Patrick Mahomes and the rest of NFL Twitter couldn’t get enough of “Jets kid” Kyle Stickles, who announced New York’s first-round pick.
The star of the 2023 NFL Draft wasn’t Roger Goodell or any of the players who took the stage, though they certainly had their moments.
No, it was Kyle Stickles, the 13-year-old cancer survivor selected by the Make-A-Wish Foundation to announce the Jets first round pick, defensive end Will McDonald IV.
To say that Stickles aced his time at the podium would be an understatement. He absolutely smashed it.
.@MakeAWish recipient Kyle Stickles announced the @nyjets’ pick and did not disappoint 🔥
— NFL (@NFL) April 28, 2023
📺: 2023 #NFLDraft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/D3EqkrKLy4 pic.twitter.com/IDmNZJvfRu
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes couldn’t help but give the kid his due.
“Shoutout to Kyle Stickles for bringing the energy!!!!!” Mahomes tweeted.
Shoutout to Kyle Stickles for bringing the energy!!!!!
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) April 28, 2023
And he was far from the only one who absolutely loved “Jets kid.”
Patrick Mahomes and NFL Twitter loved ‘Jets kid’ Kyle Stickles
No mine’s asleep. But KYLE STICKLES was electric. We will have him on @gmfb https://t.co/GM9oL99sAT
— Kyle Brandt (@KyleBrandt) April 28, 2023
The kid who announced the Jets pick has the highest upside of anyone in the draft.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) April 28, 2023
Let the kid who announced the Jets’ pick take over ESPN’s draft coverage.
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) April 28, 2023
https://twitter.com/JeremyWGR/status/1651768420847722496
The Jets kid is the No. 1 stud prospect of this draft. His suit, shoes, hair, composure, stage presence? He’s got all the tools. https://t.co/2EnUDRXV2D
— Ty Schalter (@tyschalter) April 28, 2023
Damn Jets out here trying to make us not hate them by using the Make A Wish kid.. bastards 😂. Good for the kid though. Happy he got his moment.
— Justin #BillsMafia (@IAmTheNizz) April 28, 2023
Stickles was diagnosed with bone cancer when he was 11 years old. The fact that he could even walk to the podium and stand on his own two feet is a sign of the hard work he put in while fighting the cancer.
He’s a true inspiration for his resilience as well as his passion for the Jets, which was palpable on stage at the draft.
It’s easy to suspect that no one will want McDonald to succeed in New York more than Stickles.
McDonald starred at Iowa State where he racked up 40.5 tackles for loss and 34 sacks over 48 games. He’s long and loose and should make life difficult for the quarterbacks in the AFC East. At least, that’s what Robert Saleh and company are hoping for.