The Black College Football Hall of Fame in collaboration with the National Football League (NFL) hosted their second annual Ozzie Newsome General Manager Forum, and their fifth annual Quarterback Coaching Summit, June 21-23.
Front office personnel and coaches from the NFL took part in the programs both at the NFL Los Angeles office and virtually, to experience professional development and networking opportunities with NFL club executives.
“The Ozzie Newsome General Manager Forum and Quarterback Coaching Summit are part of our ongoing efforts to establish a cultural norm of opportunity for all, and a steadfast commitment to developing a diverse and inclusive workforce,” said Troy Vincent Sr., NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations.
Vincent said participants were “… exposed to the experienced coach and seasoned football personnel,” and added they had the opportunity to gain insight from leaders in the football community.
According to the NFL, participants were expected to gain insights and knowledge directly from quarterback coaches, offensive coordinators, head coaches and general managers.
The programming provides a platform to help prepare, educate, and identify quality minority candidates across the league.
The forum and summit also featured a variety of sessions, including how to build a coaching staff, position coach roles, analytics and how to prepare for interview sessions. There were also sessions hosted by club ownership, including priorities and the process of selecting a head coach and general manager.
On developing the collaboration, Black College Football Hall of Fame Co-Founder Doug Williams said, “We want to continue to create opportunities for some of the best and brightest football minds around the country to display their knowledge to NFL club leadership and media.” Williams elaborated, “There are many quality diverse coaching candidates and front office executives that deserve to be considered for open positions in the league.”
All feature sessions and panels were led by NFL owners and front office personnel throughout the June event.
Joseph Phillips is the Sports Editor for the Chicago Crusader Newspaper. He is a Chicago native, who has been a sports writer for over 17 years. He also hosts the SC Media News and Sports Network Q&A radio show on WHPK 88.5 FM Chicago.
