Buzz
A guide to gaining the necessary experience and catching the attention of NFL teams
Scouts in the National Football League (NFL) assess the talents of high school and college players. Their main responsibility is to find players with the potential to excel in the NFL. As an NFL scout, you can work closely with the game of football and its players, without being involved in the actual play. However, breaking into this field is competitive – pro teams typically have 7-10 full-time scouts, which amounts to roughly 224-320 scouts league-wide. To stand out, you must possess a combination of skills: management, organizational, a deep understanding of the game, an eye for talent, passion, perseverance, and strong networking abilities. Though there’s no set formula for becoming an NFL scout, you can certainly hone the skills that NFL organizations value most.
Top Strategies to Become an NFL Talent Scout
- Obtain a bachelor’s degree in a related field such as business, marketing, sales, or sports management.
- Get involved in local or school football through coaching, playing, or assisting to gain hands-on experience.
- Look for internship opportunities with local NFL teams that focus on scouting talent.
- Network extensively and be open to roles that could eventually lead to a career in scouting.
Steps
Building Your Credentials
Earn a relevant bachelor's degree. While having a college degree is not mandatory, it shows NFL teams that you possess valuable qualities that set you apart from others. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, scouts often hold degrees in business, marketing, sales, or sports management. These qualifications suggest that you have honed essential skills such as writing, communication, leadership, organization, and time management – all of which are crucial for success in scouting.
- If you don’t have a bachelor’s degree, or if your degree is in a different field, taking courses in business and management can help you develop and demonstrate these key skills.
Get actively involved in football. Scouting demands a deep understanding of the game, as identifying and predicting talent is an ability developed through extensive experience. NFL teams seek individuals who are passionate about football and have a strong grasp of its nuances. Having a background as a player, coach, or even as a student manager is valuable.
- You don't need to have played at an elite level; many scouts have experience from lower levels of college or high school football, or they may not have played professionally but still possess an exceptional football IQ. However, some experience with the sport is necessary to gain a complete understanding of how the game works.
Enroll in an NFL scouting course. Courses from institutions like Sports Management Worldwide and The Scouting Academy provide crucial educational and networking opportunities. These programs integrate business and management skills with scouting-specific training, such as assessing talent and creating detailed scouting reports. These courses are often led by experienced football scouts, who are invaluable contacts to build relationships with, and they provide access to extensive networks within the professional football community.
Refine your scouting skills. Developing a keen eye for spotting talent is essential. Attend high school and college games, bringing along a digital camera to capture footage. Use a notepad to take detailed notes on every player. Observe how they handle the ball and execute plays. Understanding the dynamics of the game and each player's role is key to becoming an effective NFL scout. You should know what traits make a player stand out (such as body type, mentality, and abilities), and understand which qualities are important for each position on the team. The more time you spend analyzing games and writing reports, the stronger your professional portfolio will become.
Standing Out
Keep your possibilities open. Many professional scouts begin their careers at the bottom. Some start as part-time talent scouts, others as independent contractors or for sports agencies, and many begin as trainers or coaches before transitioning into higher-level scouting. Unfortunately, not everyone makes it to the top. It's important to maintain realistic expectations and keep an eye out for opportunities. Even if you don't land that ideal role, there are other paths. Some aspiring scouts have launched their own agencies to represent football prospects or moved into management positions with teams. There are many ways to stay involved with football outside of scouting.
Build your network. While NFL scouting courses provide a solid foundation, it’s the connections you make that will help you rise in the field. Often, it’s not just your knowledge but who you know that will open doors for you. Former players may already have these connections, but others must actively work to meet key individuals in the industry. Attending events like the Scouting Combine or Owners’ meetings is a great way to introduce yourself and make your presence known.
Make your materials stand out. To distinguish yourself from other aspiring scouts, you need to present yourself as polished, determined, and memorable in both your networking and in the materials you send out (such as letters, resumes, and portfolios). For example, Daniel Kelly sent a 350-page draft guide to numerous people in every NFL organization, which garnered attention—not just because of the evaluations it contained but due to the passion, work ethic, and attention to detail it displayed.
- Send your materials to everyone, from interns to team owners. If you catch the eye of even one person, they could be the one to pass it along to decision-makers within the organization.
- In your resume and cover letter, make it clear that you’re specifically interested in being a scout. If you simply state, “I’ll do anything,” you’re unlikely to be considered for a scouting role.
Secure an NFL scouting internship. Gaining experience as a scout for local arena football or college teams is a valuable first step, but to break into the NFL, you must intern with an NFL team. These internships are key to showcasing your skills, demonstrating your value, and paving the way for a successful career in NFL scouting. Many NFL teams offer internship programs designed for aspiring scouts.
Have faith in your purpose. Former NFL scout Daniel Kelly has emphasized that belief in yourself—and dedication to the profession—is crucial to becoming a successful scout. Breaking into the league is no easy feat. The skills required stem from an unwavering passion for the game, a willingness to watch countless hours of game tape, travel long distances, and possibly spend years working at lower levels with minimal pay. These skills won’t be acquired simply by earning a degree or taking an online course. While credentials are important, in the end, what you need most is passion and self-confidence.
