WASHINGTON—Redskins running backs Ryan Torain and Darrel Young visited the NFL Players Association’s office this week, touring their union’s headquarters and learning more about what the NFLPA does for its players.
At a meeting with NFL PLAYERS, Inc., the licensing and marketing subsidiary of the NFLPA, Torain and Young exchanged interests with executives and listened to upcoming business and sponsorship opportunities. “We work with players on business opportunities, corporate sponsorship agreements and getting players involved in their specific interests,” said Gina Scott, Assistant Vice President of Player Services for NFL PLAYERS.
The pair of Redskins then visited with George Atallah, the NFLPA’s Assistant Executive Director of External Affairs, to learn about his role at the organization. “I oversee media relations, external affairs, social media, organizational partnerships, media and branding,” Atallah said. “We try to generate revenue through partnerships, publicity and networking. We try to turn our approximately 1,900 players into marketing power.”
He went on to discuss the value social media can have in developing a player’s individual brand to prepare for life after football. “The NFLPA has built relationships with Fortune 500 companies so we can match players to the right connections to help them with the beginning of their second career,” Atallah told the players. “It’s the real world, and you will be evaluated on your performance, but we can get your foot in the door.”
Torain and Young, a halfback and fullback, respectively, also met with representatives from every other NFLPA department, including Benefits, Former Player Services, Legal, Executive, Security and Operations, Information Systems and Salary Cap & Agent Administration before calling it a day.
After being encouraged by union executives to extend an invitation for their teammates to visit their union’s headquarters, Torain and Young were left with some wise words from Dexter Santos, Vice President of Player Services for NFL PLAYERS. “Take us up on what we talk about today; it’s your right,” he told them. “Only a small percentage of guys ever come to see what we do on their behalf. We have support services and can help players evaluate options. At the end of the day, we represent the players, and it is truly a pleasure.”
