Career Experiences
Experience the workplace outside of the NFL to enhance your future career potential.
Participate in Career Experiences (formerly known as Externship) to explore industries such as TV broadcasting, business, technology, nonprofits, media, collegiate athletics and more! Experiences consist of networking, job shadowing, project work and an overall introduction to the work the organization does and what it takes to be successful in that respective industry.
The 2023 NFLPA Career Experiences Program is now closed.
Please check back later this year to apply for opportunities in 2024.
Career Experience Opportunities from 2023
PARTNER: AthLife
INDUSTRY: Athlete Development
LOCATION: Virtual
DATES: Flexible
At AthLife, we educate, develop, and empower athletes so they can meet and exceed their career, academic and professional development goals once they transition beyond their successes on the courts or the fields. With this experience, you'll learn how we guide clients through a process that builds skills and confidence, thus enabling them to assume control over their ongoing professional development. Established in 2004, AthLife, Inc is a privately owned company that holds service contracts with many sports and entertainment properties including the NBA & G League, NFLPA, The Trust (powered by the NFLPA), Major League Soccer, Major League Soccer Players Association, National Basketball Retired Players Association, Marvel Entertainment, and college and university athletic departments.
PARTNER: Brandgenuity & Licensing International
INDUSTRY: Business, Licensing
LOCATION: Combination of Virtual & In-Person (Las Vegas, NV)
DATES: June 12 - June 17, 2023
When a brand owner extends its brand into products and services by partnering with a third party – is big business! Whether it’s sports and player licensing, entertainment licensing or brand licensing, the industry continues to grow around the world. This internship is a one-of-a-kind experience, combining in-person attendance at the industry’s largest trade show, Licensing Expo, in Las Vegas with virtual prep and follow-up before and after the show.
PARTNER: Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center
INDUSTRY: Fitness, Training
LOCATION: East Chula Vista, CA
The Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center rests on a 155-acre complex adjacent to Lower Otay Reservoir. The Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center has sport venues and support facilities for more than a dozen summer Olympic and Paralympic sports, and cross-training abilities for various winter sports. The CVEATC offers support to athletes including housing, dining, training facilities, local transportation, recreational facilities, athlete services, and professional development programs. Typically, elite athletes are selected to train here by their respective sport federation or National Governing Body.
PARTNER: E&J Gallo Winery
INDUSTRY: Sales, Management
LOCATION: Flexible
DATES: Flexible
E&J Gallo Winery is a family company that will remain the global wine industry leader and continues to win new friends for wine. We will drive sustainable growth across all beverage alcohol occasions with both our wine and spirit brands. We are the #1 Winery in the United States and a top 5 spirit distributor in the United States. We proudly serve enjoyment in moments that matter.
PARTNER: Events DC
INDUSTRY: Event Management, Government Relations, Marketing & Communications
Set the stage for success with Events DC. The official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia can provide you with the skills and experience needed for the conventions & meetings, sports & entertainment, and special events industries. We're looking for an excellent communicator with a creative personality!
PARTNER: Fanatics
INDUSTRY: Business Management, Marketing, Product Development
LOCATION: Jacksonville, FL (In-Person)
DATES: This experience is closed for 2023
A Fanatics experience is the perfect combination of sports and business. At this top-50 internet retailer company with over 300 online and offline stores, you’ll get the full scope of the company. This includes marketing, technology, business development, manufacturing/fulfillment and in-venue stadium operations. Give input on the fan jerseys with your name on the back!
PARTNER: Financial Finesse
INDUSTRY: Financial Services, Financial Coaching & Education, Holistic Wellness
LOCATION: Los Angeles, CA & Virtual
DATES: March 20-March 31, 2023
Location: Los Angeles, CA & VirtualDates: March 20-March 31, 2023
Are you interested in a future career in the financial industry or want to learn how to improve your own financial IQ? As the official Financial Wellness partner of the NFLPA, Financial Finesse provides current and former NFL players with guidance to help them reach their financial goals.
