By John Ingoldsby, Player Engagement Insider
The Chicago Bears rookies kicked off their NFL careers by learning a lot more than just football.
The 18, first-year players were also taught the four pillars upon which the League is built – Integrity, Resilience, Respect and Responsibility. For their hard work, both on and off the field, they were rewarded in December with a diploma from the Rookie Success Program by the club’s Director of Player Engagement Jerry Butler, who created the curriculum.
“We felt it was important to present them with a keepsake to reward them for their commitment this year, and during the ceremony we provided the players an opportunity to say something about what they learned and liked about the program,” Butler, a former Pro-Bowl receiver who played seven years with the Buffalo Bills said.
In describing the program, he added, “We met every Monday morning at 9:30 for 10 weeks and would just talk about things to build the foundation for a player-led culture in this reward-based business.”
This initiative not only achieved its desired team-building result, but paid off between the lines as well.
“Every player either started or played and contributed at a high level on the field this year,” Butler said. “I am proud to say our Bears rookies were second-to-none as a group in preparing to be successful in both their rookie years and then throughout their NFL careers, as well as after their playing days are over.”
No surprise since the group received first-hand life lessons on their life transformation from Butler and speakers he would bring into the Monday meetings on topics that included decision-making, time management, stress management, substance abuse, wellness, financial education, and managing relationships with teammates, family and friends.
“There is a great demand on these young men entering the League, so right after they were drafted we wanted to provide the framework that would successfully help them transition into the new stage in their life, which also happens to be the opportunity of a lifetime,” Butler, who has been doing this type of player development at both the League and club levels since the early 1990s, said.
Butler’s experience during the past 25 years has helped the South Carolina native, and graduate of Clemson University, adapt to how different everything is today.
“The change in both our culture and the NFL is dramatic, particularly with today’s instant communication. But one thing doesn’t change, and that is that every man wanted to be loved, appreciated and respected,” Butler said.
Achieving this is the aim of the innovative rookie program.
“We keep things real, and teach all of them how to speak up, unwrap themselves, unfold their real-life experiences, and share wisdom so they can support each other,” he said.
In time, this will deliver the ultimate result that Butler targets. “We want to grow great leaders by properly preparing the rookies to use their platform as an NFL player as a foundation for success throughout their life.”