Roman Oben: VP of Football Development for the NFL
“Don’t underestimate the value of process and perspective.”
Roman Oben joined the NFL in 2015 as the NFL’s Director of Youth & High School football, where he drove the league’s youth football strategy and develops new programs to encourage participation in tackle and flag football. He was then elevated to VP of Football Development at the NFL in 2019.
Born in Cameroon, West Africa, Roman Oben moved to the United States when he was four years old and grew up in Washington, DC. As a teenager, he worked concessions at Washington Redskins games at RFK Stadium.
Oben played college football at the University of Louisville where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics and was inducted into Louisville’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009. Oben’s professional career began with the New York Giants in 1996 and continued in Cleveland playing for the Browns. In 2002, he helped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers capture their first championship in Super Bowl XXXVII. and was later traded to the San Diego Chargers where he started at left tackle and finished his playing career in 2008.
Starting in more than 90% of the games throughout his 12- year NFL career, Oben concurrently earned a master’s degree in public administration at Farleigh Dickinson University in May 2001 and interned for two U.S. Congressmen: Dennis Kucinich (D-10-OH) and Bill Pascrell (D-8-NJ).
What aspect of working in the sports industry do you like the most?
How did you translate sports skills into your current job?
Who motivates and inspires you, in life?
Who motivates and inspires you in the sports industry?
What do you do for fun?
What do you look for in young professionals?
What advice would you give young professionals?
Define your thought process
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