Internships
Thank you for your patience as the NFLPA has determined the recruiting schedule for its internship program for the remainder of 2022.
We will not be recruiting for Summer 2022. We do not anticipate summer internship opportunities in any of our departments and the NFLPA does not provide volunteer opportunities. Our summer program will resume in summer 2023.
With continued improvement in the pandemic situation, we expect that the NFLPA will resume its normal recruiting schedule when we seek interns for the Fall 2022 nine-month class. That recruiting period will occur in the spring (April/May 2022).
Please refer to our FAQ for additional information about the program.
Goal of internship program:
- Assist colleges and universities which allow internships by providing on-the-job training to aid in career preparation.
- Provide work experience to recent graduates interested in working in the sports industry.
Requirements:
- Students must be entering their junior or senior year of study in an undergraduate program or must be enrolled in a graduate program or law school.
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required.
- Recent graduates must have completed undergraduate, graduate program or law school within one year of application.
- All internships take place in the NFLPA’s Washington, DC offices.
- All applicants must submit the following to be considered:
- A cover letter which includes all contact information (name, address, phone, and email) and the departments which interest you (up to 3)
- Resume
- Transcript (can be unofficial but should be recent)
- A list of three (3) easily contactable persons who have agreed to provide a reference for you. List should include an address, telephone number, and email
- A response to one of the two essay questions below to demonstrate your ability to write clearly and concisely. The essay should be no more than 650 words; please do not exceed the word limit. Your name and word count should appear at the top of the page on your response.
- Question 1: Professional athletes and other celebrities are often idolized by the public, especially young children. Many think this requires that they behave as role models at all times. Do you agree or disagree?
- Question 2: Business and individuals are choosing online or electronic communications rather than face-to-face interactions. Are there significant advantages or disadvantages for a business or person to limit their communications in this way
Hours, Compensation and Housing:
Interns for the NFLPA are limited to a 27.5-hour work week. The NFLPA provides an hourly stipend of $15.00 and will pay commuting costs or parking.
The NFLPA does not provide housing assistance, nor does it assist with, endorse, or recommend any of the following services or organizations. These links are provided for informational purposes only:
Departmental Functions
NFL Players Association
Events
The Events Department oversees events, both small and large, to support NFLPA objectives and promote the NFLPA brand. The Events Team focuses on enhancing the guest experience for the Players Association and its valued partners and manages events while ensuring plans align with corporate objectives. The goal of the Events Team is to enhance relationships among players, partners and staff while bringing awareness to the services of NFLPA.
Intern responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Helping in the planning of Collegiate Bowl, Pro Bowl, Rep Meeting, Combine, Draft, and Rookie Premiere.
- Researching venues and brainstorming creative ideas for events such as themes, food, beverage, space setup, etc.
- Making transportation and travel accommodations for staff, former and current players, partners and consultants who are attending events.
- Working with Communications department to create all collateral and branding for event properties.
- Assisting with planning and execution of local meetings, either in the office or DC area.
Executive
The Executive Department leads the NFL Players Association through negotiations with the National Football League and leads implementation of innovative programs geared toward enriching the lives of all members of the NFLPA, including current, former, and future players.
Intern responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Collaborating across all departments within the organization.
- Ensuring deadlines are met within a fast paced environment.
- Monitoring NFL league news, updates, and trends.
- Creating presentation decks, memos, and spreadsheets for the executive staff to use for speaking engagements, and negotiations.
- Providing research support to the Executive Director and Deputy Managing Director.
- Supporting Human Resource Department in identifying ways to improve the NFLPA operations
Former Player Services
The Former Players Department strives to build a fraternity of former NFL players and facilitate personal growth beyond football while providing an active voice for former players of all ages. In addition, providing tools, resources and opportunities to support a successful transition from the game, the department focuses on cultivating compassion, respect and dignity within its membership. The Former Players Department seeks to inspire players to feel connected to one another, their community and to the NFLPA when their football careers end and their life after football begins.
Intern responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Supporting Former Players Department staff as assigned by Assistant Director.
- Providing research support to the Assistant Director.
- Ensuring deadlines are met within a fast paced environment.
- Performing general office duties.
Intern must possess exceptional computer and project-oriented skills.
Information Systems
The Information Systems Department oversees an innovative, technologically-advanced client/server computer system that enables the NFLPA, NFL Players Inc., Ace Media, PAF and The Trust to track, report and use a myriad of complex data on a daily basis. Responsible for accomplishing all computer data processing needs and requirements on a cost-effective basis, the Information Systems Department also offers support to each department so staff can meet their diverse business objectives.
Intern responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Providing end user support via an automated help desk application for all NFLPA, Ace, PAF and Trust employees.
- Installing, managing and implementing applications and services to support the objectives of each department.
- Evaluating and recommending new technologies to enable staff to work smarter and more efficiently.
- Coordinating action plan for the distribution of new computer equipment.
- Inter-collegiate affairs with scheduling and program implementation, as needed.
Salary Cap & Agent Administration
The Salary Cap & Agent Administration Department is responsible for assisting agents and players with contract negotiations, monitoring each team’s salary cap, tracking team cash spending, and each player’s transaction in the Raider database. In addition, the department is responsible for maintaining and administering all aspects of the agent certification program.
