The road to the NFL Draft officially begins in Mobile, Alabama - and with the 2026 Senior Bowl just around the corner, the roster is starting to take shape. Over 130 college prospects have accepted invitations to participate in this year’s all-star showcase, a critical proving ground for players looking to elevate their draft stock in front of NFL scouts, coaches, and executives.
The coaching staffs were announced this week, and they bring serious NFL experience to the field. Joel Thomas of the New Orleans Saints will lead the American Team, while Clint Hurtt of the Philadelphia Eagles will head up the National Team. The full coaching staffs for both squads will be revealed Monday, but these headliners already set a strong tone.
Practices kick off January 27 and run through January 29 at Hancock Whitney Stadium - home of South Alabama - with daily coverage starting at 2 p.m. ET on NFL Network and NFL+.
The Senior Bowl game itself is set for Saturday, January 31 at 2:30 p.m. ET, also airing on NFL Network and NFL+.
For Clint Hurtt, this is another opportunity to showcase the coaching chops that helped the Eagles build one of the NFL’s most dominant defenses in 2024. Hired as Philadelphia’s senior defensive assistant and defensive line coach that year, Hurtt played a pivotal role in developing a young, talented group of interior linemen that anchored the NFL’s top-ranked total defense - allowing just 278.4 yards per game.
And it wasn’t just about limiting yardage. The Eagles’ defensive tackles were relentless up front, leading the league in both pass-rush grade (89.2) and pass-rush win rate (27.7%) during the regular season, per Pro Football Focus. That interior disruption helped fuel a Super Bowl LIX run, with the defensive line setting the tone.
Jalen Carter, under Hurtt’s guidance, earned second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors after leading the team in pressures (45), quarterback hits (16), and tackles for loss (12) - all career highs. He also added 4.5 sacks and forced two fumbles in a breakout campaign. Meanwhile, Milton Williams had the best season of his career, finishing second among all NFL interior linemen in PFF’s pass-rush grade (90.4) and third in pressure percentage (14.6%).
That kind of development is exactly what NFL teams will be watching for in Mobile - which players can take coaching, level up quickly, and show they belong on Sundays.
The Senior Bowl has long been a launching pad for future pros. Just last year, the 2025 game produced 106 draft picks out of 257 total selections - that’s 41% of the entire draft class - including seven first-rounders and 50 picks in the first three rounds.
It’s a clear reminder: what happens in Mobile doesn’t stay in Mobile. It echoes all the way to draft night.
With elite coaching, high-level competition, and NFL eyes everywhere, the 2026 Senior Bowl is once again shaping up to be one of the most important weeks on the pre-draft calendar.