WASHINGTON (December 9, 2020) – Howard University senior jumpers Nathaniel Are (Chicago) and Rachel Edler (Stone Mountain, Ga.) are among the student-athletes selected to attend the 2020 National Football League (NFL) Careers in Football Forum. This year's two-day (Dec. 10-11) forum will take place virtually by the NFL Football Operations, which features panel and informational sessions, led by NFL League personnel and partners.
 
The Forum increases opportunities for promising ethnic minorities who want to pursue careers in football administration. Additionally, students are invited to join interactive skill development and networking breakout sessions.
 
Are enters his senior year primarily as a jumper, but also has experience competing in the pole vault event. Since his arrival, the Chicago native has four top-3 finishes, including victories in the triple jump and pole vault. Off the field, he created the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) catchphrase "A Golden Past, A Glorious Future" as part of the league's 50^th anniversary celebration.
 
For Edler, she is set to take part in her final season as a Bison after placing top-3 10 times during her collegiate career, including four first-place finishes. The two-time MEAC Commissioner's All-Academic selection chose HU because of the unique HBCU experience. The Georgia product's goal is to use her computer information systems degree in pursuing employment at a welcoming, yet exciting and challenging environment.
 
In 2016, the NFL launched the Careers in Football Forum in partnership with the MEAC and Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and has since expanded to also include the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) and Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) — four preeminent HBCU athletic conferences.
 
"We've teamed up with four preeminent HBCU athletic conferences for the Careers in Football Forum to increase opportunities for the next generation of leaders in football administration," said Troy Vincent, NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations.
 
The event brings together undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in sports management to explore careers and network with industry leaders.
 
Participants are selected by their institutions through an application-based process, and have the opportunity to experience the following:

• Attend lectures and panel discussions with NFL leadership and club executives
• Take part in resume and skill-building workshops
• Get a behind-the-scenes look at football operations for the Celebration Bowl

 
Jordan Holder will also join Are and Edler at the virtual forum as well.
 
The NFL Careers in Football Forum is just one component of the league's commitment to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). To learn more about the NFL's HBCU initiative, please visit the NFL Football Operations website at https://operations.nfl.com.  
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com, or the NFL at www.NFL.com.