By Rachel Terrill, Player Engagement Insider
Growing up, Kevin Boothe had one dream – to be an NFL player. “My favorite football player was Jerry Rice and I would often dream of catching short passes and turning them into 80 yard touchdowns,” Boothe said.
Boothe’s dream came true – sort of – in 2006 when the Oakland Raiders drafted him in the sixth round out of Cornell to play offensive line in. “Once I noticed how much bigger I was than my classmates, I quickly realized that I would have to settle for playing on the line,” he said.
Boothe played for the Oakland Raiders for just one season before the New York Giants signed him the following season. He played for the Giants for seven seasons before returning to Oakland to finish his career in 2014. In all, Boothe played in over one hundred NFL games and won two Super Bowls with the New York Giants.
“The highlight of my time in the NFL was winning two Super Bowls with the Giants,” Boothe said. “It's why we play. I still get chills when I think about it or watch highlights from the games.”
By the time he graduated from Cornell and found his footing in NFL, Boothe was 99% sure that he was done with school. But when he was presented with an opportunity to earn an MBA from George Washington University over the course of two NFL seasons, he jumped at it.
“I figured that it would ultimately help me in a post-football career, and it helps that the NFL has a tuition reimbursement program. I was able to go back to school for a fraction of the cost,” he said.
It wasn’t just the money that made going back to school worth it for Boothe.
“I also enjoyed getting to know the professors, as it was more relaxed than I remember in my undergrad work. It was challenging, and I would often have long days during the offseason, but it was worth it,” he said.
Boothe played in the NFL for nine seasons. Looking back he seems satisfied. “I was very fortunate to play for two franchises rich in tradition. There was a similar feeling of pride in the facility to represent those teams.”
Boothe’s wife, Rosalie, also enjoyed the time the couple spent in the NFL. “My favorite thing about being an NFL wife was having the opportunity every Sunday to watch my husband fulfill his dream of playing football,” she said. “I also met some amazing women who are now some of my best friends.”
They also enjoyed helping non-profits in their community. “It was always enjoyable giving back our time and resources and truly helping those in need,” Rosalie said.
Thanks to Boothe’s continued schooling while he was in the NFL, the couple is well-prepared for what comes next. In August, Kevin will begin a Business Development Internship at the NFL League office. His nine years in the league helped him develop into the man he is today.
“Being an NFL player sharpens your willingness to accept criticism, discipline, courage, resiliency, determination, and teamwork skills that will only benefit you going forward,” he said.
As he did as a child who wanted to be an NFL player, Boothe’s dedication will help lead him to making another dream come true. “I am going to attack this internship as if I am auditioning for a full-time role. In a perfect world, I go on to have a long and productive career as an NFL executive, or I use the knowledge that I acquire to become successful elsewhere.”
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Dubbed “Dr. Love” for her work on marriage and relationships, Rachel Terrill is passionate about making marriages work. Rachel is the wife of Craig Terrill, who played for the Seattle Seahawks from 2004-2011. Rachel spent the last 12 years investigating the relationships and marriages of professional athletes. Rachel earned her Ph.D. in Communication from The University of South Florida. She teaches university courses on communication and public speaking and she serves as a family advisor for the NFL Players Health Study at Harvard University. Her work is featured in radio, television, online, and print publications. You can reach her through her website at www.rachelterrill.com