Editors note: This story was originally published in March 2021. It has been updated and reposted for the 2022 NFL combine.
The NFL scouting combine is usually a very important part of the pre-draft process because it gives coaches and staff from NFL teams the chance to see prospects in person, often for the first time. A very important but little-known part of the combine is the 15-minute interview that teams have with prospects.
In 2021, during COVID-19, the combine switched to virtual interaction and pro day workouts at each college. This year, in Indianapolis, it is back to its normal in-person setup. The combine interviews can significantly impact the evaluation process in subtle ways. For more than ten years, I worked for NFL teams as a general manager and football operations executive. I’ve seen it all. Sometimes a coach falls in love with a prospect based on those meetings. Sometimes a prospect alienates a coach with poor answers or bad body language — or both.
But what really happens in the room? What do those interviews look like, and what kinds of questions and answers do you hear? I was in a lot of these events while I was with the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets, and this is what I still remember. Lets pull back the curtain a bit and take you inside the pre-draft team-prospect interview rooms.
Interviewing for a position in the glitz and glamour of the National Football League (NFL) can be an exciting yet daunting experience. With millions of passionate fans and some of the biggest names in sports, the NFL is widely considered the pinnacle of professional football Landing a job here is a dream for many candidates However, sealing the deal requires being fully prepared to ace the NFL interview process.
In this comprehensive guide, we provide insights into the types of NFL interview questions you’re likely to encounter, along with proven strategies to confidently answer them. Whether you’re seeking an operations role, marketing position, internship, or even an athletic coaching job, understanding the core competencies and skills assessed in an NFL interview is key.
With the right interview preparation and a positive attitude, you’ll be equipped to handle even the toughest questions thrown your way. Let’s get started!
Overview of the NFL Interview Process
The NFL hiring process is highly competitive, consisting of multiple rounds of interviews designed to thoroughly assess candidates. Here is a brief overview of what to expect:
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Initial Screening: Typically a phone or video screening interview with an HR rep or hiring manager to review your resume, skills, and experience. This is your chance to make a strong first impression.
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Technical Interviews: Focus on your hard skills, expertise, and qualifications for the specific role. Expect situational questions and hypothetical problem solving.
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Behavioral Interviews: Assess your soft skills, work style, motivations, and fit within the organizational culture. Questioning can be intense. Honesty and composure are vital.
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Panel Interviews: Interview with multiple team members at once. Demonstrate ability to engage various stakeholders effectively.
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Executive Interviews: Final interview with senior leadership. Showcase your vision, strategic thinking, and executive presence.
Throughout these stages, strong communication skills, passion for the NFL, and impressive credentials are key to standing out. Let’s look at some of the most common and critical NFL interview questions you should prepare for.
Common NFL Interview Questions and How to Answer Them
Questions About Your Interest in the NFL
NFL teams want to hire candidates who are truly passionate about the organization and the sporting world. Expect interviewers to probe your motivations and interest in the league.
Examples:
- Why do you want to work for the NFL?
- What interests you about this role and our organization?
- How did you become a fan of the NFL?
Strategies to Answer:
- Demonstrate sincere enthusiasm for the NFL and deep knowledge of the league, teams, history, and culture.
- Share specific experiences that sparked your fandom and passion for the sport.
- Highlight aspects of the role and organization that genuinely interest and excite you. Avoid generic answers.
- Discuss how your values and goals align with the NFL’s mission and culture.
- Emphasize how you would take pride in contributing to the league’s ongoing success.
Questions About Your Relevant Experience
NFL recruiters will thoroughly assess your background to determine if you have the right mix of experience and skills for the role. Be ready to discuss your qualifications in detail.
Examples:
- What experience do you have that makes you a strong candidate for this position?
- Tell us about a time you successfully led a project or initiative similar to what’s required in this role.
- How does your previous experience translate to the work we do here?
Strategies to Answer:
- Review the job description carefully and match your experience to the listed duties and requirements.
- Highlight key achievements, specialized training, and transferable skills from past roles. Quantify your accomplishments when possible.
- Focus on examples that demonstrate capabilities to handle the types of projects and responsibilities central to the target role.
- Draw parallels between your proven expertise and the competencies needed to excel in the NFL position.
- Convey how you would leverage your background to immediately contribute and add value.
Scenario-Based Questions
NFL interviewers often use scenario questions to assess your judgment, quick thinking, and domain expertise when addressing hypothetical situations you may encounter on the job.
Examples:
- If you noticed a safety concern at one of our events, how would you handle it?
- You’re managing an important project with a tight deadline. Your key team member calls in sick. What do you do?
- If our sales goals were not being met, how would you identify and address the issue?
Strategies to Answer:
- Listen carefully and seek clarification if the scenario is unclear. Take a moment to think through your response.
- Speak to how you would address the central issue and prioritize critical actions based on NFL policies and best practices.
- Demonstrate strategic thinking and analytical skills in diagnosing the problem.
- Highlight your leadership, teamwork, and communication approaches.
- Convey decisiveness and provide specific examples when possible to strengthen your response.
- Ask follow up questions to show your engagement and interest in solving the problem effectively.
