Football GM and Scouting FAQ

Becoming an NFL Scout or GM

How much do NFL Scouts get paid?

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about this Course!

NFL scouts typically earn between $20,000 and $300,000 or more a year, depending on their role and experience. Entry level scouts and scouting assistants usually earn $20,000 to $45,000. Area and pro scouts earn about $50,000 to $125,000, senior and national scouts about $90,000 to $175,000, and directors of scouting or player personnel about $175,000 to $300,000 or more. Most scouts also get team paid travel, lodging, and per diem. For team by team examples, see our full guide, How Much Does an NFL Scout Make?

How much do NFL general managers make?

NFL general managers typically earn an estimated $2 million to $3 million a year, and the highest paid earn $6 million or more. Teams do not publish executive contracts, so these figures come from media reports. For example, the Houston Chronicle reported in 2021 that Nick Caserio’s deal with the Texans averages at least $6 million a year, which ESPN’s Adam Schefter said ranked among the top three in the league. Most GMs work their way up through scouting and player personnel, which is the path the Football GM and Scouting course is built around.

What jobs can the Football GM and Scouting course prepare me for?

The course prepares you for roles such as NFL director of player personnel, NFL scout, NFL management, NFL front office, NFL game operations, NFL sports marketing, NFL account manager, and NFL media and community relations. It can also help you advance your career in the NFL, CFL, UFL, or college football.

I’m a football coach. How will this course help me?

You will gain an understanding of scouting players from an NFL point of view, along with the terminology used by scouts, directors of player personnel, and general managers. This course should enhance your ability to recruit quality athletes for your program at every level. Upon completion, you will demonstrate superior knowledge of talent evaluation and how the scouting system works.

How else can I break into football?

If you are not in a situation to start your career over and want to learn more about the business of football and gain more contacts, check out the Athlete Management Course and consider representing NFL, AFL, and CFL players.

About the SMWW Football GM & Scouting Course

Will the Football GM and Scouting course help me get a job in football?

It will help you get a job in football. The key word is help. For all eight weeks you will be in live classes with NFL scout Russ Lande, Hamilton Tiger-Cats Director of Pro Scouting Dane Vandernat, former NFL executive John Wooten, and SMWW founder Dr. Lynn Lashbrook, plus NFL guest speakers and other students who want careers in professional football. This is your opportunity to be mentored by people who are highly regarded in the NFL, and your mentors will lead discussions that advance your career. You always hear that it is not what you know, it is who you know. The Football GM and Scouting course gives you the who you know and the what you know.

You will also network with fellow students who want to improve their knowledge of the business of football and scouting talent. More importantly, you will learn techniques and strategies that NFL teams are currently using.

The course content includes cutting edge theories on how to evaluate talent and study the game, and it will give you information that makes you an asset to any professional team. Will it directly get you the job? Talking the insider language and knowing the political game is a huge asset, but you still have to promote yourself. The knowledge you learn and the contacts you make might be the clincher to beating out your competition for the job.

Do I really get to talk to the mentors every week?

Yes. Every week of the eight week course includes two live Zoom chats: one with Russ Lande, and one with Dane Vandernat and John Wooten. Each is an hour long live question and answer session with your classmates. If you miss one, it is recorded so you can watch it later.

What is the difference between the Sports Sales & Marketing course and the Football GM and Scouting course?

The Sports Sales & Marketing course teaches you what you need to get an entry level job in any professional sports organization, and it requires a course project with a major or minor league team. It covers everything from ticket sales and sponsorship sales to creating contacts in the sports field. Students who take it generally want a job as soon as possible in football, hockey, soccer, basketball, or baseball. The weekly chats focus on who is hiring, and the instructors use their contacts in the sports world to help students get jobs.

The Football GM and Scouting course is pure football. You learn to analyze the game, manage a team, evaluate football talent, scout football players, and spot an NFL player before the pros do. Still unsure which course fits your goals? Call our offices at 1 877 SMWW NOW.

Is the course software compatible with PC and Mac?

Yes. Our eArena course platform and the Zoom live chats work on both Mac and PC.

Do I need any special equipment or books for the course?

The books for the course are included in the fees and are sent directly to your home from the SMWW office. Some of the books and materials are so specific that they are out of print or not sold in any bookstore. You will need a computer with internet access.

Can I still take this course without technical expertise?

Yes. We have many students who felt the same way. SMWW has a technical support team that knows computers and can get your microphone working, even if you did not know you had one, and they love sports. As long as you have a computer and access to the internet, we can help you with the rest.

How old do I have to be to take this course?

You must be 18 or older.

Do I need a college degree to take this course?

No. You do not need a college degree to take the Football GM and Scouting course.

What if I need one-on-one assistance?

SMWW staff are available by phone throughout the course for one on one help with coursework, live sessions, or career questions. Call 1 877 SMWW NOW in the United States and Canada, +44 0 871 288 4799 in the United Kingdom, or +1 503 445 7105 from anywhere else. Our offices are in Portland, Oregon, and London, England.

  Do you have more questions?

Call the office and ask! 1-877-SMWW-Now in the US or Canada. In London at +44(0) 871 288 4799. Everywhere else at +1-503-445-7105