Steelers executive Sheldon White chosen to participate in NFL diversity showcase program
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Pittsburgh Steelers director of pro scouting Sheldon White accepted an invitation from the NFL to participate in what it has dubbed the Front Office & General Manager Accelerator Program next week during league meetings in Dallas.
White is in his second season with the Steelers but had 20 prior years of experience working for NFL teams, including a lengthy stint (1997-2015) with the Detroit Lions that included a brief tenure as interim general manager.
“Sheldon’s participation in NFL’s Front Office & General Manager Accelerator program is certainly valuable to him, but more importantly, I think his involvement furthers the long-term growth of the program,” Steelers general manager Omar Khan said in a team-released statement. “Sheldon has served in executive roles at multiple franchises in this League, so he brings a unique knowledge and experience-level to the event that maybe other participants still need at this point of their career. He really brings an aptitude on the process that will benefit everyone.”
This is the fourth accelerator program the league has staged since its first last year, following a most recent one for coaches during May league meetings in Minneapolis.
According to the NFL, the intent is to provide up-and-coming, respected team personnel an “opportunity to build relationships with club owners and executives ahead of the hiring cycle.”
A league release stated that in addition to networking, candidates will participate in a range of personal and professional development programming, including practice interviews led by former general managers and leadership sessions from outside experts. For this event, personal development workshops have been added in an effort to focus on candidates’ overall wellness and mental preparedness when applying for roles.
Unlike previous accelerator program events in which candidates were nominated by their own team’s front offices, for this session the teams were asked to nominate individuals internal and external to their organizations. A league selection committee vetted nominations.
Among the other 41 taking part in the program is Carolina Panthers vice president of football administration Samir Suleiman, who formerly spent eight years in the Steelers front office.
“The NFL is committed to improving diversity throughout the league, and a large part of that is providing leadership opportunities to diverse candidates,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a league statement. “The Accelerator Program provides our clubs and owners an opportunity to connect directly with some of the finest candidates in the league who they may not know. Our intent is that these efforts translate into more diversity in leadership roles across the League.”
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