By Austin Moss
NFL Player Engagement
On Wednesday Oct. 10th, 2012 Hall of Fame Defensive End Carl Eller visited the NFL League Office in New York to meet with Commissioner Roger Goodell. Player Engagement was able to catch up with Carl to discuss the reason for his visit and get an update on his current endeavor
NFLPE: What brings you in the office today?
Eller: I came to the office today to talk to Commissioner Goodell about a program I will be offering this winter and spring called, Game Plan II. This is a program that helps the player prepare for their career after football. Currently, players are consumed with studying their playbooks, game plan for the upcoming opponent, and helping their team become successful. However, they also need to have a plan for life after football which is why this program is appropriately named Game Plan II.
PE: What is Game Plan II and when will it be available?
Eller: Game Plan II is an assessment and life planning tool for current and former NFL players. It analyzes the strengths, weaknesses, skills, and experiences of players to assist them in identifying their next life endeavor. I want these guys to know that the same excitement and passion that they have for football can transfer to other areas in their lives. My program helps identify that.
An important aspect of Game Plan II is the player- to-player relationship. Whether you are a current or former player, we have a shared responsibility to achieve personal development. There are many players that have walked in the same shoes and made the same life adjustments that have done very well. It’s critical that we make this connection with players and convey these two messages:
1.) No matter what stage of your career that you are in, it’s about personal growth of the individual, not the football player.
2.) Take the opportunity of having the good fortune to play in the NFL and use that to catapult the rest of your life.
PE: What are some of the challenges that the transitioning athlete faces?
Eller: When a player is transitioning from the game often times he suffers the brunt of that whole experience. He struggles with the loss of emotional highs, the loss of camaraderie & support system, and the loss of competition. Many of these players have had these elements since playing early childhood football.
Because of that severe feeling of isolation, we want players to know that we have tools and resources available so they don’t have to go through that alone and that we can help them achieve success in their 2nd careers.
PE: What steps did you take or wish you would have taken during your playing career to prepare yourself for life after football?
Eller: The regret that I have is that I didn’t have the support that I am trying to provide to players today; a go-to person that they can trust and has dealt with the same experiences.
A lot of players are surrounded by people that don’t have their best personal interest at heart.
PE: What is the goal and end result for the player that participates in Game Plan II?
Eller: Our goal is that from participating in our program a player can transition to a normal life with fewer complications. From our life evaluation, players walk away with an increased knowledge of possibilities available to them and a higher probability of enjoying life. The end result is for players to continue to excel and achieve success in the next level of life and make sure that success is rewarding and exciting.