A Brashear High School teacher and student will be on the clock for the NFL Draft.

Health and physical education teacher Megan Perfetti and student Damon Richie, 17, will announce the Buffalo Bills’ fifth-round draft pick on Saturday. It will be the 165th pick overall.

The NFL Draft takes place Thursday through Saturday in Downtown Pittsburgh and the North Shore.

Their journey to the NFL Draft stage started with what Perfetti called a “strange question.”

The Pittsburgh Public Schools’ health and PE supervisor, Stefanie Burgh, sent an email to all health and PE teachers in the district: Who liked the Buffalo Bills?

Perfetti responded — she liked the Bills. She had attended festivals in the Buffalo area in recent years and grew to like the team and its fanbase. Her interest was heightened through Damar Hamlin, a McKees Rocks native and University of Pittsburgh grad who plays for the Bills. Hamlin captured national attention when he suffered cardiac arrest on the field during a 2023 game. Medical staff restored his heartbeat using CPR, something Perfetti and other health teachers have taught in PPS for years.

Her response met with favor. The next thing she knew, Perfetti was contacted by the NFL with the opportunity to announce one of the team’s picks.

Knowing her student Damon was a Bills fan, too, she asked if he’d like to join her.

“I like the Steelers, too,” Damon said, for the record. “I’m excited to be on TV. I’m about to be seen.”

Brashear is one of many schools across the country that has benefited from the NFL’s GENYOUth program. The programming aims to help children lead active and healthy lives.

Flag football was added to the physical education curriculum in 2014, Perfetti said, and the NFL provided Brashear equipment for the sport. Nationwide, the NFL has distributed more than 40,000 flag football kits to schools across the country.

The sport of flag football has since grown in popularity. PIAA, the statewide high school sports association, sanctioned girls flag football this spring. Fifty-six schools in the WPIAL (the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League) fielded teams, as well as the city high schools of Allderdice, Brashear, Carrick, Obama, Perry and Westinghouse.

Perfetti hopes the national stage can put the spotlight on Brashear’s work to combat food insecurity and promote healthy eating habits.

Brashear opened its food pantry just over a year ago. It provides fresh produce, meats and more to students and their families.

There are about 200 students on the distribution list, Perfetti said. Anywhere between 8,000 to 10,000 pounds of food are sent out each week. The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank helps stock the pantry.

Perfetti has seen results from the physical education and nutrition efforts.

“We’ve seen an increase in fitness scores and, as far as nutrition goes, the students are learning the importance of healthy foods,” she said. “With good nutrition comes better grades, staying awake in class and energy of getting through the school day.”

Eight Brashear teachers help with the food pantry’s operations on a weekly basis, Perfetti said. Students, like Damon, also assist.

“I like helping people,” he said. “It makes me feel good.”