Life after football can take all sorts of different paths.
One of the most common paths is for former players to become broadcasters. That is why NFL Player Engagement created the ‘Broadcast Bootcamp’ to help former NFL players transition into that career path.
During the first week of April the 13th annual ‘Broadcast Bootcamp’ took place at the University of Bowling Green and this year it had over 30 participants. It was a group that included former Chiefs QB Matt Cassel and former Chiefs CB Brandon Flowers. It was also the most players they’ve ever had participate in the bootcamp.
“We were thrilled to host a record number of participants this year in the longest running NFL Boot Camp to date, which speaks to the popularity of broadcasting careers among players,” said NFL Senior Vice President of Player Engagement Arthur McAfee. “The high-quality training from the participating media faculty and feedback the participants receive is an integral part of the players’ unique transition into the evolving field of broadcasting. Player Engagement is honored to be part of that process.”
Each day of the bootcamp was focused on a different aspect of media. Players received advanced training in sports radio and podcasts, studio show preparation, and game analysis. There was even an advanced portion of the bootcamp specifically for players who had already completed the program.
The NFL boasts that 35 percent of participants in the bootcamp have earned broadcasting jobs as a result of their training. That means that both Cassel and Flowers have a pretty good shot at a future in the business. Flowers has already announced his retirement from the NFL, but Cassel played in 2018 and hasn’t yet officially retired from the league.
What do you think Chiefs Kingdom, could Flowers and Cassel make good broadcasters? Can you picture them in the broadcast booth or a studio show?
