The ultimate goal

The NFL Continuing Education Program is designed to assist active NFL players with degree completion in their undergraduate, graduate or professional studies. The NFL Player Development staff administers the program by collaborating with colleges and universities throughout the country to develop plans that allow players to return to school in their club cities, at their original institutions or at institutions near their offseason homes, or through long-distance learning. The ultimate objective of the program is to help players complete their degrees and assess how best to utilize their education to attain meaningful employment opportunities at the conclusion of their NFL careers.

Tuition Reimbursement Program: The Tuition Reimbursement Program is a benefit used to encourage players to continue their education and complete their degrees. Under the program, eligible players who are enrolled in accredited academic institutions and who are receiving credit toward a degree may be reimbursed up to $15,000 per year. Players must receive a "C" (2.0) or better, or "Pass" if the course is Pass/Fail.

These 17 veterans put their 2006 offseason to good use by completing their college degrees, many with help from the NFL CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM.
In 1991, the league established the NFL Player Development Department to assist players and their families in their lives off the field. The Continuing Education Program is part of the assistance plan and a major priority of NFL Vice President of Player Development and Pro Football Hall of Famer MIKE HAYNES.
“From our experience, players with college degrees make more money during their careers, play longer, and make better decisions,” says Haynes.

Players can also take part in the NFL TUITION REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM. Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the NFL Players Association, players can be reimbursed for up to $15,000 per year for education expenses at an accredited college.

Houston Texans tight end MARK BRUENER is a recent graduate. The 13-year NFL veteran, now 34, received his bachelor of arts degree in economics from the University of Washington this spring.

Mark Bruener

“I started the process 16 years ago,” says Bruener. “I’m proud to have my B.A.”

Bruener joined Minnesota Vikings linebacker JASON GLENN, another new graduate, as the co-recipient of the annual NFL-National Association of Academic Advisors Continuing Education Award for balancing their football and family lives while completing their degrees.

Bruener joins a teammate, CHARLIE ANDERSON, in earning degrees. The 25-year-old linebacker graduated from Mississippi this offseason with a bachelor’s in sociology.

“It was really important to me because all three of my brothers went to the same university,” says Anderson. “It was a real big day in my family.”

In Indianapolis, two Colts acquired envied prizes this year.

Tight end DALLAS CLARK and safety MATT GIORDANO won Super Bowl XLI rings in February, and then earned their college degrees in the spring.

Clark graduated from Iowa with a degree in elementary education and Giordano finished his degree in American studies at Cal-Berkeley.

Following are NFL veterans who earned their college degrees this past off-season:

Player	Team	College	Major
LB Charlie Anderson	Houston	Mississippi	Sociology
LB Chase Blackburn	New York Giants	Akron	Integrated Mathematics
TE Mark Bruener	Houston	Washington	Economics
G Dan Bruenning	Tampa Bay	Wisconsin	Agricultural Science
TE Dallas Clark	Indianapolis	Iowa	Elementary Education
P Dustin Colquitt	Kansas City	Tennessee	Political Science
G Frank Davis	Detroit	South Florida	Management Information Systems
S Matt Giordano	Indianapolis	Cal Berkeley	American Studies
LB Jason Glenn	Minnesota	Texas A&M	Agricultural Leadership
DE Brandon Green	Seattle	Rice	Kinesiology
RB Boomer Grigsby	Kansas City	Illinois State	Marketing
DT Javon Haye	Tampa Bay	Vanderbilt	Human and Organization Development
S Terrance Holt	Arizona	NC State	Sociology
C Ryan Kuehl	New York Giants	American University	Masters in Business Administration
S Kevin McCadam	Jacksonville	VPI	History
T Max Starks	Pittsburgh	Florida	Sociology
RB Leonard Weaver	Seattle	Carson-Newman	Business Administration

On top of these veterans, there are a large number of rookies who will entered their first NFL training camps in late July 2007 with degrees firmly in hand.

One such player is Cleveland Browns quarterback BRADY QUINN, who graduated last December from Notre Dame with a double major in finance and political science. Quinn insisted on the double major.

“I actually tried to talk him out of it,” says JOSHUA KAPLAN, Quinn’s adviser in the school’s political science department. “But from early on, it was clear that it was important for him to do it. It’s clear to me he came to Notre Dame because he wanted the real experience, and that includes the education.”

Ten 2007 drafted players and their degrees:

Player	Team	Round	Major
DE Gaines Adams, Clemson	Tampa Bay	1	Sports Management
QB John Beck, BYU	Miami	2	Communications
LB Stewart Bradley, Nebraska	Philadelphia	3	Accounting/Finance
T James Marten, Boston College	Dallas	3	Finance and Marketing
DT Amobi Okoye, Louisville	Houston	1	Psychology
LB Paul Posluszny, Penn State	Buffalo	2	Finance
QB Brady Quinn, Notre Dame	Cleveland	1	Finance and Political Science
LB Tim Shaw, Penn State	Carolina	5	Management
QB Troy Smith, Ohio State	Baltimore	5	Communications
G Kasey Studdard, Texas	Houston	6	Liberal Arts