NFLPA Externship
Experience the workplace outside of the NFL to enhance your future career potential.
From business and technology to nonprofits and advocacy, work somewhere that fits your specific interests. Experiences will run for 1-3 weeks and include job shadowing, project work, networking and more!
EXTERNSHIP DETAILS
- DATES: February 14 – April 1, 2022 | Dependent on Partner
- LOCATION: Dependent on Partner some opportunities may be virtual
- COST: No cost for participation
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, opportunities will again be facilitated virtually. Opportunities listed as "in-person" are still pending and subject to postponement and other potential protocols.
Have questions? Check out our FAQs.
Please note: Players eligible for the Externship in Spring 2022 must currently be on a team roster or have been under contract in 2021.
Interested in becoming a Partner? Check out our Partner Page.
2022 Externship Opportunities
PARTNER: AthLife
INDUSTRY: Athlete Development
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
DATES: Flexible
Licensing is big business! Whether it’s sports and player licensing, entertainment licensing or brand licensing, the industry is growing in the USA and globally. Two leaders in the licensing industry have teamed up to create a one-of-a kind virtual internship that combines industry knowledge and hands-on practical experience.
PARTNER: Capitol Hill (United States Congress)
INDUSTRY: Legislation, Advocacy, Policy
DATES: Flexible
Interested in working with members of Congress on important social issues? Start with an externship on Capitol Hill. With this experience you'll learn the ins and outs of politics, the legislative process, and ways you can create positive change and enhance social justice in your communities.
PARTNER: Comcast/NBCU
INDUSTRY: Media, Communications
DATES: Flexible
Comcast Corporation, one of the nation's leading providers of entertainment, information and communications products and services, is the owner of NBCUniversal, which owns and operates entertainment and news cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, local television station groups, television production operations and a major motion picture company and theme parks. Comcast NBCUniversal is seeking participants who are passionate about working on a team in problem solving situations while displaying creativity.
Externs will be offered Sales/Marketing, Technology, Broadcasting/Production, Human Resources, Retail, and Finance opportunities to further expand their career avenue ideas.
PARTNER: CSM Sports & Entertainment
INDUSTRY: Marketing, Sponsorships, Event Management
DATES: Flexible
CSM is the sport and entertainment firm of the future specializing in connecting people with brands through their passions, and brands with rights’ holders through their shared interests. We are looking for externs who embody our four core values of being Bold, Brave, Open, and Curious, and are motivated by creating end-to-end creative partnerships and actionable stories that come to life through experiences for people, brands, and leagues. We have four opportunities to choose from: Business Development, Consulting, Creative Strategy, and Property Sponsorship Sales and work across various industries including: sports, entertainment, food and beverage, technology, beauty, retail, media and more. Check out our video reel!
PARTNER: Events DC
INDUSTRY: Event Management, Government Relations, Marketing & Communications
DATES: Flexible
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: Everfi
INDUSTRY: Tech, Education
DATES: Flexible
EVERFI partners with organizations, institutions, sports leagues, and educators to revolutionize the way education is developed and delivered—using today's technology to connect learning to the real world and equip communities with the skills they need for success in the 21st century. As a result of our existing partnerships with the NFL, NHL, and MLB, EVERFI has built and rolled out national sports league campaigns reaching millions of students nationwide and seeks to continue to build partnerships with athletes and leagues to leverage the powerful platform of sports. Opportunities for this experience include product development, sales, customer success, marketing, and much more!
PARTNER: Financial Finesse
INDUSTRY: Financial Services, Financial Coaching & Education, Holistic Wellness
DATES: Flexible
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 externship, 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: International Justice Mission (IJM)
INDUSTRY: Non-Profit Management, Anti-Trafficking, International Development
DATES: 2/22 - 4/1 (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, you’ll encounter an externship tailored to your professional interests and goals. Step into one of various roles partnering with U.S. and international governments, non-profits, corporations and other partners, all while receiving 1:1 career mentoring.
