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Sports
48-year NFL Draft streak comes back to bite Wisconsin, make HC Luke Fickell's seat hotter
TL;DR
Wisconsin's football program failed to have a player selected in the NFL Draft for the first time in 48 years, raising concerns about head coach Luke Fickell's future. This unprecedented situation marks a significant downturn for a historically strong program.
Key points
- Wisconsin had no players selected in the 2023 NFL Draft
- This is the first time since 1978 that Wisconsin has not had a draft pick
- Head coach Luke Fickell's job security is now in question
Mentioned in this story
Luke FickellPittsburgh
Wisconsin BadgersNFL Draft
48-year NFL Draft streak comes back to bite Wisconsin, make HC Luke Fickell's seat hotter originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Despite Wisconsin Badgers' football coach Luke Fickell being given another chance to turn the football program around this fall, his team's transition of ex-players into the NFL during this draft cycle was nonexistent.
Since at least 1978, at least one player had been selected in every NFL Draft until this past weekend in Pittsburgh, Pa. In a nutshell, this is unheard of for a program like the Badgers, the same team that until two years ago, was consistently in the postseason with six-plus-win seasons following
Now, Fickell is at a crossroads.
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"I'm kind of saying, 'Look, guys, we got to focus on the now," Fickell told ESPN's Adam Rittenberg. "We got to make sure that everybody that's in this thing is committed and aligned, and the future will take care of itself," Fickell said. "A part of that is how we play. We got to do some things to be able to make sure we put the product out there to win."We're not shying away from saying: It's about winning."
Q&A
Why did Wisconsin not have any players drafted in 2023?
Wisconsin's football program experienced a lack of player transitions to the NFL during the recent draft cycle, marking a significant change from previous years.
How does the 2023 NFL Draft impact coach Luke Fickell's job security?
The absence of drafted players is intensifying scrutiny on Luke Fickell's coaching performance and could jeopardize his position as head coach.
What is the significance of Wisconsin's 48-year NFL Draft streak?
The 48-year streak of having at least one player drafted highlights Wisconsin's historical strength in football, making this year's failure particularly alarming for fans and stakeholders.
