Watch Former Illinois Receiver Casey Washington Receive Life-Changing Phone Call From Atlanta Falcons

Nov 25, 2023; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini wide receiver Casey Washington (14) was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons - Ron Johnson/USA TODAY Sports
Nov 25, 2023; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini wide receiver Casey Washington (14) was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons - Ron Johnson/USA TODAY Sports | Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

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They are among the most special moments in all of sports.

When a player gets the phone call from an organization on Draft Day, it produces smiles, hugs and tears. They are captured more frequently these days because of technology. The Atlanta Falcons of the NFL have joined the fray by recording videos of these everlasting memories.

On Saturday, former Illinois Fighting Illini receiver Casey Washington had his day. He was almost at a loss for words when Falcons coach Raheem Morris and general Terry Fontenot delivered the good news.

The Falcons were drafting Washington in the seventh round. The moment was captured in a video posted on the Falcons YouTube channel. Here it is:


Just like that, Washington became the first Illini wide receiver drafted since 2012. The conversation was everything you would expect. Washington said he was shaking during the entire call.

Raheem Morris: Casey.

Washington: What's up, Coach?

Morris: Man, good to have you back. Didn't you just leave my office? You should've never left. You should've stayed here. You just told me you wanted to be a Falcon and now you get a chance to do that. I'm fired up, though.

Washington: Yes sir.

Morris: Well, I will see you soon.

Washington was chosen by the Atlanta Falcons in the sixth round largely because of an impressive Pro Day workout. The Falcons, who were in attendance, liked what they saw. Last year the 6-foot, 200-pound Washington had a career year with the Illini. He caught 49 passes for 670 yards and four touchdowns in 12 games.


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Shandel Richardson
SHANDEL RICHARDSON

Shandel has covered the NBA since 2010, with previous stops at The Athletic and South Florida Sun-Sentinel. He has covered six NBA Finals, one Super Bowl, the NCAA basketball tournament. He has also been a beat writer for the Miami Hurricanes and contributed on every major beat in South Florida since 2003, including the Miami Dolphins and Miami Marlins. He can also be read in the Sportsbook Review for gambling coverage from around the NBA. A native of Bloomington, Illinois, Shandel attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. He's also worked for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Kansas City Star. TWITTER: @ShandelRich EMAIL: shandelrich@gmail.com You can subscribe to our YouTube channel here Follow all of our Miami Heat coverage on Facebook here