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Skydance Sports Joins the NFL Career Tour, Which Gives NFL Players Valuable Insight into the Entertainment Industry
SANTA MONICA, CA— Building on the global announcement of Hidden Empire Sports Collective (HESC), the National Football League (NFL) and Hidden Empire Film Group (HEFG) are set to launch the third annual NFL Career Tour joined this year by Skydance Sports, the joint venture between the NFL and Skydance. Designed by the NFL’s Player Engagement team, this premier professional development experience offers current players and NFL Legends exclusive access to major organizations, providing them with invaluable industry exposure and high-level networking opportunities with top executives.
As part of the NFL Career Tour, Skydance Sports, a leader in premium sports storytelling, will offer an exclusive look behind the scenes of sports filmmaking including providing participants with an immersive writers’ room experience and an insider look at the Hollywood industry.. This unique collaboration will inspire the next generation of sports media professionals by showcasing the power of storytelling in elevating the game.
“We are excited to provide this amazing experience for NFL players and Legends,” said NFL Senior Vice President of Player Operations Tracy Perlman. “The new division of Hidden Empire provides an opportunity that educates the attendees on every facet of the entertainment business. Their access to talent and entertainment executives also provides an additional networking opportunity for the group, which is a great resource.”
Following its tremendous success in past years, the NFL and HESC have teamed up again to host the 2025 NFL x Hidden Empire Career Tour at the Hidden Empire Studio in Santa Monica, CA.
“An NFL career is just the beginning. The real game is building a future beyond the field. That’s why this partnership with the NFL is so crucial—it equips players with the tools, connections, and opportunities to thrive long after the final whistle.” said co-CEO of Hidden Empire, Roxanne Taylor. “It’s fresh, different, and an exciting way to build today’s athletes into tomorrow’s leaders in the film and television space.”
“Skydance Sports is thrilled to be joining Hidden Empire and our partners at the NFL for this incredible opportunity,” said Head of Skydance Sports, Jason Reed. “We believe current and former players have a great deal to contribute to Hollywood storytelling. Our goal is to give players new insights into how the film industry operates and how they can unleash the potential of their unique skills and experiences.”
This unique three-day program offers a comprehensive exploration of the entertainment industry, from educational sessions to hands-on workshops and in-depth camera training. Last year’s three-day experience was a major success that included celebrity panelists such as Tyrese Gibson, Master P., and NFL Legends Vernon Davis, Rocket Ismail, and Ephraim Salaam. Players learned from and worked collaboratively with entertainment industry stars, including Michael Ealy, Demetrius Shipp Jr., Steven Caple Jr., Joe Carnahan, Kurt Wimmer, Charles Murray, Rodney Barnes, and many more.
“Our commitment to facilitating these athletes’ transition into their next chapter is unwavering, and we are overjoyed to provide them with this unparalleled opportunity to expand their horizons, embrace their creative passions, and chart a new course in their illustrious careers,” said co-CEO of Hidden Empire, Deon Taylor. “This collaboration underscores our dedication to nurturing talent and unlocking new possibilities, paving the way for these remarkable individuals to make an indelible mark in the world of entertainment.”
Attendees will put the knowledge gained into practice by shooting, producing, directing, and acting in a short film. All camera equipment for the workshop was sponsored by David Dodson of Panavision. The Career Tour will conclude with feedback about the short films and a discussion of how players can further explore their interest in the entertainment industry following the event.
About Hidden Empire Sports Collective
Hidden Empire Film Group (HEFG) and The Union announced the launch of Hidden Empire Sports Collective (HESC), the first entertainment division from a film studio to prioritize intellectual property and content creation for athletes and sports earlier this month. The new arm will redefine storytelling through strategic partnerships to create a pipeline for authentic, culture-centric narratives from the world’s best athletes. HESC will be overseen by The Union’s Co-CEO, Sumair Khan. Rodney Guillroy and Ephraim Salaam will join the leadership team as President of Talent Strategy and Creative Executive, respectively. They bring their collective expertise to the helm alongside Deon and Roxanne Avent Taylor, Co-CEOs of HEFG.
About Skydance Sports
Skydance Sports, the joint venture between the NFL and Skydance, has quickly become the preeminent studio for leagues, teams, elite athletes, and A-List Hollywood talent seeking to produce premium, sports-related entertainment.
Initially launched in 2021, the studio’s first two projects include the Sports Emmy-nominated docuseries _Good Rivals _and the critically acclaimed film _Air_ which received two Golden Globe Award nominations including “Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.” In 2022, Skydance partnered with the NFL and NFL Films on a joint venture to significantly expand multi-platform programming across sports in a broad range of formats for partners, fans, and viewers around the world. The partnership’s projects include the upcoming docuseries _America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys_ chronicling the Dallas Cowboys’ dynasty and franchise owner Jerry Jones, a documentary feature on football legend John Elway, and a docuseries on tennis icon Rafael Nadal for Netflix along with a scripted series for Hulu written and executive produced by Dan Fogelman set inside the world of the NFL. Recently released projects include the Hallmark holiday movie _Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story_, _Aaron Rodgers: Enigma_ for Netflix, _Freediver _on Prime Video, _Hard Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants _for HBO as well as the Sports Emmy-nominated _NFL Draft: The Pick Is In_ for The Roku Channel and _Kelce_ for Prime Video.
