The NFL has weighed in on Robert Prevost Pope’s election, with white smoke coming out of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City on Thursday. 

The NFL posted to its official X account a screen sH๏τ from last month’s draft of NFL Network’s panel discussing who the Arizona Cardinals should pick at No 16 overall, when the franchise submitted its pick. 

Prevost, who hails from Chicago, is the first American Pope in history. The 133 Cardinal electors selected the new Pope on the second vote, with black smoke coming from the Vatican on Wednesday evening. 

With the No 16 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals selected Walter Nolen, a defensive tackle from Ole Miss. 

Huge crowds eagerly awaited the appearance of the new Pope in St. Peter’s Square, packed shoulder to shoulder to get a view of Prevost. 

Prevost replaces Pope Francis, who led the Catholic Church from 2013 until his death last month. His papal name will be Pope Leo XIV. 

The NFL has weighed in on Robert Prevost Pope’s election with white smoke appearing

The 133 cardinals selected the new Pope on the second vote of the conclave on Thursday

The NFL posted to its official X account a screen sH๏τ from last month’s draft in Green Bay

Prevost needed at least two-third support of the conclave to become the new pontiff.

Pat McAfee interrupted his usual sports conversation on his talk show and kicked off Thursday’s episode by talking about the election of the Pope.

The name will be announced later, when a top cardinal utters the words ‘Habemus papam!’ Latin for ‘We have a pope!’ from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica.

Hailing from 70 different countries, the 133-strong group of cardinals gathered in the Vatican for the centuries-old ritual to elect the 267th pontiff. 

The Cardinals chose at No 16 overall after finishing the 2024 season with an 8-9 record, drastically improving from last year’s first-round selection of No 4.