Embroid’em Awarded Contract for 2026 NFL Draft

By Steve Barrett

WAYNESBURG - With the 2026 National Football League Draft just around the corner, millions of football fans across the nation and around the globe are excitedly awaiting the monumental event.

One person who is particularly excited about this year’s NFL Draft – which is being held at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh April 23-25 – is Greene County native Bethany Tanner, owner of the popular Waynesburg business known as Embroid’em.

To be sure, Tanner has an excellent reason to be excited. Her business has been selected to participate in the Pittsburgh 2026 NFL Draft Source Procurement Program, which means her company will screen print NFL logos on thousands of items that will be presented to employees working throughout the weekend at the Draft.

According to information found on an NFL website, the procurement program is an opportunity for local businesses and certified diverse businesses (minority, woman, person with disabilities, LGBTQ+ and veteran-owned) to gain exposure to subcontracting opportunities related to the 2026 NFL Draft and provide networking and capacity building for all accepted businesses.

Businesses selected for the competitive program will be profiled in a directory, which NFL primary contractors and event producers will use to identify and select local and certified diverse suppliers to fulfill their subcontracting needs, the website states.

The NFL began promoting and advertising the program to businesses throughout 10 total countries surrounding Pittsburgh, and the program initially caught the eyes of the Greene County Chamber of Commerce and the Greene County Commissioners.

Melody Longstreth, executive director of the county Chamber, said she began meeting with officials to review the program’s application process and to brainstorm what local businesses might be good for the program. Among those that were thought to be viable applicants by the local “Think Tank” was Embroid’em.

The Chamber contacted Tanner and several other local businesses last summer, and Tanner eventually completed and submitted the application just hours before the deadline. It was not long after that she was notified by the NFL that her application had been approved and her business would be receiving a formal contract.

“When I found out, I was obviously shocked and very, very excited,” she said. “I know a lot of businesses applied, so to be accepted was a huge thrill and a tremendous honor for us.”

More than 165 local and diverse businesses from the 10-county Pittsburgh region were selected to join the program. These businesses were chosen from over 1,800 applicants and are considered "event-ready," providing services ranging from catering and transportation to marketing services and construction for the three-day event.

The awarded businesses were invited to attend various functions throughout the past year, including visits to Acrisure Stadium. Tanner said was thrilled to meet many officials, dignitaries and representatives from the NFL and Pittsburgh Steelers, as well as NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Tanner said it has been an exciting, whirlwind time since Embroid’em first received word that they will be in business with the Draft; now, however, it is time for her and her company to get to work.

“We got the official go-ahead in mid-March to start printing the pieces, so we are now in the process of printing logos on over 14,000 different pieces, ranging from short- and long-sleeved shirts, jackets to hats and lapel and event day pins,” she said. “These pieces will comprise special care packages and full uniforms with embroidered and screen printed NFL draft logos.”

Despite the monumental task, Tanner said she has no doubt that her committed and dedicated staff will get the job completed on time.

“We have an amazing staff here,” she said. “This is easily our biggest order ever in the eight years we’ve been open – the last biggest order ever here was around 900 pieces for a local business – but I know this crew will work tirelessly night and day to have everything ready in time for the Draft. I have been blessed with an incredible group.”

Tanner said the experience with the procurement program has been personally monumental for her and Embroid’em, as she has built strong friendships and business relationships with NFL officials and others.

“Every day I tell everyone here at our company that we need to enjoy every second of these experiences,” she said. “Not every business has the chance to work with the NFL … I feel blessed to be even considered for the program, let alone be selected. It has been an awesome opportunity for me and this business.”

Longstreth agrees, adding that Embroid’em’s application approval is not just a game changer for the company … it’s a “potential life changer” that could net them much more business in the future.

“The Chamber of Commerce is so thrilled for Bethany and Embroid’em – so thrilled, in fact, that after they received the contract I called her and said, ‘I’m ready to roll my sleeves up and help with the order, because it’s all hands on deck,” she said with a laugh. “Obviously, we are very proud of their achievement and we wish them much more continued success.”

In addition to Longstreth and the county Chamber and Commissioners, Tanner expressed her gratitude to the company Sanmar, the wholesaler for Embroid’em’s apparel.



For more information about Embroid’em, call 724-833-9138, email info@embroidem.com or go online at www.embroidem.com. Or stop in to their store, which is located at 62 West High Street in Waynesburg.