The NFL is a multibillion-dollar industry, and NFL careers are highly sought after. While the top positions, like head coach or quarterback, aren't for everyone, the job of a football operations manager may be for you. NFL football operations managers are the team's backbone and carry their players to victory by making their lives easier on game day.
If you are ultra organized, budget conscious and sports obsessed, consider working toward becoming an NFL football operations manager. Operations managers are hard workers and are dedicated to professional sports. These managers are vital for the team's success as they coordinate off-field activities and manage day-to-day operations.
Job Description
NFL football operations managers wear many hats that change throughout the season. During the football season, operations managers handle various tasks related to player functions off the field. Some operations managers handle transportation to and from games or media engagements. The role of operations manager can also include finance, marketing, team sponsorships, talent management, technical management and seasonal projects. This job functions as an assistant to the head football coach and reports directly to them or the sports team's general manager.
A related job often used interchangeably is the director of player personnel. This role encompasses more of the player contracts and acquisitions. While they are tasked with many of the same responsibilities, like player development, football operations managers are generally more involved in the team's daily operations. They work directly with the athletics department to push athletes to be their best.
Education Requirements
While there are no formal education requirements for NFL football operations managers, a few things may help along the way, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). All NFL football operations managers are high school graduates, and most hold a bachelor's degree. These degrees can vary but are generally in a field related to sports, such as sports management, kinesiology or even human resources. Many directors of football operations begin as football operations managers and work their way up to the director position; they may also start in the operations of college football teams.
Industry
The NFL is an entire industry in its own right. The NFL employs over 3,000 people, including NFL football operations managers and equipment managers. This number includes everyone from the CEO to the interns to the coaching staff. The latest estimates put the projected worth of the NFL at over 6 billion dollars, with no signs of slowing down.
The NFL pays top dollar to its best players and coaches. Bill Belichick, head coach of the New England Patriots, makes over $12 million yearly. Their top-paid player, Patrick Mahomes, earned a $45 million contract in 2021. While a football operations manager won't be making millions of dollars, it's still a worthwhile career to pursue. Think about volunteering with a local charity league if you're interested in pursuing a career in football, as those expenses generally count as tax deductions.
Years of Experience
To become an NFL football operations manager, you should know that you'll need several years of experience to be promoted. Most often, operations managers will have started in lower positions, like athletic directors at the high school or college football level; the NFL mentions what some of these roles are. They might have roles in the NCAA before making it to the NFL. Directors of football operations are also well versed in pro scouting, ensuring they recruit the best players.
Directors of football operations make good money for their role. There's a wide salary range. The average NFL annual salary is $66,000 per year, with players and coaches making much more. In addition to a base salary, many positions within the NFL also qualify for bonuses and other benefits of working for the organization.
Job Growth Trend
It appears that the NFL will continue to grow over the next decade, and the BLS reports that coaching positions will grow by nearly 26 percent, which is much higher than average. Positions in sports management will continue to become available as older employees begin to retire and the younger generation begins joining the workforce. The most common promotion trend is from football operations manager to assistant director of football operations and then director of football operations, which is just a step above.
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