all things burgundy and gold.

When Andy stepped onto the stage at the NFL Draft 2026, he wasn’t just representing the Washington Commanders—he was representing UK fans everywhere. UKHTTC founder, Christian Burt, caught up with Andy to relive the moment, from the surprise announcement to life behind the scenes at one of the NFL’s biggest events.

There are a number of insights into the draft night process and thank you again Andy for taking time out!

You find out you are the Washington Commanders International Fan of the Year. Tell me the excitement level in the Burrows household!

“I honestly couldn’t believe it. I was invited onto the One Point Safety podcast and thought we were just chatting about going to a Draft party in Germany. Then Scott Hartley said, ‘We can do one better—we’re taking you to Pittsburgh… and by the way, you’re the International Fan of the Year.’

I was speechless. That doesn’t happen often! Then it hit me—I’m going to the Draft. You’re talking about standing in front of what I now know was around 300,000 people at its peak. It was just pure excitement after the shock wore off.”

You are about to announce the 147th pick. Were there any nerves? And “America’s Team”—planned or spontaneous?

“I won’t lie—massive nerves. We got to stand on the stage during a tour before it all started, and looking out, I just thought this is going to be huge.

On the day, they bring you backstage about 10 minutes before your pick. You’re just waiting, thinking: ‘Please give me a name I can actually pronounce!’ When I saw Joshua Josephs on the card, I was relieved straight away.

As for ‘America’s Team’—that just came to me. I knew I wanted to say something memorable, and it sort of clicked as I walked out. The whole thing happens so fast—you’re on stage for less than a minute.

The most important part for me, though, was personal. A close friend’s son had passed away just days before, and I wanted to honour him in that moment. That meant everything.”

Will you now be following Joshua Josephs’ career closely?

“Absolutely. Once you’ve announced someone’s name, you feel connected to them straight away.

I’m hoping to get out to training camp, meet him, maybe get the Draft card signed and grab his jersey once his number’s confirmed. It’d be amazing if he goes on to have a great career and I can say I announced him on Draft night.

We’ve had success with fifth-round picks before—so hopefully I’ve brought a bit of English luck!”

Give some insight into what happens behind the scenes at the Draft.

“It’s incredible—and honestly, a bit chaotic.

We got a full tour of the facilities, including the actual Draft room where teams operate. Seeing that process up close was fascinating—how picks come in, how decisions are communicated.

One of the wildest moments was on night one. I was backstage before the first-round pick, and for about 10 minutes, I was one of the only people outside the organisation who knew who the Commanders were drafting.

Then you’re suddenly on stage with Roger Goodell, presenting the jersey in front of a massive crowd. It’s surreal.”

Any unique or unexpected moments UK fans might not know about?

“There’s loads. One funny moment—on night one, there was a brief panic because they couldn’t get hold of Washington. The clock was running down, and people were thinking, ‘What’s going on?’ Eventually they got through, but backstage you could feel the tension.

Another one—there was a fan from the Cleveland Browns ready to go on stage, then suddenly the Kansas City Chiefs traded up. Just like that, his moment was gone. That’s how fast things change.

From TV, it all looks smooth. Backstage? It’s organised chaos—people everywhere, constant movement, everything running to the second.”

Where did your love of the Commanders begin—and where can fans find you?

“It goes back to 1997. I was in West Virginia when Dan Snyder had just bought the team. Someone asked if I wanted to watch ‘football’—I thought they meant soccer!

It turned out to be the NFL, and I was hooked instantly. From there, as coverage improved in the UK, the passion just kept growing.

You can find me on X—always happy to chat with fellow fans: @WashingtonUKFan.”

And somewhere down the line, if Joshua Josephs becomes a star, there’ll always be one UK fan who can say—I called his name on Draft night.