Behavioral Interview Questions
Behavioral questions allow NFL recruiters to understand your work ethic, motivations, and ability to thrive in the high-performance culture. Honesty and self-awareness are key when answering these queries.
Examples:
- Tell me about a time you failed at something. What did you learn from it?
- When have you faced conflict with a colleague and how was it resolved?
- Describe a high-pressure situation. How did you stay focused under stress?
Strategies to Answer:
- Listen to the question carefully before responding. Seek clarification if unsure.
- Provide a clear, well-structured response with the situation background, your actions, and the result.
- Focus on details and examples that highlight NFL-relevant competencies like work ethic, teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, and adaptability.
- Demonstrate self-reflection by sharing what you learned or would do differently.
- Convey a positive attitude and growth mindset even when discussing failures or challenges.
Technical Questions
Be prepared for in-depth technical questioning tailored to the requirements of the specific NFL role you are pursuing. Demonstrating your specialized expertise is crucial.
Examples:
- Walk me through how you would approach driving ticket sales for an upcoming event.
- How do you stay updated on the latest marketing strategies and metrics?
- Explain how you have leveraged data analytics in past projects.
Strategies to Answer:
- Ask clarifying questions to better understand technical parameters and expectations.
- Use clear, simple language to explain technical processes and examples. Avoid overcomplicating your response.
- Highlight specialized training and certifications that support your technical capabilities.
- Discuss tools and systems you are proficient in that relate to the role.
- Convey your excitement to continue expanding your technical knowledge in the field.
Questions About NFL Industry Trends and Insights
Given the fast-paced evolution of the sports world, NFL interviewers want to see that you actively stay on top of latest developments and innovations relevant to your target role.
Examples:
- In your opinion, what are some current trends shaping the NFL?
- How could you see your role evolving in the next 3-5 years given industry changes?
- What emerging technologies do you think will impact fan engagement in the future?
Strategies to Answer:
- Demonstrate a strong command of recent NFL developments by citing current events, innovations, and thought leadership.
- Blend industry awareness with strategic foresight on where things are heading.
- Align your insights with the role you are applying for and how it could evolve.
- Convey curiosity and passion for learning about new technologies and their applications.
- Ask insightful follow up questions to have a meaningful dialogue around industry trends.
Questions About Your Fit
The NFL looks for candidates whose values, work style, and goals align with the high-performance culture. Be ready to make a case for why you are an ideal fit.
Examples:
- How would your colleagues describe your work style and values?
- Why do you feel you are a great match for our organization?
- What are your ultimate career goals and how does this role help you achieve them?
Strategies to Answer:
- Highlight work style attributes – e.g. team player, innovative, results-focused – that directly align with the NFL’s values.
- Speak to why the organization’s culture, direction, and opportunities strongly appeal to you.
- Articulate how your short and long-term goals parallel the role and growth trajectory at the company.
- Reference conversations with employees that reflect a cultural fit.
- Convey sincere enthusiasm at the prospect of contributing as part of the team.
Anyone ever do something out of the ordinary?
As mentioned, these interviews are stacked on top of each other for both the teams and the players. It can be a long day. As a “boost,” one of the best defensive linemen in the league came into the room one year and asked for a stick of gum. ” We happily handed him one but told him it was sugarless. I remember that he just looked at us very confusedly, took it without saying anything, and the interview went on. After a long day of meetings, he was probably pretty drunk at that point. It was a strange moment in a strange interview.
2022 NFL head coach changes
Unfortunately, more than one. And it typically came back to the same few themes. For starters, players who didnt know their responsibilities on tape set themselves back. Lying about an off-field incident was also a serious red flag. (Each team has its own security department investigate prospects. ).
But one that certainly jumped out was blaming either scheme or others for poor play. Honestly, that would eliminate a prospect from draft consideration for us. I remember a few quarterbacks who blamed a mistake on the way the play was designed or on a mistake by a wide receiver. It was pretty shocking to see guys on the field who are supposed to be leaders refuse to take responsibility and show no self-awareness.
Reporters Asking NFL Players Stupid Questions
FAQ
What questions to ask in a sports interview?
How long does a play-Caller interview a football player?
Daboll, a longtime play-caller, questions offensive players how calls were communicated from the coaches to the field. He’ll ask players what they most like about football and running backs what their three favorite runs are. The interviews begin at the top of the hour and at 20 and 40 minutes afterward.
What questions does Schoen ask during a college football interview?
Schoen takes notes throughout each interview and asks questions on everything from a player’s leadership qualities and the NCAA’s name, image and likeness rules (a combine first). Daboll, a longtime play-caller, questions offensive players how calls were communicated from the coaches to the field.
Why is questioning a football player important?
The line of questioning often helps us decipher a player’s mindset, including their coachability and selflessness. New England Patriotscoach Bill Belichick had a great expression in draft meetings: “If a player is a jerk in college, when we give him more time and more money in pro football, we should expect him to be a bigger jerk.”
Who are the Scouts and personnel executives at the NFL interview?
To their right are Daboll, Schoen and former Pro Bowl linebacker and special assistant to the general manager Jessie Armstead. In the two rows behind them sit assistant general manager Brandon Brown, several scouts and personnel executives, some who attend every interview and others who rotate in and out.
