NFL Player Engagement Programs Focus on Life Beyond the NFL

Playing in the NFL is a dream for many but only attained by few. It is a small fraternity of men and their families that are connected forever. The NFL launched the NFL Families initiative that not only focused on active players but former players as well, and how they defined FAMILY. It’s more than adorable Dad-Do commercials and invigorating ads, the NFL Family initiative is bridging that gap between the images of fantasy players to seeing players as real people too! Part of this initiative includes the NFL Player Engagement (NFLPE) which focuses on three themes: Prep, Life, and Next.

NFL Prep is for high school and college student-athletes of all sports, and provides them with tools to help them succeed in life, focused on awareness, prevention, and education. NFL Life provides active NFL players with professional and personal development resources, “while supporting and educating players’ families to take full advantage of the opportunities afforded to them by their NFL experience.” NFL Next Legends “serve, equip, and empower former players and their families during the transition from their NFL experience and throughout their lives.” See www.nflplayerengagement.com for more information.

Many players have taken advantage of the various resources available through the NFL Player Engagement. However, there are some players who are completely unaware of the benefits of these resources during their career and in planning for their post-NFL career. From coaching boot camps to personal finance workshops, the Player Engagement programs prove to be worth it. Some programs are even open to spouses. See below for some of the programs scheduled for this year:

NFL BOOT CAMP PERSONAL FINANCE: April 4th-April 7th, 2016

This program will take place in Fort Lauderdale, Florida offering a relaxed learning environment for current and former players and their significant others. This year’s program will provide participants the opportunity to acquire knowledge that directly relates to their finances and lifestyles. Education will be provided by TD Ameritrade and the University of Miami’s School of Business Administration.

NFL BOOT CAMP SPORTS JOURNALISM & RADIO: April 14th-17th, 2016

Sports Journalism and Radio Boot Camp will take place at Bowling Green State University. This boot camp provides the opportunity for current and former players to enhance their writing skills, build journalism and radio portfolios, and receive on-site feedback and mentoring from ESPN Radio, Westwood One, and Bowling Green faculty. Following the completion of this boot camp, qualified candidates may have the opportunity to participate on ESPN Radio.

NFL BOOT CAMP ADVANCED BROADCASTING: May 16th - 19th, 2016

The NFL Advanced Broadcast Boot Camp takes place in Mt. Laurel, NJ at NFL Films and is open to those who have completed Broadcasting Boot Camp. This provides the opportunity to build on the foundation from previous training and strengthen broadcasting skills. This program provides increased knowledge and follow through with more possible job opportunities and internships.

NFL BOOT CAMP BROADCASTING: May 16th-19th, 2016

This year Player Engagement celebrates the 10th annual Broadcasting Boot Camp. Broadcasting Boot Camp provides players on-set training in broadcasting to build experience and determine interests. Players can explore multiple on-air job functions in television/media. Key learnings include: Tape study, show preparation, field reporting, and production meetings.

Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship

Providing talented minority coaches an opportunity to observe and participate during NFL OTA’s, mini and training camp and assist them in gaining experience to pursue a full-time NFL coaching position.

Resources

MyGoalline.com

In this site, you will find information about your benefits as an NFL player. These benefits protect you while you play, help ease the transition to life and work after football, and provide a base upon which to build for your retirement. We believe that, overall, these benefits are the best available in professional sports. https://www.mygoalline.com/

All Pro Dads

Our message will inspire you to embrace who you are, give you tenderness of heart, and boldness of character as a dad and husband. We are consistently here for you to provide guidance and practical tips in raising your kids in a life giving way.  http://www.allprodad.com/

NFL Foundation

The NFL Foundation is the league’s nonprofit organization representing the 32 NFL clubs. Its mission is to support the health, safety and wellness of athletes, youth football and the communities which support our game. http://www.nflfoundation.org/

Professional Football Wives Association

The Professional Football Wives Association (PFWA) was founded on a mission comprised of three basic tenets: Faith, Family and Football. PFWA's mission is to be a faith based organization that promotes unity and friendship among football wives, fiancées, and girlfriends, that positively redefines the stereotypes of NFL families, and that serves as a support system for women of the NFL. http://www.profootballwives.org

Don’t see a program you like? Contact the NFL Player Engagement office at www.nflplayerengagement.com for more information.

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” - Benjamin Franklin

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Tenisha Patterson Brown, Esq.

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NFL Couples Making a Positive Impact in Their Communities

Public perception of NFL couples is that they are weak unions detached from hardships within their communities. In reality, countless couples in the NFL are intelligent, inspiring and invested in philanthropy. For my fiancé Coty Sensabaugh -- defensive back for the Tennessee Titans -- and I, the NFL is a conduit to positively reach and impact the masses.

Serving on Our Special Day

Sensabaugh Mission Moon

We chose to use our wedding day as a platform to spread love in a unique way.

In lieu of traditional wedding gifts, we are asking our friends and family to help us raise awareness, funds, and shoes for the #SensabaughMissionMoon. The event will take place June 23rd-June 27th, 2016, in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.

We are partnering with the global non-profit organization Soles4Souls to provide shoes to adults and children in orphanages and other rural areas throughout the country. Since 2006, Soles4souls has collected and distributed over 26 million pairs of new shoes in every state in the U.S. and in 127 countries around the world.

More than a third of the Dominican Republic population lives on less than $1.25 a day and over 20 percent of the country lives in extreme poverty.

We Are Not Alone

Coty and I understand that we have the opportunity to positively impact hundreds of lives through the NFL platform. Our constant prayer is to use what we have been blessed with to fortify our community, and we model ourselves after our peers who are doing the same.

Many NFL couples are not only actively serving their respective communities, it is the women in these relationships that are the driving force behind the philanthropic efforts of their spouses.

Take a look at NFL couple Fernando and Tiesha Velasco, both of whom are avid forces within their communities using their Right Choices Foundation to connect middle and high school athletes with opportunities to enhance their character development through athletics.

Powerhouse NFL couple Brandon and Michi Marshall are another example. They use the NFL platform to fight the negative stigmas associated with mental illness. These two raise awareness and connect those who are suffering with the proper resources.

There are countless others on the list of influential NFL couples and the positive impact they have is powerful. What's unfortunate is that these benevolent efforts are often ignored by the media in lieu of negative stories of infidelity and domestic violence.

Let's Start A New Legacy

Instead of helping spread the word of negativity within the NFL, let's make a point to share the good things couples are doing. Many are forming partnerships with organizations like the American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen Foundation, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and Georgetown Lombari Comprehensive Cancer Center to make a positive impact in the community.

So the next time you encounter an NFL couple giving back in a positive manner, encourage and uplift their efforts. The impact we possess within our communities as NFL couples to do great work, far exceeds the role that our significant others play on Sunday.

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