By Lisa Zimmerman, Player Engagement Insider
Among the NFL’s numerous boot-camps, academies and continuing education programs, is its most recent addition, the NFL Business Academy held during the first week of March at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business.
Miami Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross speaking to Business Academy attendees at University of Michigan's Ross School of Business.
Like its MBA programs and boot-camps, the NFL’s Business Academy was designed to provide current and former players with another platform to assist in their post-NFL career development. Thirty six players, along with six of their significant others, attended the five-day program in order to learn about navigating the process of determining what type of business they want to enter into and then how to develop it in the best way to ensure its success.
Players in attendance ran the gamut from those who already have the beginnings of a business plan to those who are still trying to educate themselves in order to establish a direction for their business interest.
Washington Redskins running back Alfred Morris was one of those who came in with few pre-conceived notions and was trying to avail himself of the knowledge and expertise offered by those teaching the courses and presenting the information.
Morris, who graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion before being drafted by Washington in 2012, has always known that the uncertainty of the NFL meant that he needed to have a back-up plan. His initial thought was to work with others in the area of personal health or even to get a graduate degree to become a physician’s assistant. Attending the Business Academy helped expand his horizons further.
“I’m interested in business and saw the program and said, ‘why not take advantage of it,’” Morris said. “I want to set myself up for success, not failure so why not come to this program? It has given me a better sense of what I want to do. There are so many different avenues- start ups, partnerships, franchising. But, networking is the biggest thing I’m going to take away from this. People were so willing to be a tool for you. Give you their email, their phone number. They were so open.”
Another attendee was Terry “Tank” Johnson, who retired following the 2010 season as a nine-year NFL veteran defensive lineman for the Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys and Cincinnati Bengals. After a number of legal entanglements during his playing days, which included several arrests, Johnson committed to reinventing himself and embarking on a more productive path in life. He now works with current and retired players, sharing his story and encouraging them to stay focused on making sure they stay involved only in positive activities and prepare themselves for a productive future after their NFL playing days are over. Taking part in the NFL programs is one element of that.
“I think every athlete has an aspiration to be in business,” Johnson said. “Not many people get to have that much cash. A program like this tells a player exactly what they don’t know. You think you want to buy some properties, but then someone tells you that before you buy even one property you want to do A through Z. They tell you that you want to spend 400 hours on a business plan and some guys almost fell out of their chairs, but that amount of time is really small in the scope of what they want to do in the long run. They told us what it takes to get started.”
Morris and Johnson both expressed their belief that the NFL programs should be attended by all of their peers. Johnson especially hopes that his presence will be an example to others to sign up and take part. Both he and Morris noted that these programs have brought a new level of support and guidance to NFL athletes.
“I’m glad they offer these [programs],” Morris said. “There are a lot of guys before me who didn’t have these opportunities.”