Logan Jones, the consensus All-American center from Iowa, was selected by the Chicago Bears with the 57th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, becoming the inaugural “Mr. 57” and earning a lifetime supply of Heinz ketchup as part of a modern draft-day tradition.
The Bears, whose starting center retired last month, saw Jones as an immediate fit after his formal visit to Halas Hall followed an informal meeting at the NFL Combine in February. Jones said the organization made him feel at home, citing the people and the weight of Chicago’s football history as factors that resonated with him.
Jones began his Iowa career as a defensive tackle after playing both sides of the line at Lewis Central High School in Council Bluffs. He transitioned to center before the 2022 season and started for three years, earning Third-Team All-Big Ten honors in 2023, Second-Team in 2024, and First-Team All-Big Ten and unanimous All-American status in 2025. He credited his Rimington Trophy to the offensive line’s collective effort, particularly highlighting the leadership in the room and the influence of offensive line coach George Barnett.
Despite his accolades, Jones said he still feels he hasn’t played his best football, describing his development as a journey where he only recently realized he needed to “go out there and take it” to achieve his goals.
The Heinz promotion, announced before the draft in Pittsburgh, honored the 57th pick with a custom “Mr. 57” jacket, a lifetime supply of Heinz ketchup, and a partnership opportunity. Jones said he learned of the gift during a Zoom call with reporters and responded with enthusiasm: “I love it! I’ll take as much as I can get. Let’s go, ketchup!”
Devin Hester, the Pro Football Hall of Fame return specialist who was as well the 57th pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, attended the 2026 event in Pittsburgh and wore a red jacket lined with Heinz ketchup bottle imagery, symbolically passing the “Mr. 57” mantle to Jones. Hester’s presence helped frame the moment as the start of a new draft tradition.
While Heinz promotes the number 57 as iconic — appearing on its bottles for 157 years — the company acknowledges on its website that the origin of the number is unclear, with founder Henry J. Heinz citing five as his lucky number and seven as his wife’s, though he also believed seven held broader significance. The “Heinz 57” sauce launched in 1911 was named for its spiciness, not the number of varieties, despite the longstanding marketing claim.
What position will Logan Jones play for the Bears?
Jones will play center for the Chicago Bears, stepping into a vacancy left by the retirement of the team’s starting center last month.
Why was Logan Jones chosen for the Heinz ketchup promotion?
Jones was selected as the 57th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, triggering a Heinz promotion that awards the player chosen at that draft position a lifetime supply of ketchup and the title “Mr. 57.”
Did Logan Jones know about the Heinz ketchup gift before being drafted?
No, Jones said he was not aware of what being drafted at pick No. 57 would provide him beyond an NFL opportunity until he was informed during a Zoom call with reporters after the selection.
Is there any truth to the claim that Heinz “57” refers to 57 varieties of products?
According to Heinz’s own website, the number 57 has no factual basis in the company’s product lineup; founder Henry J. Heinz said it came from his lucky number five and his wife’s lucky number seven, and the “Heinz 57” sauce launched in 1911 was named for its spiciness, not variety count.
