Engagement Insider
BALTIMORE, MD, September 3, 2013 – The National Football League is not only kicking off its 2013 season with festivities in Baltimore this week, it is also ushering in a new era of involving all of its ex-players in a new Legends Program.
With the concussion lawsuit settled last week, the NFL’s Player Engagement Department and Entertainment Marketing Departments wasted no time in immediately launching a new NFL Legends Community Program that includes every former player.
“Our focus is to celebrate all those who have contributed on the field, connect them back to their clubs, and embrace them in the NFL family,” said Troy Vincent, Senior Vice President of NFL Player Engagement. “In light of all the litigation, we believe now is the time to bridge the gap and celebrate the service of everyone who has ever walked our sidelines and is a legend in their own way.”
The new program will officially be ushered in Wednesday and Thursday in Baltimore to celebrate the Super Bowl Championship with former Ravens like Peter Boulware and Jamal Lewis teaming up with NFL Legends like Roger Craig and Orlando Pace. They and numerous other NFL alumni will participate in a dozen or so separate activities, ranging from youth football festivals and a Flag Game to the Inner Harbor Concert featuring Keith Urban in the hour leading up to the Thursday night opening kickoff in Denver between the Ravens and Broncos.
Another former Raven who will be there is Rod Woodson, who is one of 20 former players chosen to spearhead the new Legends Program.
The group also includes former player and later a league employee Ed Reynolds, who described the program perfectly by saying, “We are the first 20 former players off the bench for this program, which will be a win-win-win for the league, its legends, and the clubs as we take the relationships to the next level.”
One of the league executives who will be deeply involved in administering the new program is Player Engagement’s James Thrash, a former player himself, who stated, “We will be working closely with each of our teams’ directors of Alumni and Player Engagement to recommend and develop a wide range of activities that will re-connect all former players to their former clubs and the league moving forward.”
These league and club activities will mirror the mission of NFLPE in assisting former players to transition smoothly to their post-playing experience by staying connected with both former teammates and opponents, while at the same time making them aware of all the resources, programs and benefits available to them from the leagues and its clubs.
Additionally, all former players will be awarded opportunities to participate in alumni activities in the cities where they played, as well as with their colleges and hometowns. The program will also promote businesses they may now be involved in, with the added potential of networking with NFL sponsors and partners.
So, not only has there never been a better time to be an NFL player, there now has never been a better time to be a former NFL player, now Legends all as part of a true football family.
NFL Kickoff 2013 Player Appearances