Amanda Dinkel
Jack Bourgeois
Michael Marlier
I recommend this conference to anyone considering an athletic career. The speakers and the information are fantastic.
JW Marriott Indianapolis, Indiana - February 2026
2026 Football Career Conference
This conference is your chance to meet Scouts, Agents, Player Personnel, Media, and Management in NFL careers. In the process, you'll learn how to advance your career at all levels of football!
Our annual Football Career Conference at the NFL Combine provides you with the exposure that you can't get anywhere else:
- Networking with NFL executives
- Career guidance from well-known NFL executives
- Insights on who is doing the hiring and what you need to know to get hired
- Connect with sports career-minded individuals
- Mentors who have been where you are and want to assist you with your career
- Insider information about changes in the industry that put your career on the fast track
- Strategies to catapult your career to the next level
- NFL Combine Ticket registration
2025 Featured Speakers
*Speakers are subject to change.
Will McClay
Dallas Cowboys Vice President of Player Personnel
Mark Dulgerian
NFL Lead International Scout
Brian Baldinger
Former NFL Player/NFL Network Analyst
Adam Schefter
ESPN Announcer
Farren Benjamin
NFL Agent/Marketing & Client Services
Mark Gorscak
Former NFL Scout/NFL Combine Timer
Ellie Perrigo
KC Chiefs Player Personnel Assistant
Andrew Siciliano
NFL Network Host
Mark Dominik
ESPN Analyst and Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers GM
Aaron Schatz
FTN Chief Analytics Officer & ESPN Insider & SMWW Faculty
Larry Lundy
LMG President/Founder
Dane Vandernat
NFLPA Bowl Director of Player Personnel
Kelli Masters
NFL Agent
Bryan Harper
Minnesota Vikings VP of Media and Content
Jim Van Dam
Indianapolis Colts VP of Ticket Sales and Service
Kristen Kuliga
NFL Agent
Joel Corry
Former NFL & NBA Agent and Salary Cap Expert
Ric Serritella
NFL Draft Bible Founder
Dr. Lynn Lashbrook
SMWW President & Founder, Certified NFL Agent, Former NCAA Athletic Director, Sports Business Keynote Speaker
Who Should Attend the 2026 Football Career Conference?
This conference is designed for individuals who have always dreamed of working in football. Aspiring agents, executives, scouts, sales reps, marketers, and analysts – all will learn a bevy of insider information to help set them apart in the employment race.
Attendees include business professionals hoping to break into sports, sports agents looking to network, college students trying to get a foot in the door, football fans interested in changing careers, and many more satisfied participants.
We do require attendees to be over age 18 (16-17 if accompanied by an adult).
2025 FOOTBALL CAREER CONFERENCE AGENDA*
*Speakers and speaking times will change as NFL team meetings change. Information will be updated as it becomes available.
Thursday: February 27th, 7-9 pm EST
Welcome Reception at Punch Bowl Social
120 S Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46225
Friday: February 28th, 7:00 am-5 pm EST
- 7:00 AM: Registration Opens
- Coffee and Bagels, Check-in, get settled in seats
- Coffee and Bagels, Check-in, get settled in seats
- 8:00 AM: Adrenalize Today, Monetize Tomorrow with Dr. Lynn Lashbrook, SMWW President & NFLPA Agent
- 8:10 AM: One-on-One with the Man Behind the 40-Yard Dash - Mark Gorscak
- 9:00 AM: Finding the Next NFL Superstar (Moderator: Dr. Lynn Lashbrook)
- Dane Vandernat - Hamilton Tiger-Cats Director of Pro Scouting/SMWW Mentor
- Ellie Perrigo - Kansas City Chiefs Player Personnel Assistant
- Brian Baldinger - NFL Network Analyst/Former NFL Player
- Mark Dulgerian - NFL Lead International Scout
- 9:50 AM: Break
- 10:00 AM: The Man Who Breaks the News (Moderator: Dr. Lynn Lashbrook)
- Adam Schefter - ESPN Senior NFL Insider
- Adam Schefter - ESPN Senior NFL Insider
- 11:00 AM: The Life of an NFL Agent (Moderator: Dr. Lynn Lashbrook)
- Joel Corry - Former NFL Agent/SMWW Mentor
- Farren Benjamin - NFL Agent, Farr West Management
- Kelli Masters - NFL Agent, KMM Sports
- 11:50 AM: Group Photos on the SMWW Stage
- 12:00-1 PM: Halftime (Lunch)
- 1 PM: The Landscape of the NFL Media (Moderator: Ike Worth)
- Andrew Siciliano - NFL Play-by-Play Radio Host
- Bryan Harper - Minnesota Vikings Vice President, Content and Production/SMWW Mentor
- Aaron Schatz - FTN Network Chief Analytics Officer/SMWW Mentor
- Steve Palazzolo - Check the Mic podcast host/SMWW Mentor
