By John Ingoldsby, Player Engagement Insider
When Chic Ejiasi took over as the Tennessee Titans’ Director of Player Engagement (DPE) in April, he had to hit the ground running to be ready for the rookies who would be joining the team that same month.
But in trademark NFL fashion, he had numerous resources at the ready from both the team and the League to help him transition smoothly into his new role so he was prepared to welcome and educate his fellow newcomers.
“I just took the position a few months ago and it is my first time in the NFL, so it has been a learning process,” Ejiasi said. “Both the Rookie Development Program (RDP) and the Rookie Transition Program (RTP) went really well, and I was fortunate to have resources from the team already in place and also the League for providing content and additional information.”
Both were instrumental in kicking off the NFL career of Ejiasi, who came to Nashville after 10 years at the University of Iowa, including eight in Player Development, where he worked with incoming freshmen among other duties.
This put him in perfect position to relate to the Titans’ rookies since he was already well versed in both the first-year transition from one level to another having become an expert in high school to college, as well as being in tune with a college player’s mindset.
That relevant experience, combined with the readily available resources, helped spell success in Ejiasi’s first few months, and good timing was at work also with teams taking over the RTP from the League for the first time, enabling Ejiasi to make his own mark in this new era.
Former NFL runningback Warrick Dunn speaking to rookies during Rookie Transition Program
“It was basically two programs that lasted most of May and June, with the one-month development module starting on May 9th soon after the Draft, followed just two weeks later with the three-day transition program,” Ejiasi said.
“Our RDP topics ranged from current players presenting a panel on prolonging careers, to touring the stadium in downtown Nashville for a fan meet-and-greet,” recalled the 2004 Iowa graduate, who played defensive back for the Hawkeyes.
Player perspective is paramount, and current Titans participating included tight end Anthony Fasano, wide receiver Harry Douglas, linebacker Wesley Woodyard and linebacker Derrick Morgan, while former NFL players running back Warrick Dunn and NFL Player Engagement transition coach, former wide receiver Freddie Scott, talked about topics like life after football.
But that was just the beginning as a plethora of panels addressed both real life situations such as security, financial education, and real estate and home furnishing in Nashville, as well as team-related topics like watching film, media training, community service, rule changes, health and safety, and mental wellness.
Then after a two-week break, the rookies returned for the RTP and its curriculum that included player resources and social responsibility such as preventing DUI to domestic violence, sportsmanship, League policies, benefits, and character & values.
All of this was only the beginning in the NFL’s nonstop calendar, as Ejiasi now wants to see the rookies put what they learned to good use with training camp underway, and soon the season will start.
But a DPE’s work is never done, as he will be performing myriad other duties, from overseeing internship programs and helping his players complete their degrees to building on existing alumni offerings and working with the community relations department.
“It has been good learning this position at the same time as the rookies joined the organization, and now we will all grow together,” observed Ejiasi as he enters his next phase as Titans DPE.