By Troy Vincent
NFL Player Engagement
“We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.” ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt
One of the most rewarding aspects of my position as VP of NFL Player Engagement is having the opportunity to travel across the country and reach out to NFL players. It is especially gratifying for me to meet young student-athletes who aren’t actually NFL players just yet, or perhaps, never well be.
What we call our PREP initiative inside of NFL Player Engagement isn’t about preparing student-athletes for a life built solely around football. We are committed to providing the tools and support student-athletes need to build lives that go far beyond their playing experiences.
Many of the student-athletes and NFL hopefuls I speak to during my 160 days on the road each year won’t be eligible to play for the NFL for several years to come. In fact, many of the student-athletes I meet may never go on to play college football, let alone pursue a position on the roster of an NFL team.
Reaching out to student-athletes through our PREP initiative isn’t about preparing student-athletes to play; it is about providing them with the tools they need to live an extraordinary life. Participating in the game of football doesn’t always result in a student-athlete becoming a champion on the field, but it certainly can help the athlete achieve true champion status off the field. To me, that is the essence of the NFL Player Engagement PREP initiative.
If taught correctly, the fundamentals of the game also teach the fundamentals of life.
As committed as we are to helping student-athletes reach goals that go far above and beyond the game of football, we aren’t alone. Over the years, more than a few coaches and sports enthusiasts have expressed the strong belief that sports do not build character; they reveal it.
Whether I am speaking to a team, coach, parent, school assembly, those involved in the athlete development space in any way and certainly during a one-on-one mentoring session with a student-athlete, I always feel a tremendous sense of personal responsibility to my audience. As a former player, I know this is the time in a student-athlete’s life when aspirations rise-up and dreams start to take shape. Everything matters.
As part of our various partnerships with schools, teachers, coaches, teams, youth organizations, and parents, our outreach efforts and educational initiatives for student-athletes are centered on certain key principles and priorities which always include the pursuit of academic achievement, the establishment of good character and “personal best” conduct, the development of healthy and strong relationships with teammates, other students, coaches, teachers, and family.
The student-athlete’s future begins now and all of us must all do our part to make it the best it can be.