Updates

NFL Player Engagement partnered with the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business to co-host a July 18 webinar for current NFL players and NFL Legends. 

The webinar served as introduction for NFL Business Academy, which will take place March 4-8, 2018 at The University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, named for Miami Dolphins owner Stephen M. Ross.

Spouses and significant others also attended as part of Player Engagement’s commitment to involve players’ families in their professional development and career transition process.

The 2018 installment will be the third NFL Business Academy. The league hosted the second academy in February of 2017 for 32 current and former players. Participants heard from Ross faculty and business leaders as well as NFL veterans who have transitioned to careers in the corporate world.

“We are excited to offer the Business Webinar and expand upon our initiatives with the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business,” said Arthur McAfee, Senior Vice President of NFL Player Engagement. “Through this program, players will be provided with a foundation of business practices and knowledge that can aid in establishing a successful post-playing career.”

Led by University of Michigan Professor Len Middleton, the hour-long webinar provided an overview on finding and evaluating potential business ideas and how to start the business planning process.

“We are excited to further this partnership with the NFL Player Engagement team, especially because this webinar series extends the learning and enhances the players' ability to apply it successfully,” said Melanie Weaver Barnett, Chief Executive Education Officer at Michigan Ross. “This portion of the Boot Camp Series provides the players and their significant others with a suite of opportunities covering what it takes to start and sustain entrepreneurial ventures. With this webinar, they will receive firsthand knowledge regarding the process of planning a business, building their business acumen, and developing the essential skills that will help them become successful and savvy entrepreneurs.”

Current players and Legends who participated include:

• Tyrell Adams
• Mackensie Alexander 
• Dwayne Allen
• Will Allen
• Jason Baker
• Matt Barkley
• Mark Barron
• Ben Bass
• Charles Bennett
• Ulish Booker
• Carl Bradford
• Kevin Brooks
• Nolan Carroll
• Javiar Collins
• Morgan Cox
• Alge Crumpler
• Dominique Curry
• Donovin Darius
• Carl Davis
• Jon Dekker
• Patrick Devlin
• Kevin Dockery
• Warrick Dunn
• Paul Frase
• Mike Gandy
• Christopher Godfrey
• Ben Hartsock
• Temarrick Hemingway
• Chris Hetherington
• Michael Hicks
• Robert Holcombe
• Lamarr Houston
• Richard Incognito
• Brian Ingram
• Jordan Johnson
• Donta Jones
• Matt Kopa
• Henry Lawrence
• Patrick Lewis
• Jacob Lindsey
• John Lotulelei
• Steve Maneri
• Marc Mariani
• Martin Nance
• Nick Novak
• Alec Ogletree
• Phil Ostrowski           
• Vaughn Parker
• Dr. Ray Perkins
• Chester Pitts
• Neil Rackers
• Ryan Russell
• Bradley Smith
• Tye Smith
• Max Starks
• Nigel Tharpe
• Tim Tyrrell
• Van Waiters
• Leonard Wheeler
• Blair White
• Maurice Williams
• Sam Young