By Justin DeFreece
NFL Player Engagement
This Spring, NFL Player Engagement hosted a group of 37 former athletes at the 5th NFL Career Transition Program at Georgia Tech. NFL executives, world-class professional development consultants, and Georgia Tech faculty members provided interactive courses, lectures, and education on how to best transition from the field into your next experience and the deep resources available to former NFL players.
The program was a great success, and response from attendees has been overwhelmingly positive, with Corey Mays (Six-year NFL veteran)remarking that “(this) priceless weekend allowed every player in the room to feel that locker room chemistry once again. It was an educational and therapeutic first step into our next journey, in which we will now tackle the business world."
This year for the first time, the NFL also hosted a “mock job fair” where players were given the opportunity to interact with human resources professionals from top companies including Nike, Stryker, and Home Depot, giving them on-the-fly feedback on their strengths, weaknesses, and how to position themselves in the corporate arena. One HR representative remarked that “players have a natural skillset as leaders, strategists, and hard-working teammates, and these skills are easily transferable… these are the people that I want out in the field, representing my company.”
Players learned about the emotional, mental, and physical transition that they can expect to go through and the proactive approach they can take to work through these changes. Bill Jeffries, renowned Myers-Briggs personality assessment speaker shared many laughs with players as he ran through mock scenarios where he highlighted different personality types and how they would react under pressure…watch out for INFPs, ESTJs… Their thoughtful perception and cool under pressure nature may enable them to outmaneuver your extroverted and quick-to-react nature!
In addition to learning about benefit resources and physical wellness techniques, the participants also had the opportunity to learn vocal strategy from Arthur Joseph, international “Vocal Awareness” coach to Hall of Fame players, celebrities, and the Commissioner himself! Players could be heard reciting leadership mantras, talking with “an invisible string” from their seats to their heads to align their posture, and best of all… holding their tongues while making “primal calls” that could be heard down the hall to strengthen their vocal cords. No doubt scaring any students within ear shot on campus.
The NFL takes great pride in supporting its former player population and continues to develop resources and programs to cater to the needs of the player at all stages of his life.