NFL All-Stars AHMAN GREEN of the Green Bay Packers, DREW BREES of the San Diego Chargers, and BRIAN DAWKINS of the Philadelphia Eagles are among the 66 NFL players who have enrolled in executive education programs at Harvard Business School and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. The National Football League and NFL Players Association worked with the business schools to create the curriculums.
The programs that run from April 6-8 are part of an ongoing NFL- NFLPA initiative to assist players in preparing for their post-playing careers. Tuition will be covered by the NFL's Tuition Reimbursement Program. Veteran players may be reimbursed up to $15,000 per league year for education expenses at an accredited institution of higher learning.
In addition to Green, Brees, and Dawkins, all of whom will be participating in the workshop at the Wharton School, Philadelphia Eagles linebacker DHANI JONES and wide receiver FREDDIE MITCHELL, and Kansas City Chiefs fullback TONY RICHARDSON are among the players enrolled in the Harvard Business School workshop.
Three members of the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots will also take part. Defensive back JE'ROD CHERRY and linebacker TED JOHNSON will participate in the workshop at Harvard Business School. Tight end CHRISTIAN FAURIA is enrolled in the Wharton School program.
As part of its custom executive education activities, Harvard Business School has developed a customized workshop targeted to the needs of NFL players interested in owning, operating or building their own businesses. The Wharton Sports Business Initiative and Wharton Executive Education have collaborated to develop a combination classroom and field-based workshop. It focuses on personal investments as well as entrepreneurial opportunities for players transitioning from their football careers. Both three-day programs run from April 6-8. The Harvard program concludes with an additional three-day session in May. The Wharton program offers follow-up with a year-long support program.
"This is one of many important steps that the union is taking to assist NFL players in their lives off the playing field," said Buffalo Bills cornerback TROY VINCENT, who is president of the NFL Players Association and will be participating in the program at the Wharton School.
"I know first hand how challenging it is to begin that second career. We are delighted that we are able to provide this additional assistance to players," added NFL Vice President of Player and Employee Development MIKE HAYNES, a Pro Football Hall of Famer who took executive education classes during his playing career.
Following are the NFL players enrolled in the workshop at the Harvard Business School (most recent team listed in parenthesis if player is a free agent):
DB Jason Bell, Houston
DB Jack Brewer, NY Giants
T Ray Brown, Washington
G Ruben Brown, Chicago
DB Je'Rod Cherry, (New England)
QB Todd Collins, Kansas City
RB Greg Comella, (Tampa Bay)
LB Sam Cowart, Minnesota
DE Jerry DeLoach, Houston
WR Damon Dunn, Retired (JAX, CLE, DAL, NYJ)
DE Demetric Evans, Washington
TE Kendall Gammon, Kansas City
DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, Green Bay
LB Barrett Green, NY Giants
C Justin Hartwig, Tennessee
C Kevin Houser, New Orleans
LB Ted Johnson, New England
DE Lance Johnstone, Minnesota
LB Dhani Jones, Philadelphia
TE Dustin Lyman, Chicago
LB Mike Maslowski, Kansas City
WR Freddie Mitchell, Philadelphia
LB Ryan Nece, Tampa Bay
P Kyle Richardson, Denver
RB Tony Richardson, Kansas City
DB Dainon Sidney, Detroit
DB Jason Simmons, Houston
DB Pat Terrell, Retired (CAR, GB, NYJ, STL)
LB Kailee Wong, Houston
DE Renaldo Wynn, Washington
Following are the NFL players enrolled in the workshop at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (most recent team listed in parenthesis if player is a free agent):
T Willie Anderson, Cincinnati
LB Micheal Barrow, Washington
QB Drew Brees, San Diego
K Doug Brien, NY Jets
TE Mark Bruener, Houston
T Javiar Collins, Cleveland
RB Casey Cramer, Carolina
DB Brian Dawkins, Philadelphia
TE Darnell Dinkins, Baltimore
TE Christian Fauria, New England
DE Akbar Gbaja-Biamila, Oakland
RB Ahman Green, Green Bay
DB Robert Griffith, Arizona
DB William Hampton, Carolina
TE Ben Hartsock, Indianapolis
DB Terrence Holt, Detroit
RB Terry Jackson, San Francisco
T Matt Joyce, Detroit
DE N.D. Kalu, Philadelphia
QB Danny Kanell, Denver
LB Jason Kyle, Carolina
DT Steve Martin, Minnesota
DT Alvin McKinley, Cleveland
G Brandon Moore, NY Jets
LB Jim Nelson, (Indianapolis)
LB Hardy Nickerson, Retired (PIT, TB, JAX, GB)
DB Brian Russell, (Minnesota)
RB Rod Smart, Carolina
LB Takeo Spikes, Buffalo
TE Brad St. Louis, Cincinnati
DB Bobby Taylor, Seattle
LB David Thornton, (Indianapolis)
DB Troy Vincent, Buffalo
DB Dewayne Washington, (Jacksonville)
TE Roland Williams, St. Louis
DB Jimmy Wyrick, (Miami)
