NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

CAREER AND BUSINESS PROGRAM

OVERVIEW
In partnership with the National Football League (NFL), Fairleigh Dickinson University and The Wharton School
of the University of Pennsylvania, the NFL Alumni Association (NFLAA) has launched its first ever Career and
Business Program (CBP). The CBP features an outcome driven curriculum designed to address the career
transition needs of retired NFL players in four phases. The CBP is a content and resource driven comprehensive
career training and placement program that engages participants across multiple growth and development
modalities (e.g. counseling referrals, classroom lectures, panel discussions, online learning, internships, job
placement, etc.).

STAGE 1: NFL CAREER TRANSITION PROGRAM

Each quarter, forty (40) retired NFL players will participate in a three (3) day Career Transition Program (CTP)
administered by selected colleges and universities in various regions. The core content of the CTP encompasses
psychological and career assessments, communication skill building, personal branding, career transition strategy
creation and customized sessions on emerging business trends. In addition, the CTP provides information on NFL
retirement benefits and lifestyle and fitness coaching. Further, this classroom setting provides participants with an
enhanced opportunity to share experiences, build a learning community and connect with peers. All CTP content
and sessions are tied to student learning outcomes created in concert with our university partners. Participants can
earn 1.5 undergraduate credit hours at the conclusion of the program.

STAGE 2: DISTANCE LEARNING/CAREER COACHING

Following the CTP, participants are eligible to participate in a Distance Learning/Career Coaching Program. At
the conclusion of the Distance Learning/Career Coaching Program, participants can earn 3 undergraduate credit
hours and a certificate from Fairleigh Dickinson University. All stage 2 participants are required to commit to a
temporary employment experience. Program components include:
GENERAL BUSINESS Program participants will be introduced to the most common functional
areas of business (i.e. human resources, finance and accounting, sales,
marketing, customer service, research and development, operations, general
administration and information systems technology). Each participant will
select a competency focus and a secondary interest. Session outcomes
include a written career goal plan and selection of a mentor from the
NFLAA’s Mentoring Network.
FINANCE Program participants will be provided group and individual instruction on
personal and business finance. The group setting will provide participants
with a theoretical framework for understanding personal finance with a
focus on: cash flow analysis, debt load management and monitoring of
financial services professionals. Individual sessions will match players with
an accredited financial services professional who will help participants
organize their financial portfolio. Session outcomes include a personalized
financial audit and a net worth statement.
CAREER SELECTION Program participants will be provided with a process for selecting a career
track. Career track options include (1) shadowing, internship, employment
and management trainee experiences; (2) non-profit start-up /management;
or (3) for-profit start-up/management. Session outcomes include a written
resume, a business plan and/or completion of a funding application (non-
profit/for-profit start-up).

National Football League Alumni Association 
1 Washington Park | 1 Washington Street | Newark, NJ | 07102 
Office: (973) 718‐7350 | Fax: (862) 772‐0277 
 NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
CAREER AND BUSINESS PROGRAM
 
STAGE 3: PLACEMENT
Upon the successful completion of the Distance Learning/Career Coaching Program—which can be converted
into one (1) undergraduate credit hour—participants will be awarded a CBP Certificate and provided with the
distinction as a Certified Applicant. Completion of stages two and three ensures placement in our Certified
Applicant Pool. Certified Applicants will be provided with at least three (3) interviews with CBP corporate
partners that have agreed to provide retired players with a temporary work experience (e.g. internship,
management trainee, full-time employment). Retired players will be required to complete a minimum of 160 work
hours at a rate of pay set by industry standards and each CBP corporate partner. At the conclusion of the
temporary work experience with a CBP corporate partner, retired players will have the opportunity to become
gainfully employed by a CBP corporate partner or provided with an opportunity to work an additional 160 hours
for the NFLAA.

STAGE 4: BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

CBP Certified Applicants that own/operate non-profit organizations or for-profit businesses are eligible to
participate in the Emerging Business Program (EBP). The EBP will conduct due-diligence investigations on CBP
Certified Applicants’ organization or business, along with ensuring the organization or business has adequate
capital reserves, management infrastructure and proper business licenses. CBP Certified Applicants’ organizations
or businesses that meet or exceed EBP standards will be considered an NFL Alumni Certified Business. EBP will
offer the following to NFL Alumni Certified Businesses with a proven track record of business over three years:
(1) a Bio-Green Certification, (2) access to bid on NFLAA-related vendor contracts, (3) inclusion in an NFLAA
Business-to-Business Player Directory, (4) integration into an online NFLAA business networking system and (4)
partnership opportunities tied to various NFLAA initiatives.

PROGRAM OUTCOMES
I. To annually co-administer four to six regional CTP sessions with the NFL for 160-240 retired players.

II. To manage an annual caseload of 240 players with six former players as regional managers.

III. To create a database of 250 NFLAA Certified and Player-Owned businesses by December 2012.

IV. To partner with 50 nationally based organizations willing to provide temporary work experiences and post-
career employment opportunities for NFLAA members.

V. To annually place 80% of all program graduates into a meaningful job or vendor agreement.

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