Throughout the league's history, athletes from HBCUs have exemplified a standard of excellence on and off the field.
In May 2016, the NFL launched Strength of HBCUs, Impacting Pro Football Since 1948 in partnership with two preeminent HBCU athletic conferences — the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). Since then, the initiative has expanded to include the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) and Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA).
Read Troy Vincent, Sr.'s Reflections on Black excellence and the NFL's role in driving generational impact.
The partnership celebrates and honors the historical impact of HBCUs and their players on the game and provides career opportunities in the game of football.
“The NFL’s partnership with HBCUs has deep roots in football’s history,” said Troy Vincent, Sr., NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations. “We’re working together to honor the rich history of HBCUs and provide opportunities to students and administrators from these great institutions.”
The NFL’s partnership with HBCUs works to: