When Nick Bouchat was lining up field goals at Highlands High School and later at Edinboro University, he never imagined he would one day have the opportunity to be part of a real National Football League (NFL) draft.
The insurance agent at the family-owned Bouchat Agency in Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania got that chance when he was invited by NFL sponsor Nationwide Insurance to announce a pick at the 2026 NFL draft in his hometown of Pittsburgh.
On the third day of the draft, Bouchat took the podium before tens of thousands of football fans to reveal the fifth round,154th overall selection, for the San Francisco 49ers – Jaden Duggar, linebacker from the University of Louisiana.
The moment took on added meaning due to a unique circumstance that loosely connected the Bouchat family to Duggar, who hails from the Pittsburgh area. Outside of his work as the agency co-owner, Nick’s father Jon has been a volunteer kicking coach for high schoolers in the western Pennsylvania area for roughly 15 years. His dad actually coached against Duggar when Duggar was at Kiski Area High School, Bouchat said.
For Nationwide, this was a way to recognize one of its agents. “Nationwide’s partnership with the NFL enables us to offer once-in-a-lifetime experiences,” said Jim McCoy, vice president of sports marketing for Nationwide.
“I’m very appreciative, obviously. This is something I never expected to do in my lifetime. It was awesome from start to finish,” said Bouchat.
Photo: Nationwide Insurance agent Nick Bouchat at the 2026 NFL draft.
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