4 Reasons to Start Your Career with an NFL Team Job

Why Start Your Career with an NFL Team Job?

When most of us think about getting a job in the National Football League, our mind gravitates towards either being a player, coach, or maybe a referee. Because we see football as a sport more than a business, we forget just how much of a production it is for an NFL team to run its daily operations.

That’s why each franchise employs thousands of individuals who might have very little to do with the actual results of the game. Yet, these individuals are arguably no less important to the league or one of its 32 franchises than the players themselves.

So, why start your career with an NFL team job? Here are four reasons you could do very well by starting your career in the National Football League.

1. Build A Career Right Out of College

The “football lifer” idea isn’t limited to players or coaches. Many who land an NFL team job start with entry-level positions, such as assisting with ticket sales or team operations. 

These roles can lead to careers beyond coaching, especially through programs like the NFL Junior Rotational Program, which provides first-hand experience in a variety of sports media jobs and sports marketing jobs. 

Participants gain exposure to different aspects of the sports team’s operations, from managing sporting events to communication skills needed for ticket sales and more. This program is ideal for recent graduates or upperclassmen interested in sports marketing and media careers. These NFL team job opportunities include:

• Communications/public affairs 
• Event management 
• Finance and business operations
• Marketing and sales 
• International relations
• Media and broadcasting
• Football operations (including player personnel and/or officiating)

For someone with aspirations of landing an NFL job but lacking professional experience, this is a fantastic program to take advantage of.

2. Get an NFL Job Working in Media

So many sports fans grow up watching their favorite sports anchors narrating NFL highlights, conducting interviews with NFL players, and providing opinions and analysis of what’s taken place on the field. Some of us aspire to be sports anchors. The problem is, getting even an entry-level job at major media outlets, especially at organizations like ESPN and CBS, is a challenge.

But what if there’s a way to get your foot in the door of the sports industry through a different avenue? Consider starting your career with an NFL team job to build your base of media experience

NFL teams have their own dedicated media staff that provides team-centric media coverage and commentary. The people on this staff have responsibilities like working as anchors on team-produced television shows, interviewing team players, and creating content for the team’s website or other multimedia outlets.

Like with any other job, the best way to distinguish yourself from the rest of the individuals vying for a small number of jobs is to show tangible experience of being able to perform the job at hand successfully. Landing an NFL team job is an excellent way to demonstrate this experience, especially if you aspire to become an NFL or sports media professional one day.

3. Gain Valuable Marketing Experience

NFL teams are businesses at their core, with a strong focus on maximizing revenue and growth. Careers in sports marketing in the United States offer an exciting, fast-paced environment where professionals play a key role in promoting sporting events like the Super Bowl and developing partnerships with major and local businesses for stadium sponsorships. 

Successful sports marketing campaigns drive ticket sales and promote premium products like private suites, creating a lasting economic impact. 

Teams maintain a strong presence on social media to engage fans and foster brand loyalty. A deep understanding of the various types of sports and their fanbases is crucial for those looking to succeed in this field. 

With a degree in marketing, jobs in the sports industry provide ample opportunities to shape the economic success of sports teams while working in real-time, dynamic marketing strategies.

4. Experience Game Day in Person

While you may not be able to enjoy the game day’s full experience like the ticket-holding fans, one of the perks of beginning your career with an NFL team job is that you might be able to attend the game for free.

Just like the other ancillary jobs within an NFL team focused around the other six days of the week, there are many NFL team jobs available pertaining to game day operations.
For instance, who collects tickets and ensures fans are sitting in the correct seats? Being a game day usher allows you to witness the game in person while being paid simultaneously.

On a more technical side, somebody must manage the game clock, which is one of the most vital aspects of an NFL game. There’s an entire team of dedicated staff that oversees clock management.

Further, did you know there is staff who verify the integrity of the game balls? In January 2015 there was an incident involving PSI measurement with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, infamously referred to as Deflategate. For better or for worse, this national scandal sheds light on the fact there are many NFL jobs behind the scenes.

Ready to Start Your Career with an NFL Team Job?

These four reasons to get a job in the NFL are just the tip of the iceberg for those who want to kick off their career with an NFL team.

Remember, many successful NFL professionals started their career with an entry-level job, later becoming successful in other areas with the team. In many cases, the key to a successful career in the NFL is to take a team job in any capacity, demonstrate your value, and work your way up.