Partnership Offers Athletes the Chance to Secure a Post-Retirement Future
Thomas Edison State University is partnering with Brewer Sports International to help current and former National Football League (NFL) players finish their undergraduate degrees and prepare to transition for a career after leaving the gridiron.
The university’s partnership with Brewer Sports International, a global sports management organization with a focus on professional athlete career development, business management and sports financing, will help athletes take advantage of their National Football League Player Association (NFLPA) Trust Program player benefits among others, which include reimbursement for tuition, fees and books related to undergraduate or postgraduate course work.
“Education is the most important part of a successful second career transition,” said Jack Brewer, five year NFL veteran and CEO of The Brewer Group. “We will expand this partnership to offer this opportunity to athletes of all sports as well as entertainers, artists and influencers. Our goal is to help these athletes and influencers find that interest or passion that will guide them through the next chapter of their lives.”
For many athletes, including NFL veteran Troy Vincent, a 2007 graduate of Thomas Edison State University, the key to post-retirement success lies in a solid educational foundation.
“Planning for life after football began in high school and continued throughout my playing experience with education as the cornerstone. My degree has served me well as I have pursued a lifetime of learning,” said Vincent, executive vice president of Football Operations with the NFL. “Long after the playing experience ends, your education remains. It’s often the degree of separation between opportunity and misfortune. Financial freedom is ultimately in your education.”
With a primary focus on providing a realistic path to finishing their college degree, the partnership will provide seamless processes for athletes to have access to tutoring as well as staff and mentor support systems, similar to what they may have experienced at their undergraduate institution before joining the NFL. Brewer Sports International also works with numerous current and former professional athletes who act as mentors to keep students on track to degree completion.
“We are pleased to partner with this dynamic organization, as we as an institution value these athletes and support their post-career plans of completing their degrees,” said Janet Eickhoff, associate vice president, Office of Strategic Partnerships and Outreach at the University. “Our mission of serving self-directed adults directly aligns with the kind of mindset and motivation that many professional athletes possess, which makes them ideal students at Thomas Edison State University.”
Brewer Sports International is led by NFL veteran Jack Brewer, who serves as CEO of the organization. Brewer, a former safety for the New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals, completed his undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minn. prior to entering the NFL. Since his retirement, he has made it his mission to inspire fellow athletes and artists to continue to grow before, during and after their professional careers through many outlets, including continuing education.
For more information about the University’s Corporate Choice® program or to learn more about how organizations can become a partner, visit www.tesu.edu/partners/Corporate-Choice-Program.
About Thomas Edison State University
Thomas Edison State University provides flexible, high-quality, collegiate learning opportunities for self-directed adults. One of New Jersey’s 11 senior public institutions of higher education, the University offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees in more than 100 areas of study. Students earn degrees through a wide variety of rigorous and high-quality academic methods that can be customized to meet their individual needs. Identified by The New York Times as “the college that paved the way for flexibility,” Thomas Edison State University is a national leader in the assessment of adult learning and a pioneer in the use of educational technologies. The University is home to The John S. Watson Institute for Public Policy. The New Jersey State Library is an affiliate of Thomas Edison State University. Learn more at www.tesu.edu.
About Brewer Sports International (BSI)
Founded by international entrepreneur Jack Brewer, five-year National Football League (NFL) veteran and former three team captain, Brewer Sports International (BSI) is a multi-faceted global sports management firm with a focus on professional athlete and artist career development, business management, sports financing and the international business of sport. Based in Minneapolis, MN with initiatives spanning the globe, BSI strives to empower athletes and artists to empower themselves and takes pride in enabling its clients to capitalize on the endless opportunities presented through sport off the field. BSI is passionate about the power of sport and entertainment and the change it can affect and is driven to helping athletes and artists continue to grow before, during and after their professional careers. For more information, please visit www.brewersports.com.
Toni M. Terry, BA