Rookie running back Jay Ajayi is trading cleats and shoulder pads for suits and ties over the next 10 days as he becomes the first current NFL player to participate in an externship at the league’s U.K. office. The Miami Dolphins’ fifth-round selection in the 2015 NFL Draft will get a behind-the-scenes look at the NFL UK operations and hone his skills for a future after the NFL. Ajayi told SBD Global the opportunity arose after he was placed on the short-term injured reserve list by the Dolphins at the beginning of last season. “When I found out that I was going to be on short-term IR I started to meet with [Dolphins Dir of Player Engagement] Kaleb [Thornhill] a lot more just because I wanted to work on the off-the-field stuff since I knew I wouldn’t be playing that first half of the season,” he said. The 22-year-old London native who studied marketing during his time at Boise State University is looking to get as much out of his visit as possible. The 10-day externship, which started on Monday, will be just enough to get an overview of the U.K. business side of things, he said. “This offseason is the most time I’ve had off since getting summer break when I was in middle school,” Ajayi said. “I wanted to make sure that I was doing something that would help my career. I thought it was a great opportunity. Plus I was going to go back to England regardless, so why not do this.” The NFL, in collaboration with the league’s 32 franchises and the NFLPA, is offering various workshops, educational programs and on-the-job training for current and former players. However, it is up to the individual players to take advantage of those opportunities. “There are a lot of programs out there," Ajayi said. "It just depends on if you want to utilize it and go out and do something for yourself, or if you just want to sit at home and not do anything."
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Jay Ajayi
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RISING PARTICIPATION: The number of Dolphins players using the offseason to participate in the various initiatives has been increasing over the years, Thornhill added. He said players start to realize that they need to have another passion and purpose beyond the game of football. “You are starting to see more guys that are curious and want to be exposed to different arenas in terms of a business setting,” Thornhill said. “It’s important to take advantage of it now before the game is no longer part of your life because when you are done people aren’t as quick to help you out.” More than 40 Dolphins players, a record according to Thornhill, will participate in programs that will prepare them for a future off the field. Ajayi, who signed a four-year, $2.5M contract with the Dolphins, will not receive any financial compensation for his externship, the team said. Ajayi will also be able to further the league’s int’l push through promotional engagements while overseas. “We benefit from a great story, and in leveraging the NFL, the Miami Dolphins and promoting a great individual,” Thornhill said.
PLANNING TO RETURN: Ajayi hopes his visit to the league’s London office will not be a one-time gig. “I definitely want to do stuff in the offseason,” he said. “I still have to go back and finish my degree.” As one of only a handful of England-born NFL players, Ajayi is happy about the league’s focus on the U.K. market. The league recently added Twickenham and Tottenham’s new venue to its stadium rotation along with Wembley, which has hosted annual regular-season games since ’07. The move, he said, will only increase the potential for more games and maybe even a franchise.
