(Black Enterprise) — As the NFL’s Vice President for Player Engagement, Troy Vincent is charged with helping players prepare for life after football. His biggest challenge, he says, is simply getting those players to listen. A former All-American at the University of Wisconsin and a Top 10 pick in the 1992 NFL Draft, Vincent played in five straight Pro Bowls, was twice named All-Pro, and suited up for four different franchises before finally retiring, after 15 successful seasons, in 2006. Despite his experience both on and off the field, the ex-defensive end has found it to be no easy task helping players adjust to life off the gridiron. Though the league is dedicating ever-greater resources to Vincent’s initiatives, and players are given ample opportunity to pursue any number of educational opportunities during their time in the game, the simple fact remains that most don’t start thinking about their post-football lives until it’s too late.
