Thirty-two current and former NFL players -- including Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Dwan Edwards, Indianapolis Colts tight end Coby Fleener and Cleveland Browns wide receiver Brian Hartline -– will take part in the NFL Business Management & Entrepreneurial Program (BM&E) April 6-9 at the San Francisco campus of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
This is one of several training programs that NFL Player Engagement offers to current and former players as part of its NFL NEXT platform.
Participants will hear from Wharton faculty and Silicon Valley entrepreneurs. The program will kick off with presentations from four NFL veterans who applied learnings from past BM&E programs including former NFL player and CEO and founder of Integrate Jeremy Bloom, as well as Pro Football Hall of Fame member Ronnie Lott, and Ryan Nece. Participants will also make site visits to Facebook, Google, and Luxe to supplement the learning experience.
The program, developed jointly by NFL Player Engagement and the Aresty Institute of Executive Education at Wharton, will cover topics including financing, operations, and business plan development. Throughout the four days, participants will work in groups to develop and deliver a business plan for the Business Pitch Competition that closes out the program.
"We will continue to stand by our players to make sure they are prepared for career opportunities long after their playing days are over," said Charles Way, Vice President of NFL Player Engagement. "This program is invaluable in providing the mentorship and business advice that will help players build their confidence, ultimately helping them succeed in the corporate world."
"Wharton values the partnership we have with the NFL in providing this BM&E program," said Sanya Sharma, Director of the NFL Programs at the Aresty Institute of Executive Education at Wharton. "The focus of this program is to provide players with the business acumen to be able to transition to a career in the tech industry, whether as an investor or an entrepreneur. Our Wharton San Francisco campus is well situated to provide this focus as well as to leverage our Wharton alumni and industry contacts in the area to provide practical application to our Wharton Faculty content."
Indianapolis Colts tight end Dwayne Allen and Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Josh Martin will provide updates throughout the program on the NFL Player Engagement.
Following is a list of participating players:
-- NFL Communications
