According to the NFL Players Association the average length of an NFL career is 3.5 seasons.
In the lead up to, and within those 3.5 half seasons, players cripple and destroy their bodies and brains— sustaining concussions, tearing ligaments, and, in a few extreme cases actually paralyze themselves. That is the nature and reality of the NFL.
Compared with the other 3 major sports, the NFL is often listed as the one that is run most like a business. While the parity of competition and owners group is applauded by business consultants everywhere, it comes at a price: Its players association is notoriously weak— especially when it comes to fighting the NFL party line on the long term devastation of multiple concussions.
Put simply, NFL fans wonder what happens to players on teams after they are done with football. In an extreme sense: You have 3.5 years to make a majority of the money that you will have for your entire life. That is pressure. Supposedly, this is where the Player Development Program steps in.
The Player Development Program aims to:
“To challenge National Football League players to be lifelong learners while pursuing continuous improvement in family relations, social interactions, personal growth and career development during and beyond their careers as NFL players”
To draw awareness to this program, and counteract its image as a business heavy league that doesn’t care about its players, the NFL Player Development program has taken to Twitter.
Their flagship program? A broadcast bootcamp! Why not feature the business management and entrepreneurial program on your Twitter background? Why not have Ocho Cinco teach a social media seminar? Ha.
Will this new found social media presence magically rebrand the NFL as both a business success story and a organization that cares about everyformer player, not just the ones we remember? We will find out.
