ATLANTA – On Saturday at high noon, North Carolina A&T State University and Alcorn State will meet on the field at the Celebration Bowl at Mercedes Benz Stadium to kick off the bowl season.
But on Friday, close to 100 students from HBCUs across the nation will also be in Atlanta taking part in the fourth annual. The NFL and ESPN are coming together once again to put on the program that will provide professional development and networking opportunities for students, as they will have the chance to engage with league and team executives, giving them the opportunity to potentially secure future employment.
“Once again, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference is honored to partner with the NFL to provide opportunities for our students during the week of the Celebration Bowl for the fourth consecutive year,” said Dr. Dennis E. Thomas, Commissioner of the MEAC. “Having the opportunity to network and dialogue with NFL front office, human resource, and team personnel in an intimate setting is an invaluable experience which should benefit our students in their future employment opportunities.”
“The Southwestern Athletic Conference is once again excited to partner with the National Football League (NFL) and the Careers in Football Forum,” said SWAC Commissioner Dr. Charles McClelland. “These types of opportunities for professional development have provided students within the Southwestern Athletic Conference high-level experience that has catapulted many of them to productive careers at the collegiate and professional levels. We look forward to partnering with the NFL for another successful forum and we know that our students look forward to this event each and every year.”
Since 2016, the annual forum has introduced more than 270 students and entry-level athletic department administrators to career opportunities in pro football.
It was an honor to represent Florida A&M University at the 2018 @NFL Careers in Football Forum, as well as having the opportunity to work the Celebration Bowl with ESPN. The insight I gained on working in NFL organizations, and the connections I made at the forum were priceless. pic.twitter.com/b1JeOrSv6D
— Tarique Akbar (@tariquea27) December 18, 2018
This year’s forum will include panel discussions, a group case study competition, and networking opportunities with representatives from the Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, Oakland Raiders, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
This diversity-driven event is one of the NFL’s multiple forums designed specifically to encourage women and minorities to pursue NFL job opportunities, while offering some direction in the process.
#Vikings COO @KevinFWarren and Director of Football Administration Anne Doepner were among the speakers at last week's @NFL Women's Careers in Football Forum in Orlando. pic.twitter.com/bqUjOB140C
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) January 31, 2018
“Each year, the NFL Careers in Football Forum brings together talented, bright minds to learn and explore the potential for opportunities in professional football,” said Natara Holloway, Vice President of Football Strategy and Business Development. “This program is one of the most important ways we engage with the HBCU community and helps to grow a more diverse and inclusive workforce across the league.”
