More than 50 students from Historically Black Colleges and
Universities (HBCUs) have been invited to attend the seventh annual 2022 NFL HBCU Careers in Football
Forum. The annual forum, held in Atlanta, Georgia this year, will take place on December 16th.

Since 2016, the Forum has introduced over 300 students and entry-level athletic department
administrators to career opportunities in professional football. Each year, the Forum invites participants
to hear from sports industry professionals and creates networking opportunities for students to learn
more about their desired career paths. This year, attendees will represent 46 institutions.

“The Careers in Football Forum has served as an incredible platform to give diverse candidates an entry
into the NFL and explore careers in the sports industry. We are truly thankful to continue to build
meaningful connections with HBCU students from across the country,” said NFL Senior Vice President of
Football Operations, Arthur McAfee. “The Forum is one of several initiatives that deepen our long-standing relationships with these historical institutions and introduces us to HBCU leaders who will
continue to advocate for forward progress for our league.”

The event will open with a panel discussion entitled Business Operations Inside the League Office
featuring President and CEO of the Atlanta Falcons, Rich McKay President of the Baltimore Ravens,
Sashi Brown, President of the Denver Broncos, Damani Leech. The panel will share insights on their
roles and responsibilities leading the NFL’s business operations at the club level featuring ESPN Reporter
and Analyst, Leticia Harris as moderator. Other discussions will feature representatives from the NCAA
and ESPN, who will cover careers in college athletics and event administration.

New this year, attendees will engage with NFL league medical staff including the NFL Vice President of
Wellness and Clinical Services, Dr. Nyaka NiiLampti, Mount Sinai (OHBM), Dr. Reginald Miller, and NFL
Physicians Society, Amy Weiss. This panel serves as an extension of the NFL’s inaugural Diversity in
Sports Medicine Pipeline Initiative aims to increase the pipeline of HBCU students interested in
pursuing careers in sports medicine and help diversify NFL club medical staff. The forum will conclude
with breakout sessions where attendees can engage with NFL HR representatives, club personnel and
NFL Legends in a smaller, open forum setting. In these sessions, participants will receive advice from
personnel on the ins and outs of their fields and guidance on career mobility.

Since the program’s inception, 14 students from the Forum have gone on to secure internships or full-time opportunities with the NFL, NFL clubs, colleges and universities, and other sports entities.
“The HBCU Careers in Football Forum provides participants access to professional skills and connections
to sports professionals across multiple facets,” said Monét Bowen, NFL Rotational Program participant.
“As an HBCU graduate (Howard University), NFL Experienceship Alumni, and current Rotational Program
Participant, I know first-hand how important opportunities such as the Careers in Football Forum are to
students’ success as they navigate the transition from college into their post-graduate endeavors. I’ve
been able to explore various career interests by receiving hands-on experience (within the business of
football) and establish meaningful connections, all thanks to the League’s commitment to advancing the
development of HBCU students through the Forum.”

The Careers in Football Forum is one component of the league’s larger initiative to increase
career development opportunities for students and athletic administrators from HBCUs. Similar
to the Careers in Football Forum, the Jacksonville Jaguars and Baltimore Ravens host the HBCU
Careers in Sports Combine, an annual event that gives attendees from over 20 HBCUs combined
an opportunity to interview the club’s human resource representatives and participating
partners. Additionally, this year, the Washington Commanders hosted the HBCU Sales
Symposium, an invite-only event at FedEx Field exclusively for seniors at HBCUs to learn about
sales and revenue generation for an NFL franchise, while the Atlanta Falcons announced a five-year sponsorship agreement with Wells Fargo to develop a Fellowship Program aimed at
creating relationships with local HBCUs and career opportunities for their graduates.

“Each year the NFL creates a unique opportunity for our HBCU students to be exposed to invaluable
information, people, and resources that can help them navigate their post-academic studies and pivot
into the workforce and a career in sports,” said the HBCU Conference Commissioners. “Our continued
partnership with the NFL along with their programming has led to thousands of our students
participating over the years. These type of experiences like the Careers in Football Forum is beneficial to
our HBCU students’ growth and development. We thank the NFL’s concerted effort to amplify diversity,
equity, and inclusion on a national level.”

During the 2020 season, the league established an online talent community to serve as a source of
diverse talent for current and future career opportunities accessible by the league office and NFL clubs.
Through the platform, HBCU students can submit an expression of interest that outlines their
professional experience, career goals, and specific interest in working in professional football. Individuals
can also interact with an NFL Talent Specialist to learn about league news, careers, networking
opportunities, and recruitment events after the Forum