NFL teams up with Kellogg for championship executive education program

Professional athletes suit up to tackle business challenges through innovative curriculum

It's not their standard strengthening regime, but it is intense training designed to increase power and strategy — in business.

At the Kellogg School of Management, National Football League (NFL) players were hitting the books instead of the field as they tackled what is a new challenge for them: business education.

	In foreground, talking to Professor Rogers, is Vaughn Parker (retired, Washington Redskins) and in the background is Reggie Howard (Miami Dolphins).   Photo © Nathan Mandell

The NFL and NFL Players Association (NFLPA) formed a partnership with the Kellogg School for part of the NFL's Business Management and Entrepreneurial Program. The March 5-8 session was designed to empower the professional athletes with a customized executive education program, focusing on developing and selling a brand, and evaluating franchise opportunities. Players completing the program are expected to gain a foundation to recognize sound marketing plans and develop necessary perspectives to ask key questions when assessing entrepreneurial investment opportunities.

“The Kellogg School's executive education program for the NFL has an entrepreneurship theme, but with an emphasis on marketing,” said Professor Steven Rogers, the academic director of the program and director of the Kellogg School's Levy Institute for Entrepreneurial Practice. “We want the players to learn how to market themselves and manage their own personal brands.”

Armed with engaging, heavyweight topics ranging from negotiations skills to brand management, renowned Kellogg School faculty in the program included Professors Tim Calkins, Derrick Collins, Daniel Diermeier, Ranjay Gulati, Victoria Medvec, Barry Merkin, John Ward and Greg White.

Rogers said the players' response to the program was ideal.

In addition, the players' unique perspectives afforded the group some compelling content for discussion.

“They are yearning for knowledge, they're engaged, and insatiable for more knowledge,” Rogers said. “The average age of the group is 27, which is close to the age of most of our students, yet these individuals are worldlier than the average 27-year-old because of the wealth they have acquired. Many of them already own retail companies or commercial real estate, and with their wealth, they are often approached with entrepreneurial investment opportunities. This program teaches them a foundation to evaluate those.”

Full-time Kellogg student volunteers from the Black Management Association, Private Equity and Entrepreneurship Club, and the Sports Business Club also took part in the endeavor, guiding the NFL students through group study sessions and facilitating discussions by offering additional perspectives for consideration.

NFL players attending the Kellogg School program were:

Ian Allen (Arizona), Ben Archibald (New Orleans), Jacob Bell (Tennessee), Colin Branch (Carolina), Ran Carthon (Seattle), Sam Cowart (Minnesota), Donovin Darius (Jacksonville), Ben Hartsock (Indianapolis), Justin Hartwig (Tennessee), Reggie Howard (Miami), Scott Jackson (Tampa Bay), Bradie James (Dallas), Jeno James (Miami), Kyle Johnson (Denver), Kevin Jones (Detroit), Lewis Kelly (New York Giants), Sean Mahan (Tampa Bay), Dennis Norman (Jacksonville), Vaughn Parker (Washington, retired) Tony Parrish (San Francisco), Pierson Prioleau (Washington), Al Smith (Houston, retired), Todd Steussie (Tampa Bay), Jason Taylor (Miami) and Troy Vincent (Buffalo and president of the NFLPA).

	Guest speakers:
	Professional Football Hall of Famer Gale Sayers   Photo © Rich Foreman
	Former Pro-Bowler Gary Fencik '85    Photo © Rich Foreman
	John W. Rogers, Jr., chairman and CEO of Ariel Capital Management LLC   Photo © Rich Foreman

In addition to the actual lecture and discussion elements, three guest speakers provided muscle to the program: Professional Football Hall of Famer Gale Sayers; former Pro-Bowler Gary Fencik; and John W. Rogers Jr., chairman and CEO of Ariel Capital Management LLC shared their expertise with application of brand management and franchise opportunities in the business arena.

Gale Sayers spent his career with the Chicago Bears and was the youngest player ever inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame. Today, he runs a world-class provider of technology products and services, as well as a premier minority-owned business enterprise.

Gary Fencik's visit to Kellogg was, in fact, a homecoming for the Class of 1985 alum. Currently, Fencik is head of business development for Adams Street Partners in Chicago.

Also serving as keynote speaker, John W. Rogers is chairman and chief investment officer of Ariel Capital Management LLC. The institutional money management firm is located in Chicago and was founded by Rogers in 1983.

About the NFL's Business Management and Entrepreneurial Program

The program is part of an ongoing NFL-NFLPA initiative to assist players in preparing for their post-playing careers.

Player enrollment criteria include level of education, professional business experience, interest in starting, owning or managing a business, leadership and community involvement. Under the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement, players may be reimbursed up to $15,000 this year for education expenses at an accredited institution of higher learning.

About the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University

The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University was founded in 1908 and is widely recognized as a global leader in graduate business education. The school, located just outside of Chicago , is home to a renowned, research-based faculty and MBA students from around the globe. The Kellogg School includes the Full-time, Part-time and Executive MBA programs and the non-degree Executive Education Program. The school offers three joint-degree programs: the JD-MBA, MD-MBA and MEM-MBA. Additionally, the Kellogg School of Management has alliances with business schools in Europe, Asia and Canada.

For more information contact Tara Prasad at the Kellogg School of Management Marketing and Communications offices.