Okay, so, I’ve always been a huge football fan, right? And I’ve always thought it would be super cool to be a part of the game in some way, not just watching it. I got this crazy idea in my head that I wanted to become an NFL scout. I mean, imagine getting paid to watch football and find the next big stars! Sounds like a dream job, doesn’t it?
So, I started digging around, trying to figure out how one even becomes an NFL scout. I read a bunch of articles and forum posts. It all seemed kinda vague and hard, like there wasn’t one clear path. But it kept saying that you gotta start somewhere small and work your way up.
I decided to look into internships. I figured, “Hey, why not try to get my foot in the door with a team, even if it’s just a small college team?” I started emailing like crazy. I sent out dozens of emails to any college team I could think of, and even some semi-pro teams. No response at first. It was pretty discouraging, honestly. But I kept at it.
Then, out of the blue, I got an email back from a small college team near me. They said they had an opening for an intern in their scouting department. I was so excited! I went in for an interview, and it was pretty chill. I talked about my passion for football and how much I loved analyzing the game. They seemed to like me, and I got the internship!
The internship was unpaid, of course, but it was a start. I was basically doing grunt work at first. I was fetching coffee, organizing files, and doing a lot of data entry. But I also got to watch game footage, write reports on players, and even sit in on some meetings with the coaching staff. I was learning a lot, just by being around and observing.
I also started going to as many football games as I could. High school games, college games, even some random local leagues. I just wanted to be around the game and see as many players as possible. I started taking notes on players I thought had potential, even if it was just for my own practice.
I learned that there are courses and programs you can take to learn more about scouting. There’s this thing called the PFSA, and even the Football Association offers some classes. They cost money, but I figured it might be worth it to get some formal training and make some connections.
- I started by reaching out to a bunch of college teams.
- I eventually landed an unpaid internship with a small college team.
- I did a lot of grunt work, but also got to watch film and write reports.
- I attended tons of games and took notes on players.
- I found out about scouting courses from the PFSA and the FA.
At the same time, I tried to network with people in the football world. I would go to events and just try to strike up conversations with coaches, scouts, or anyone who seemed to know what they were doing. It was kinda awkward at first, but I got better at it over time. I even met a few NFL scouts at some of these events, which was super cool.
It’s been a long and slow process, and I’m still nowhere near becoming an actual NFL scout. But I feel like I’m on the right path. I’m learning a lot, making connections, and getting experience. And most importantly, I’m still loving every minute of it.
It’s tough, and there’s a lot of competition, but I’m determined to make it happen. It’s all about putting in the work, staying persistent, and never giving up on the dream. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll be the one discovering the next Tom Brady! But for now, I’m just happy to be a part of the game I love.
