Heinz to Give Lifetime Supply of Ketchup, Custom Jacket to 57th Overall 2026 NFL Draft Pick

Heinz ketchup was first invented in the city of Pittsburgh, so it should come as no surprise the company is embracing the NFL draft's arrival in its hometown.

As Stacy Lambe of People detailed on Tuesday, Kraft Heinz will celebrate the draft in Pittsburgh by honoring the 57th overall selection as Mr. 57. The number was chosen because of the ketchup's "57 varieties" label that has been on bottles for 57 years.

Whoever is chosen 57th will receive a custom Mr. 57 red jacket, a lifetime supply of ketchup and partnership opportunities with Heinz. What's more, he will be welcomed by former 57th overall draft pick Devin Hester.

Hester parlayed his spot as the 57th pick of the 2006 NFL draft into a Hall of Fame career as arguably the best kick returner in the sport's history.

There is something of an ironic twist, though, with the 57th pick being the one Heinz is celebrating.

The Chicago Bears own that selection, which will be in the second round. Yet Chicago just so happens to be a major city that doesn't exactly embrace ketchup.

In fact, its hot dogs are famously known for not having ketchup and instead including ingredients such as celery salt, sport peppers, pickles, relish, onions and mustard.

"People didn't want to cover it up and mask the true flavors," Chicago chef Steve Chiappetti said when explaining the city's historical aversion to ketchup, per Lexi Sutter of NBC Chicago. "And how great is that? What a great premise to eating. Give me the natural, the best, don't cover things up in sugar. I think the hotdog story is a lot of what the culinary story is in Chicago."

That may be the case, but as long as Mr. 57 thrives for the city's football team in the Bears, the Chicago fans will surely embrace him.