- 2:00 PM: Life in the NFL Front Office (Moderator: Dr. Lynn Lashbrook)
- Mark Dominik - Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers General Manager
- Will McClay - Dallas Cowboys Vice President of Player Personnel
- 2:45 PM: Break
- 3:00 PM: Breaking into Football: Entry-Level Football Jobs (Moderator: Ike Worth)
- Jim Van Dam - Indianapolis Colts Vice President, Ticket Sales and Service/SMWW Mentor
- Jim Van Dam - Indianapolis Colts Vice President, Ticket Sales and Service/SMWW Mentor
- 4:00 PM: Athlete Marketing and Endorsements (Moderator: Dr. Lynn Lashbrook)
- Kristen Kuliga - Vanguard Sports Group Executive Vice President
- Larry Lundy - LMG President/SMWW Mentor
- Greg Glynn - Pliable Marketing CEO/SMWW Mentor
- 4:45 PM: Go Global or Go Home (Dr. Lynn Lashbrook)
- 5:00-6:30 PM: Overtime (Networking Happy Hour with drinks & appetizers)
NFL Combine Information
Lucas Oil Stadium
500 S Capital Ave
Indianapolis, Indiana 46225
-
For those of you who registered for the conference, you may be given preference to attend the NFL Combine
-
Upon registration, you will receive instructions on how to apply for your ticket (please check your ticket for time confirmation).
-
You are not guaranteed you will get into the NFL Combine.
Scholarships
SMWW will award a limited amount of full and partial scholarships for each SMWW Career Conference. You must be 18 years or older to be considered. If interested, fill out an application and submit your resume and a one-page letter explaining why you should receive a scholarship to info@smww.com.
Scholarships do not include lodging or airfare. Those who have completed an SMWW Training Program will be given preference. Scholarships cannot be given retroactively after having purchased a registration.
SMWW Staff
- Dr. Lynn Lashbrook, SMWW President
- Liz Lashbrook, SMWW Executive Director
- Jeff Brodie, SMWW Vice President & NFLPA Agent
- Ike Worth, SMWW Business Operations Manager
- Nick Prater, SMWW Business Operations Coordinator
- Erin Beggs, SMWW Social Media Manager
- Jon LaForce, SMWW Career Advisor
- Maikel Tsuji, SMWW Career Advisor
- Dr. Chuck Patterson, SMWW Career Advisor
Why Should You Attend the Football Career Conference?
There are very few chances for you to learn from, and ask questions of, pillars in the industry. Speakers like Adam Schefter, Mark Dominik, John Wooten, and Dr. China Jude aren't coming to your current business, or your college classroom, to discuss the strategies and skills necessary to work in the NFL.
At the Football Career Conference, they will. If fact, following their presentations, many speakers stick around to engage the attendees in one-on-one discussions.
Head coaches, Directors of Player Personnel and Scouting, ESPN writers, Sports Agents, Pro Athletes, and many others will be present at this one-of-a-kind event.
Attend the 2025 NFL Combine:
In past years, approximately thirty days prior to the conference, those registered would be sent an invitation for complimentary tickets to the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. We recommend you choose Saturday to attend the combine but other days should be available. For those of you booking flights that want to attend the combine, we recommend booking your flight to leave after 6 pm on Saturday.
Come enjoy the excitement of the NFL Combine and watch future NFL playmakers participate in on-field drills in front of NFL scouts and NFL Network cameras! Fans are encouraged to wear their favorite NFL team gear and cheer on NFL prospects as they start their journey to becoming a member of the NFL family. Take the opportunity to take a photo with the Colts Super Bowl XLI Vince Lombardi Trophy and view all 55 Super Bowl rings up close! Listen to NFL stars and Legends break down the game in exclusive chalk talks the first week of March.
Our wish is to offer attendees an opportunity to watch college players as they are evaluated by 32 NFL teams. Register for the conference and you will be sent the NFL Combine registration information.
Registration Now Open!
This event is limited to the first 300
Conference Registration includes:
Prices Increase June 1st
Prices Increase
June 1st
June 1st
General Admission : $500 $350.00 USD
College Students, Faculty & SMWW Alumni : $500 $350.00 USD
Team & Agency Employees : $500 $350.00 USD
** Please note that the conference fee does not include flight or hotel accommodations.
Walk-up registrations will not be accepted. Please register online in advance.
