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‘It’s about preserving the game’
The kickoff is one of the most exciting plays in the NFL, and this year, it will be very different.
NFL Owners Approved New Kickoff Play which moves most kicking and return teams onto the field to reduce the number of high-impact collisions and concussions. The radical overhaul comes as the league tries to walk a fine line between maintaining the speed and aggression fans enjoy and protecting players from devastating injuries.
It’s a delicate balancing act for the NFL, which needs to keep its massive multibillion-dollar machine running while keeping fans and sponsors engaged. It’s also a big responsibility for Troy Vincent, executive vice president of Football Operations, responsible for overseeing on-field policies and procedures.
“This is about preserving the game that Americans have come to love while also being responsible for protecting players from unnecessary risks,” Vincent told Yahoo Finance.
Troy Vincent, NFL executive vice president of football operations, speaks to reporters about the league’s flag football initiatives at the NFL owners meetings, Monday, March 25, 2024, in Orlando, Florida. )
Vincent knows there is a lot at stake to achieve that balance.
Americans across all demographics say football – not baseball – is “America’s sport”, according to a Pew Research Center survey. The NFL is an economic powerhouse: its 32 teams are collectively valued at $163 billion – almost as much as the NBA and MLB combined.
Fans can and do disagree with Vincent about the on-field rule changes. In fact, sometimes they email him their opinions directly.
But Vincent emphasized that leadership requires executives to make tough decisions and stick with them even if they are attacked.
“Leadership is lonely,” he said, adding that executives must not give in to popular opinion and pressure. “Your commitments today will become your standards tomorrow.”
The journey from player to executive
What fans can’t question is the knowledge and experience Vincent brings as a veteran of the game.
Drafted in 1992, Vincent played 15 seasons as a cornerback in the league with Miami, Philadelphia, Buffalo and Washington. Today, at age 53, he still sports the thick neck and broad shoulders that helped him earn five Pro Bowl appearances.
Buffalo Bills defensive back Troy Vincent (23) and New England Patriots wide receiver Troy Brown (80) walk off the field together in Orchard Park, New York, on December 11, 2005. (Mark Konezny/Getty Images) (Mark Konezny via Getty Images)
His journey to the NFL — first as a player and now as an executive — was unlikely given his childhood in a Trenton, NJ, neighborhood he calls “Little Beirut.”
Raised by his mother, grandfather and grandmother, Vincent recalled a community marked by poverty and crime and marked by abandoned houses. He saw his mother suffer in abusive relationships.
“There weren’t many positives outside of my grandparents,” he said.
At the age of 16, Vincent embraced Christianity, a decision he says helped him overcome this environment and achieve success on and off the football field.
The story continues
“It’s the foundation of my leadership,” he said, noting that faith influences the way he communicates and manages conflict. “It’s the foundation of my family. I have been married to my wife, Tommi, for 30 years.”
He said dedication grounds him in what can be challenging work. Criticism about how the NFL has evolved can be fierce.
Last November, future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady made headlines when he said there is “a lot of mediocrity in today’s NFL.” Brady cited coaching, player development and rule changes designed to protect players from injuries.
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers echoed this criticismattributing the changes in league rules to what he called “a softening of society.”
Vincent said these legendary players have earned the right to express their opinions and added that they should speak out and hold the league’s gatekeepers accountable.
Cleveland Browns fans try to get a player’s autograph after a preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 21, 2022, in Cleveland, Ohio. (Jason Miller/Getty Images) (Jason Miller via Getty Images)
Despite the criticism, Ted Keith, assistant editor-in-chief of the Sports Business Journal, said the NFL’s business continues to impress. The ratings and fandom, he added, are “astronomical.”
There are good reasons why the NFL is considered the king of sports. According to Nielsen, February’s Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers was the most-watched program in U.S. television history, averaging 123.7 million viewers across television and streaming platforms. Forbes estimated the NFL could raise more than $126 billion in TV money by 2033.
However, Keith noted that there are also potential long-term challenges for the league.
Adjusting on-field policies and procedures will not change the fundamental nature of the game, he argued. Football is an inherently violent sport, and mothers and fathers across the country are now increasingly concerned about the risks of their children playing football.
“The only thing that could impact the sport is if people stopped playing it,” Keith said. “This is a danger. And a lot of parents now don’t want their kids to play because of the concussion problem.”
For his part, Vincent is optimistic about the sport and its future. He sees the NFL as a great unifier of the country and as a community experience that transcends race, gender and age.
“I see the beauty of sport and what the game can do to bring people together,” he said.
Lead this way
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