Intern responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Assisting department with filing NFL Player Contracts, Standard Representation Agreements and addendums, agent termination letters and any and all correspondence with the NFLPA and certified agents.
- Assisting with database information management.
- Assisting department in mailings to NFLPA certified agents.
- Updating Key Club Personnel document.
- Assisting with all Salary Cap/Agent Administration related projects.
- Assisting other departments as needed and upon approval of Department Head.
NFL Players, Inc.
Formed in 1994, NFLPI is the licensing and marketing subsidiary of the NFLPA. NFLPI exists to generate revenue and marketing opportunities for the NFLPA and its members. The four business units (and associated revenue) of NFLPI are: Licensing (consumer products), Partner Services (NFL Commercial Agreement), Player Services (service fees), and Marketing & Events (event sponsorships).
Consumer Products and Strategy (Licensing)
The Consumer Products and Strategy Department is divided into three main categories: Apparel, Non-Apparel, and Digital. NFL PLAYERS, Inc. is passionate about working with innovative partners in each of these categories to create and market unique products that utilize group licensing rights. The Licensing Department knows NFL players better than anyone and work closely with all NFLPA licensees to help them maximize their usage of group player rights.
Intern responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Participating in interdepartmental and licensee meetings, as well as conference calls to gain an understanding of partner business models and activations.
- Working across all departments to meet licensee’s objectives, including industry research projects.
- Coordinating Player engagements with the Player Services Department.
- Assisting with coordinating licensees at NFLPA events such as Rookie Premier, Collegiate Bowl, etc.
- Engaging in trade media review for Multimedia, Apparel, and Hard Goods to identify trends and possible licensee opportunities.
Marketing and Business Development
The Marketing Department oversees the marketing strategies and plans across multiple platforms including advertising, events and digital marketing to support NFLPA properties and assets. Marketing promotes the NFL Players mission, brand values and assets (the players), while enhancing relationships among players, partners and staff and bringing awareness to the services of NFLPA.
Intern responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Writing a weekly newsletter circulated internally to all the staff providing updates about the licensing & marketing departments.
- Processing invoices and managing NFLPA website content, including publishing stories, creating graphic images, and updating the licensee’s page periodically.
- Tracking sponsorship partner’s social media platforms and helping amplify them across NFLPA social platforms.
- Delivering presentations to Development team outlining ways to improve existing advertising.
Partner Services
The Partner Services Department is dedicated to servicing companies with official sponsorships. We work closely with all of our partners to help them maximize their usage of group player rights. Partner Services works collaboratively on the overall planning and integration of NFL players leveraged within our partners’ annual NFL player-integrated promotional campaigns. We place emphasis on engagement and alignment with sponsors to offer assistance and resources to help implement their overall campaign using NFL players and our properties. In addition to delivering group player rights, Partner Services oversees all creative executions using the identities of NFL players, making the approval process easy.
Intern responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Assisting in maintaining internal audit and reconciliation of sponsor utilization of group player rights.
- Assisting in communication to various external stakeholders of NFL player exclusive partnerships.
- Working with department staff to review sponsor marketing and advertising materials featuring NFL players’ intellectual property.
- Collaborating with department staff to research new business opportunities.
- Helping implement partnership agreements, including digital distribution of agreements and necessary documents to appropriate stakeholders.
- Assisting with the development of marketing proposals and activation recap presentations.
- Helping with the coordination and fulfillment of trade, product and merchandise needs to and from partners.
- Assisting department with pre-event logistics and planning for NFLPA assets and properties.
Player Services
The Player Services Department serves as a primary resource for former and active players by helping identify opportunities and leverage their brand to increase and maximize off-field marketing opportunities.
Intern responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Assisting with all departmental functions which includes Licensing, Sponsorship's, Player Outreach, and Operations.
- Supporting management by researching information on players’ hobbies, interests, background, and unique characteristics.
- Assisting with the documentation of the Marketing Representation Notices (MRN) process, Player Corporation and W-9 filing, and our data tagging system.
- Helping managers with special projects related to the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, Super Bowl, and Rookie Premiere.
The Trust
The Trust is an endorsed brand of the NFLPA formed in 2013 to provide programs and resources to former NFL players. Through nationwide partnerships, we provide access to career, medical, financial education, nutrition, entrepreneurial, and continuing education services. We are committed to a player’s well-being and create customized game plans to meet each former player where he is in his transition from football.
Engagement & Digital Marketing Intern
The Engagement Department runs all of The Trust’s marketing and outreach efforts, making sure former players are aware of all the services available to them in their transition from professional football. The Engagement Department also oversees marketing strategies and digital services including promotions, events, and marketing to support The Trust, an endorsed brand of the NFLPA.
Intern responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Assist with keeping website up to date
- Conduct interviews with former players and draft compelling content that shares their stories in fresh and engaging ways
- Provide support to various outreach efforts for events
- Be an integral part of Wraparound visit set up and execution
- Strong communication and writing skills
- Detail-oriented and well-organized work style
- Creativity, resourcefulness, and strong problem-solving skills
- Basic knowledge of Photoshop and/or other Adobe Creative Suite applications a plus
- Understanding of how to post and manage digital content, including working knowledge of CMS systems (Wordpress, Orchard, etc.) and basic HTML skills preferred