Where Does the Conference Take Place?
2025 SMWW NFL Combine Career Conference details
Friday, February 28, 2025
Time: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Location: JW Marriott
SMWW Welcome Reception
Thursday, February 27, 2025
Time: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location: TBA
What to Expect at the Football Career Conference
Upon arrival and registration, you will receive a full agenda outlining the entire 2-day conference. Due to the NFL Combine schedule and the fluidity of our speaker's work commitments, we juggle speaking engagements and panels up to the last minute! Below you can see the final agenda of our event last year, to give you a rough idea of what this year will present.
One thing we can guarantee – the event will be jam-packed with speakers and opportunities to network, ask questions, and learn from the best in the business. Every year, we have surprise visits from NFL personnel, who literally walk by our meeting rooms all day and jump into a discussion or panel.
Being in the heart of the NFL Combine, where over 2,500 team executives, scouts, and media members are congregating, makes the difference!
Please note: This is NOT an opportunity to participate in the combine as an athlete.
SMWW’s Industry Leading Courses Featured In:
Group Discounts
In the past, entire University Sports Management programs have attended. If you are interested in a group rate, please contact ike@smww.com, and we can provide group discounts for 5-50 people.
*SMWW's Career Conference is not affiliated with the NFL.
Previous Speakers
Note: Due to Team Meetings, speakers are not guaranteed and will change. The closer we get to the date, the more accurate the schedule becomes as executives do not yet know their team meeting schedules.
- Aaron Schatz, Football Outsiders & Pro Football Prospectus
- Adam Caplan, ESPN NFL Insider
- Adam Farrand, Athletes Performance Institute – NFL Combine & Football Business Development Manager
- Adam Schefter, ESPN NFL Insider
- Alex Brown, Optimum Scouting Head Central Scout
- Bill Guertin, The 800-Pound Gorilla, Marketing Consultant to 65 Major League Teams
- Bill Polian, ESPN Analyst, former NFL Executive
- Bryan Harper, Minnesota Vikings VP of Content and Productions
- Daniel Krywaruczenko, InstantScouting Assistant Director
- Darren Heitner, Sports Lawyer, Dynasty Dealings, Sports Business Author
- Dr. Lynn Lashbrook, President, and Founder of Sports Management Worldwide
- Greg Hylton, Indianapolis Colts VP Premium Seating and Ticket Sales
- Jack Mills, NFL Agent
- Jackie Davidson, NFL Consultant
- Jackie Davidson, NFL Salary Cap Consultant
- Jen Mueller, Seattle Seahawks Sideline Reporter
- Jim Solano, NFL Agent
- Joel Corry, CBSsports.com Writer, and SMWW Faculty
- John Wooten, NFL Legend
- Josh Liskiewitz, Pro Football Focus Analyst (SMWW Success Story)
- Kelli Masters, KMM Sports Agency Founder & NFL Agent
- Kristen Kuliga, NFL Agent
- Les Snead, LA Rams General Manager
- Marc Trestman, Toronto Argonauts Head Coach
- Mark Dominik, ESPN Analyst and Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers GM
- Matt Moore, Former NFL Quarterback, Miami Dolphins Scout
- Matt Sheldon, Miami Dolphins director of Football Research and Strategy
- Michael Tanier, Bleacher Report NFL National Lead Writer
- Mike Stoeber, Jacksonville Jaguars Associate Director of Football Technology and SMWW Faculty
- Mike Tannenbaum, Miami Dolphins Executive Vice President, Football Operations
- Paraag Marathe, San Francisco 49ers President
- Ray Farmer, Former Cleveland Browns
- Ray Haija, MGA Sports NFL Agent (SMWW Success Story)
- Ric Serritella, NFL Draft Bible Founder
- Russ Lande, GM Jr. Founder and SMWW Faculty
- Steve Baker, NFL Agent
- Steve Palazzolo, Pro Football Focus Senior Analyst
- Tom Mills, NFL Agent (Baker Mayfield)
- Tony Khan, Jacksonville Jaguars Senior VP of Football Technologies
- Zack Moore, Caponomics Author
Check Out Our Photos From The 2019 Football Career Conference
Our 2019 Football Career Conference during the NFL Combine in Indianapolis was our biggest yet. Some of the biggest...
Posted by Sports Management Worldwide on Tuesday, 5 March 2019
