The NFL Draft is a night of high-stakes numbers and tactical maneuvers, but at its core, it is the emotional climax of a lifelong journey. While Verizon’s network provided the critical infrastructure for the Draft in Green Bay, our goal was to move beyond the hardware and capture the heartbeat of the event.
So we turned our network into a bridge for intimacy, powering “The Call” — an exclusive window into the first moments after accomplishing their dreams.
Fans are tired of polished press conferences; they crave the unscripted, raw vulnerability of the “human under the helmet” during life’s most transformative moments.
We humanized these athletes by identifying a singular truth: the first thing a draftee does after their life changes is reach for their phone. Inspired by the Super Bowl’s "What are you doing next?" we created a new iconic prompt for a new generation of stars: "You just got drafted. Who are you calling first?"
Verizon turned this pivotal moment into "The Call." We partnered with five elite first-round picks, including Ashton Jeanty and Tetairoa McMillan, to capture the raw, unscripted vulnerability of their first private celebrations. By filming their video calls to the families and coaches who fueled their rise, we provided fans with an exclusive backstage pass to their real, human side.
The results were pure, digital gold. One viral highlight featured Raiders star Ashton Jeanty and his college coach, James Montgomery, sharing a moment of pure, laughing jubilation—a scene so authentic that Jeanty later praised Verizon in the national press for facilitating the connection.
On Draft night, no yards are gained and no touchdowns are scored, yet through "The Call," Verizon proved that our network doesn't just transmit data—it delivers the most important moments in a person's life.
1.3 Million Video Plays
1.25 Million Impressions
