Chris Draft

Chris Draft is the Founder, President, and CEO of the Chris Draft Family Foundation (CDFF; est. 2006) whose mission has been to empower families to lead healthy lifestyles. He is also the Co-Founder of Team Draft (est. 2011), leading the creation of a national campaign that is changing the face of lung cancer. He is an internationally recognized speaker, community leader, and a family and character advocate who serves as an NFL Ambassador and a national spokesperson on many health-related issues, including the care and treatment of asthma, from which he suffers, and lung cancer, the disease that claimed the life of his wife, Keasha in 2011.

A graduate of Stanford University with a BS in Economics, Draft played football and baseball with the Cardinal. As a three-year starter at linebacker, and senior captain, Draft was an All-Pac 10 performer.

In 1998, he was drafted by the Chicago Bears, ultimately spending 12 years in the NFL. In addition to the Bears, Draft played for the San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, St Louis Rams, Buffalo Bills, and Washington Redskins, finishing his NFL playing career in 2010.

Draft has been recognized for his contributions both on and off the field. He was named NFL Spirit Award winner in 2008, one of the highest honors for community service awarded by the NFL Community. He was named his franchise’s Man of the Year in both Carolina and St Louis (2006, 2008). He was also a two-time finalist for the prestigious Byron “Whizzer” White Award (2004, 2008).

In 2013, Draft and Team Draft helped launch the National Lung Cancer Screening Event to get veterans tested and, in 2014, Team Draft launched the Super Bowl Challenge, allowing lung cancer survivor advocates to compete for a trip to Super Bowl XLIX by raising funds for their local cancer centers.

Draft has partnered with Lilly Oncology on their internal Moments Matter campaign. He is a sought out speaker for international businesses (Genentech, Lilly, Porsche, Medtronic), national cancer organizations (ACS, ALA, CEOs Against Cancer, 24 Hours of Booty, Livestrong), lung cancer-specific foundations (Bonnie Addario, LUNGevity). He also maintains a very visible presence by maintaining his role as an NFL Ambassador and frequently providing his unique perspective to CNN, ESPN and the NFL network on community and sports issues. A selfless leader, Chris continues to fight for and develop deep, authentic relationships with lung cancer survivors, their caregivers, doctors and cancer centers all over the map.