Opportunities for NFL players are out there, but only the prepared will be able to take advantage. During this three-week experience, you will work alongside our Certified Financial Planners to help you build your own financial plan, learn how to grow your wealth and understand what it takes to have your own career as a financial professional after football.
PARTNER: Forbes Tate Partners
INDUSTRY: Legislation, Policy, Public Affairs
LOCATION: Combination of Virtual & In-Person (Washington, DC)
DATES: Flexible
Forbes Tate Partners is a government and public affairs consulting firm that provides bipartisan government and public affairs services. This experience introduces players to lobbying, public relations, grassroots advocacy, and full-scale campaign development. Be prepared to develop your analytical skills, written/oral communication, and creativity!
PARTNER: FOX SPORTS
INDUSTRY: TV Broadcasting, Production, Media
LOCATION: Los Angeles, CA; In-Person
DATES: This experience is closed for 2023
Want to know what it’s like to work in sports production? The FOX SPORTS Experience allows you the opportunity to shadow production executives and learn how shows like, Skip and Shannon: Undisputed, Inside The Big East, The Herd with Colin Cowherd and Speak For Yourself with Whitlock and Wiley are produced and broadcasted for television and digital platforms. Participants will be a part of a rotational program where each week they will work with a different department and observe how the group creates and develops content that is produced for TV and digital platforms. This experience will provide a visual into how shows are created and possibly establish a foundation for future producers and/or executives.
PARTNER: Georgia Tech Athletic Department
INDUSTRY: Athletic Administration, Student-Athlete Development, Program Management
LOCATION: Atlanta, GA
Georgia Tech Athletics is a Division I institution and member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) with 17 varsity sports that compete at the highest level of NCAA competition. Job experience within GT Athletics would offer exposure to the internal and external operations, including marketing, game day operations, recruiting, student-athlete development, sponsorship and licensing, and working with various units and facilities.
PARTNER: International Justice Mission (IJM)
INDUSTRY: Non-Profit Management, Anti-Trafficking, International Development
LOCATION: Virtual
DATES: Flexible
Join the legacy of IJM’s “Team Freedom,” pro-athlete families who are working alongside global human rights experts, lawyers and other professionals at International Justice Mission (IJM). Not only will you impact the work to rescue and restore survivors of trafficking and violence, but you’ll also encounter an experience tailored to your professional interests and goals. Step into one of the various roles partnering with U.S. and international governments, non-profits, corporations and other partners, all while receiving 1:1 career mentoring.
PARTNER: NASA Tech Transfer Workshop
INDUSTRY: Engineering, Tech, Research
LOCATION: Merritt Island, FL
DATES: This experience is closed for 2023.
This virtual experience introduces you to NASA’s state-of-the-art technologies and how you can use them to start a business. You’ll learn how NASA technologies can turn into commercial products through technology transfer. You’ll connect with scientists, technology managers, and business professionals who will share their knowledge in their respective fields of expertise. After course graduation, you’ll be invited to visit a NASA center to see NASA labs firsthand and connect with NASA’s network of experts. If you’re interested in pursuing a career as an entrepreneur in the tech industry, this experience is for you!
PARTNER: NASA Kennedy Space Flight Center
INDUSTRY: Engineering, Tech, Research
LOCATION: Merritt Island, FL
Florida, we are Go for launch! Kennedy Space Flight Center is America’s hub for Government and Commercial space launch activity. With launch providers spanning from NASA to SpaceX, to Boeing, to Blue Origin, to United Launch Alliance to Northrop Grumman, Florida’s Space Coast is busting with rocket launches to low-earth orbit and beyond! This experience will allow you the opportunity to have up-close exposure to rocket science, technology development, innovation, commercial partnership and science and research. Our goal is to provide tools that will foster the spirit of networking, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
PARTNER: Next Play Capital
INDUSTRY: Venture Capital
DATES: This experience is closed for 2023
LOCATION: Virtual
Next Play Capital is an investment platform structured to provide specialized investors access to venture capital through integrated exposure to venture funds, direct investments, and joint venture partnerships. In addition to our investors, venture partners, and portfolio companies, our platform is also deeply rooted in current and former professional athletes, Olympians, influencers, and other thought leaders. We strive to connect all aspects of our community in all that we do to ultimately outsize returns for our investors and cross-pollinate the various aspects of our platform for the betterment of each individual or organization.
