Top Pennsylvania lawmakers ask DHS to upgrade security for NFL Draft

In just a few weeks, Pittsburgh anticipates roughly 700,000 football fans will arrive for the 2026 NFL Draft.

And even though elected officials have said the Steel City is prepared to host the three-day event, a trio of statewide lawmakers wants additional support from the Department of Homeland Security.

“I want the public to know we are ready and we are prepared,” Gov. Josh Shapiro said during a recent press conference. “We're working closely with our law enforcement partners at every level: local, state and federal, to ensure that everyone has a safe time and a fun time, and I will tell you that the collaboration at every level of government has been absolutely outstanding.”

It’s been an uphill battle, at times. In January, the Shapiro administration asked the agency to elevate security for the draft from a Level 3 Special Event Assessment Rating, or SEAR, to Level 2.

It’s a designation that fewer than two dozen events scheduled for 2026 have received, aside from the pre-adjudicated FIFA World Cup matches, according to an email from DHS staff that was reviewed by The Center Square. Though the agency's reasoning is unclear, it ultimately left the SEAR classification unchanged and has yet to respond to the administration’s second request submitted on March 30.

The Center Square contacted DHS for further clarification, but has not yet received a response. According to the agency’s fact sheet, SEAR evaluations are completed upon request through the Office of Operations Coordination.

The events – of which DHS has confirmed roughly 90,000 have been submitted as of late January this year – may receive SEAR ratings ranging from Level 5 to 1. The Super Bowl, Mardi Gras and the Boston Marathon rank among the highest for security threats, while varsity baseball games and craft fairs are categorized at the lowest level and handled by local authorities.

Level 3, which is the current designation given for the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, is on par with risk assessments that only require limited federal support, like the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade in Washington D.C., the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Ga., and the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon.

Level 2 SEAR events like the Kentucky Derby and the Indianapolis 500 are considered to be of “national and/or international importance that may require some level of federal interagency support.”

The Shapiro administration, backed by Pennsylvania U.S. Sens. John Fetterman and Dave McCormick, believes the draft exceeds that threshold, citing the potential presence of President Donald Trump and heightened geopolitical tensions that could attract terror attacks and draw protests.

On March 27, Fetterman penned a letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin that “urged” for more support “given the changing threat environment in the wake of the war in Iran.”

With open-air events scheduled at Point State Park and Acrisure Stadium later this month, the senator said the higher designation “would provide greater coordination and deployment of federal, state, and local law enforcement, as well as counter-drone support, K9 units, and intelligence analysis and sharing.”

“Increasing the SEAR designation for the Draft will help ensure that additional resources are deployed to keep participants and fans secure and able to enjoy the Draft without fear,” he said.

The latest request by the governor’s office, with the support of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, also noted the “ongoing hostilities involving Iran,” saying that “the event environment is further complicated by an elevated risk from state‑sponsored or state‑inspired actors, proxies, or sympathizers.”

“High‑profile, heavily attended U.S. mass gatherings, especially those with strong symbolic value and live global media coverage, may represent attractive targets for physical or cyber operations designed to cause mass casualties, disrupt critical services, or generate wide‑reaching propaganda effects,” the Shapiro administration wrote in an email to DHS. “The NFL brand, major U.S. metropolitan setting, and expected attendance by national‑level leadership collectively increase the likelihood that foreign adversaries, foreign terrorist organizations, or ideologically motivated violent extremists could view the NFL Draft as an opportunity to exploit heightened tensions related to the conflict.”

McCormick’s office also told the Center Square that they’ve been working closely with DHS and the FBI to “push for elevating” the SEAR for the NFL Draft.

“With ongoing combat operations in Iran and rising threats across the country, it’s critical that everyone coming to Pittsburgh for this storied tradition feels safe and secure,” McCormick said. “A Level 2 designation would enhance coordination across federal, state, and local law enforcement. We want NFL fans to come to Pittsburgh, enjoy this three-day draft, and ensure our law enforcement has the federal support it needs.”