NFL Rookie Transition Program

The NFL Rookie Transition Program communicates with credibility, clarity and consistency, and covers a wide range of topics so that incoming players understand the league’s expectations, the benefits they have earned and the local resources — along with those from the league and the club — that are available to them.

A New Approach

The new Rookie Transition Program reaches all NFL rookies — drafted and undrafted — and introduces them to all of the resources that are available to them.

The previous Rookie Symposium platform provided an introduction and orientation to the league only to rookies who had been drafted.

However, nearly 55 percent of all NFL rookies signed with their clubs as undrafted free agents. That meant that more than half of the new players were not receiving the information that they needed to successfully transition to the league.

Learn how football players have evolved since the game’s earliest days.

The new Rookie Transition Program expands the league’s onboarding program to all rookies and it gives NFL owners, general managers, coaches and directors of player engagement the opportunity to share their club’s unique culture with its newest members.

“This collaborative effort permits the league to educate players about the tools and resources available for a successful playing experience on and off the field,” said Troy Vincent, Sr., NFL executive vice president of football operations. “The Rookie Transition Program allows the clubs to orient all rookies to local resources and to club culture, history, leadership and expectations.”

There are 15 mandatory topics that are presented by the league and by the people who rookies will interact with on a daily basis. This peer-to-peer format creates a collaborative environment for clear and consistent communication.

Mandatory topics include:

• A video introduction to the NFL and league policies
• Player benefits and benefit resources, including their NFLPA player rights and resources, and the NFL programs that are available to them.
• Player expectations, including the importance of sportsmanship, respect in the workplace, media responsibilities and how to work with their club’s public relations staff.
• Social responsibility for players, which covers league policies and the ramifications of issues like driving under the influence, or committing acts of domestic violence or sexual assault.
• Maintaining strong mental health and fitness, and an introduction to the health and safety resources available to all players and their families in times of need.
• An introduction to the culture, values and history of the league and a player’s club.
• Rule changes from college to the pros.

NFL Player Engagement staff will approve the schedule for each club’s program and review the content to make sure that incoming rookies from all 32 teams are providing the same introduction to the league to the next wave of NFL players.

Succeeding at the sport’s highest level requires determination and hard work. Wearing an NFL uniform comes with great responsibility, and each player is expected to represent himself, his club and the league appropriately.