PARTNER: Madrona Venture Group
INDUSTRY: Venture Capital, Tech
DATES: Flexible
Since 1995, Madrona Venture Group has helped technology entrepreneurs launch and grow world-class companies. The heart and soul of what we do is act as strategic board members and advisors on everything from helping to define business strategy, hiring the best team, to connecting entrepreneurs with the right customers and partners, to advising on key financial decisions and, ultimately, on the IPO and M&A processes. We’ve seen it all and bring decades of experience to the table. With more than 80 portfolio companies, we are involved in a wide range of businesses at various stages of growth that can provide invaluable opportunities to players interested in both leveraging and expanding their skill set, applied in a new area.
PARTNER: NASA Kennedy Space Flight Center
INDUSTRY: Engineering, Tech, Research
LOCATION: Merritt Island, FL
DATES: Flexible
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 externship 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: Flexible
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 externship, 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: Old Dominion University Athletics
INDUSTRY: Athletic Administration, Athlete Development
LOCATION: Norfolk, VA (In-Person)
DATES: Flexible
In support of the Old Dominion University mission, the Department of Athletics recruits and develops a diverse population of highly skilled student-athletes that compete at the NCAA Division I level. Our commitment is to enable student-athletes to reach their full potential academically, athletically, and as citizens. We enrich the campus experience and serve as a gateway to the University by enhancing its visibility and reputation. This opportunity will allow an individual to experience working in a high impact athletic environment and will give the extern an insight into the ins and outs of intercollegiate athletics.
PARTNER: Opendorse
INDUSTRY: Marketing, Tech, Media, Sports
DATES: Flexible
Ready to help athletes from preps to All-Pros build and maximize the value of their brands on social media? Then opendorse, the social media activation partner of NFL players, is ready for you. This is not only an opportunity to expand your skillset beyond the field, but a chance to make a real impact within a company with a vision to help every athlete. This externship will expose you to the full scope of the athlete-driven media and marketing industry, offering hands-on experience in business development and account management alongside many of the top brands, teams, and leagues in sports. Like what you hear? Apply today.
PARTNER: Peabody Furniture
INDUSTRY: Real Estate, Workplace Strategy, Office
DATES: TBD
Peabody Office is the longest standing corporate furniture dealership in New England and a 4th generation family business. With our industry-unique “Best-In-Class” model, we offer our customers real choices and tailored workspace solutions that truly align with their functional and aesthetic aspirations. As a young, dynamic and collaborative group, we seek to invigorate our community with our green initiatives, charity endeavors and educational platform.
Our extern(s) will function as a Workplace Consultant (WC) to create, enhance and sustain beneficial relationships with key decision-makers from end users, GC’s, Project Management firms, Brokers, and Architecture and Design firms. The WC will lead the coordinated actions required to move decision makers and specifiers to push Peabody Office products leading to secured product orders.
PARTNER: The Players' Tribune
INDUSTRY: New Media, Journalism, Marketing
DATES: Flexible
Have something to say? Say it with an externship 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: Rocket Companies
INDUSTRY: Financial Services/Technology (FinTech)
DATES: Flexible
Rocket Mortgage is the nation’s largest mortgage lender. Rocket Mortgage provided the first completely online mortgage experience which gives consumers the ability import and verify financial information, customize their mortgage, get approved and lock their rate without speaking to a human being. Together with nearly 100 brands across a broad range of industries, from real estate to sports, we make up the Rock Family of Companies. We believe that finding a better way is the only way. It’s our job to make our clients’ lives easier. During our externship players will learn how to translate their skills from the field to the workplace by attending a variety of workshops, shadowing one on one with team members and leaders in various business areas of their interest as well as our Family of Companies, networking with senior leaders, learning about our company culture, and so much more!
PARTNER: The Draft Network
INDUSTRY: Media, Podcasts, Scouting
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: United Way
INDUSTRY: Community Engagement, Non-Profit & Program Management
DATES: Flexible
There’s no shortage of giving and community engagement with NFL players. An externship with United Way can help you not only learn how to affect change on a larger scale but also help brainstorm ideas for how United Way can continue to engage nearly 1,800 communities across more than 40 countries and territories worldwide. If you want to give back and volunteer as you gain hands-on experience with a mission-focused non-profit, an externship with United Way can be a great place to start. You may also be able to split the time between United Way Worldwide and your local United Way to ensure you’re building relationships at all levels.
Have questions? Check out our FAQs.
Please note: Players eligible for the 2022 Externship must currently be on a team roster or have been under contract in 2021.
Interested in becoming a Partner? Check out our Partner Page.