With two co-founders and two current partners being former NFL veterans, Next Play Capital is committed to helping develop current and former football players’ knowledge of and interest in venture capital. With this experience, you will have the opportunity to not only learn the various aspects of our firm and industry, but you will also have the opportunity to help shape the future of other athletes’ experiences and educational opportunities.
PARTNER: NFL Players Inc.
INDUSTRY: Business Development, Marketing, Licensing
DATES: This experience is closed for 2023
NFL Players Inc., the licensing and marketing arm of the NFLPA, connects businesses to the power of NFL players. NFL Players Inc. creates customized business solutions for partners, through licensing, marketing strategy and player activations. You will see how we work tirelessly to make you and your teammates as recognizable and appealing to your fan bases off the field as you are on it. You’ll gain experience within each of the following teams – Business & Legal Affairs, Marketing, Licensing, Partner Services, and Player Services.
PARTNER: On The Mark
INDUSTRY: Grooming, Barber
LOCATION: Seattle, WA
DATES: This experience is closed for 2023
On The Mark is a grooming experience for men, established in 2004, created to be a conduit within the communities they operate in. Apply for this experience to learn from Mark, the premiere barber for all four men's professional sports teams in Seattle, and his elite team. Study the skills it takes to become a successful barber and build a brand with clear values and vision.
PARTNER: The Players' Tribune
INDUSTRY: New Media, Journalism, Marketing
LOCATION: Virtual
DATE: This experience is closed for 2023
Have something to say? Say it with an experience at The Players’ Tribune, where you’ll gain insight into the world of sports media through a unique lens. Help other players craft their message, while working one-on-one with writers/editors, video and photo teams as well as marketing and branding departments.
PARTNER: The Draft Network
INDUSTRY: Media, Podcasts, Scouting
LOCATION: Virtual
DATES: Flexible
The Draft Network (TDN) is the most dynamic, progressive collection of football analysts and scouts ever assembled. Designed as the first company to ever provide extensive, year-round coverage of the NFL Draft, TDN hones into the diehard fan bases of the NFL and College Football to provide analysis through an NFL Draft and roster-building lens. TDN operates as Front Office 33. The Draft Network offers two different opportunities one in scouting and one in media training.
PARTNER: University of Virginia Athletic Department
INDUSTRY: Athletic Administration, Student-Athlete Development, Program Management
LOCATION: Charlottesville, VA
DATES: Flexible
Get hands-on experience with the day-to-day operations of an Atlantic Coast Conference athletic department at the University of Virginia. Experience several different aspects of the department including game operations, facilities management, student-athlete development, fundraising, marketing, finance, business operations and compliance. If you have excellent written and oral communication skills, creativity and positive energy, UVA could be the place for you.
PARTNER: Zebra Technologies
INDUSTRY: Tech
LOCATION: Lincolnshire, IL
DATES: This experience is closed for 2023
Zebra empowers organizations to thrive in the on-demand economy by making every front-line worker and asset at the edge visible, connected and fully optimized. With an ecosystem of more than 10,000 partners across more than 100 countries, Zebra serves customers of all sizes – including 86% of the Fortune 500 – with an award-winning portfolio of hardware, software, services and solutions that digitize and automate workflows. Supply chains are more dynamic, customers and patients are better served, and workers are more engaged when they utilize Zebra innovations that help them sense, analyze and act in real-time.
Interested in hosting a Career Experience for players and becoming a Career Development Partner? Check out our Partner Page for more information.
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A Look Back
TWEET TWEET! THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THEIR CAREER EXPERIENCES!
