Clemson cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. was selected No. 42 overall by the Minnesota Vikings. But Booth is not what anyone will remember about the pick — or at least the announcement of it. Ed Marinaro made sure of that.
Marinaro is a former Vikings running back turned actor. His most famous role was on Hill Street Blues in the 1980s. He was one of many celebrities chosen to announce second-round picks. And when the Vikings came on the clock at No. 42 overall, Marinaro made the most of his time.
There may be details about Marinaro’s life that the viewers of the draft still don’t know — but it wasn’t for a lack of trying. While guest announcers will occasionally run longer than normal with their announcements, Marinaro took it to a new level. How bad was it? Someone literally had to come on stage and tell Marinaro to announce the pick.
God bless the woman who told Ed Marinaro to make the pick already#NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/TeN8ZbLyqg
— Tony Clements (@TonyCMKE) April 29, 2022
Marinaro’s time on stage drew a lot of reactions from people watching the NFL Draft.
I guess Ed Marinaro missed that sweet Hill Street Blues screen time. #NFLDraft
— John McMullen (@JFMcMullen) April 30, 2022
Ed Marinaro enjoying his time on the mic lol
— Robert Littal BSO (@BSO) April 29, 2022
They need an orchestra for Ed Marinaro.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) April 29, 2022
Ed Marinaro Life Story Time
— Ryan O'Halloran (@ryanohalloran) April 29, 2022
What the hell is Ed Marinaro doing?
— Brandon Walker (@BFW) April 29, 2022
Ed Marinaro did not understand the assignment.
— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) April 29, 2022
Ed Marinaro announcing this pick: pic.twitter.com/wDfJ8rAecv
— Corey (@xhawkdaddy) April 29, 2022
Ed Marinaro’s doing a solid 15.
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) April 29, 2022
Ed Marinaro has hijacked the draft. It’s his personal talk show now.
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) April 29, 2022
Who else wanted to hear The Ed Marinaro Story during the NFL draft?
— Bill Rabinowitz 🗞 (@brdispatch) April 29, 2022
*Ed Marinaro announcing a super important NFL Draft pick*
Ed Marinaro: “So what’s the deal with airlines?” #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/edAPEkKWUv
— Caleb (@VolsAndDraft) April 30, 2022
Even the NFL’s own Twitter account got in on the fun.
That was an experience. 😅
— NFL (@NFL) April 29, 2022
It was quite the ordeal. The New York Giants had to appreciate Marinaro’s speech, as it gave them more time to figure out who they were going to take. Not long after Marinaro finally announced Booth’s name, the Giants took Kentucky receiver Wan’Dale Robinson.
Marinaro was drafted by the Vikings in the second round of the 1972 NFL Draft. He played with them through 1975, then played with the New York Jets in 1976 and Seattle Seahawks in 1977 to end his career.
[Tony Clements, Minnesota Vikings]
