Motivation: Inside the Mind of the African American Collegiate Football Player

African Americans dominate the football profession, but there are so many who don’t make it to the pro level or even the college level. Throughout most of their life, many male African Americans grow up focusing on becoming a professional football player but don’t develop a backup plan if they don’t make the National Football League (NFL). They graduate from high school with plans to be highlighted during college football season, which will make NFL recruiters want to sign them up. The college experience may not totally offer a career plan (because that’s usually already in place for a non-athlete), and the athlete does not access his resources to make one. College must always be more than getting by just to play football. While much of NFL success is about how well the player does on the field, much of his success depends on his level of motivation as well. It is that internal motivation that should also force the athlete to succeed in life with an organized vision. So, what motivates a football player? What motivates the athlete once he graduates from high school and begins moving to that next level, the NFL? Maybe, it’s how and what he learned about motivation. Using qualitative research, three student athletes were interviewed to help explain some of the impacts learning styles have on their motivations in life and career decisions. The research findings will give insight on how African-American athletes can be motivated to develop a life plan that will assist in their life success when their NFL dream does not come to fruition.