How to Get In the NFL: The Ultimate Guide

Looking to make it to the NFL? Check out our ultimate guide on how to get there. From training and conditioning to the Combine and Draft, we’ve got you covered.

Introduction

The National Football League (NFL) is the highest level of professional American football. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association (APFA), with the league changing its name to the National Football League in 1922. The NFL agreed to merge with the American Football League (AFL) in 1966, and the first Super Bowl was held at the end of that season; the merger was completed in 1970. Today, the NFL has thirty-two teams, divided equally between the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC). The NFL is by far the most popular sports league in North America; in 2019, Super Bowl LIII (between the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams) had 103.4 million viewers, making it one of the most-watched television broadcasts in American history.

If you’re reading this guide, you probably want to know how to become a professional football player in the NFL. While there is no one path to take, there are some specific steps you can take to improve your chances of being drafted into the NFL. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about how to get into the NFL, from high school football to scouting combine evaluations.

Research

If you want to get into the NFL, you’ll need to do your research. There are a few things you need to know before you start contacting teams. The first thing is to know what teams are looking for in a player. Each team has different needs, so you’ll need to research each team to find out what they’re looking for. You can do this by looking at the team’s website, or contacting the team’s scouting department.

What position do you want to play?

In order to even have a chance at playing in the NFL, you first need to choose what position you want to play. The most popular position is obviously quarterback, but that doesn’t mean it’s the easiest to get into the NFL. In fact, there are a number of other positions that are actually easier to get into the NFL.

The four main positions are:
-Offense: Quarterback, Running Back, Wide Receiver, Tight End, Offensive Lineman
-Defense: Defensive Lineman, Linebacker, Cornerback, Safety

Each position has different requirements and skillsets. For example, quarterbacks need to have a strong arm and be able to make quick decisions. Running backs need to be fast and have good vision. Wide receivers need to be quick and have good hands. And so on.

You can’t just choose any old position though. You need to pick a position that you excel at and that you enjoy playing. If you don’t enjoy playing the position, then you’re not going to be very good at it and you probably won’t make it very far.

To help you decide what position is best for you, here is a list of pros and cons for each position:
-Quarterback: Pros – gets all the glory, attracts all the attention; Cons – high pressure, always in the spotlight
-Running Back: Pros – can make a big impact on the game; Cons – always getting hit by huge defenders
-Wide Receiver: Pros – gets open a lot; Cons – might not touch the ball much during the game
-Tight End: Pros – can catch and block; Cons – not as much glory as other positions
-Offensive Lineman: Pros – protects the quarterback; Cons – doesn’t get much credit if they do their job well
-Defensive Lineman: Pros – can make tackles for losses; Cons – often double teamed
-Linebacker: Pros – versatile; can play multiple positions; Cons – require speed
-Cornerback:Pros – able to intercept passes;Cons – might get burned sometimes
-Safety :Pros – can make big plays;Cons – backups usually don’t see much playing time

What team do you want to play for?

One important factor to consider when trying to make it into the NFL is what team you want to play for. Obviously, you want to pick a team that has a good chance of making it to the playoffs and winning the Super Bowl, but there are other things to consider as well. For instance, some teams have a history of drafting players from your position, so if you want to play for that team, you need to be sure you’re good enough to be drafted by them.

Do your research on all of the teams in the NFL and narrow down your list to a few that you’d be happy playing for. Consider factors like their recent success, their coaching staff, their offensive and defensive schemes, and whether they have a need at your position. Once you have a few teams in mind, start reaching out to them and see if you can get a tryout.

What are your stats?

Now that you know what the NFL scouts are looking for, it’s time to take a good, hard look at your own stats. This can be a difficult task, because it’s easy to be biased when you’re assessing your own skills. However, it’s important to be as honest as possible with yourself so that you can accurately set your goals and expectations.

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you assess your stats:

-Scouts will be looking at more than just your 40-yard dash time. They’ll also be looking at your agility, strength, and overall athleticism.

-It’s not just about how fast you are – it’s also about how quickly you can accelerate. This is why the 10-yard split is often given more weight than the 40-yard dash time.

-Your stats will vary depending on which position you’re playing. For example, if you’re a wide receiver, your 40-yard dash time will be more important than if you’re a lineman.

Training

Find a training program

Choose a training program that will fit your lifestyle and schedule. If you decide to train on your own, make sure you are doing exercises that are specific to the position you want to play. There are many books and videos available that can show you the correct way to train.

Many colleges have football programs that will help you train for the NFL. These programs are usually run by former NFL players and coaches. They will teach you the same techniques and exercises that they used when they were playing.

There are also many private training facilities that specialize in training football players for the NFL. These facilities usually have state-of-the-art equipment and experienced coaches.

Train for your position

In order to make it to the NFL, you’ll need to do more than just show up on game day. You’ll need to be in excellent shape, both physically and mentally. While you may be born with some of the physical gifts needed to play football at the highest level, the majority of players have had to work hard to develop their skills.

You’ll need to determine what position you want to play. Once you know which position is right for you, start training for that specific position. Depending on the position, you’ll need different types of speed, agility, and strength. You’ll also need to work on your hand-eye coordination and reaction time.

If you want to train like an NFL player, start by working on your speed and agility. You can do this by sprinting and doing other drills that improve your acceleration. Next, focus on improving your strength by lifting weights and doing other resistance exercises. Finally, work on improving your hand-eye coordination by participating in activities that require you to catch or hit a moving object.

The Draft

The NFL Draft is how most players enter the league. It is a seven-round process in which teams select eligible college players. The order of the draft is determined by the previous year’s standings, with the worst team picking first and the Super Bowl winner picking last. There are a total of 254 picks in the NFL Draft.

Get drafted by an NFL team

In order to be drafted by an NFL team, players must first declare themselves eligible for the draft. Players who have been out of high school for at least three years and have used up their college football eligibility are considered “draft-eligible.” Once a player declares himself eligible, he is entered into the pool of players from which NFL teams can draft.

The actual process of being drafted by an NFL team begins with the NFL Scouting Combine, a series of physical and mental tests that all draft-eligible players are invited to participate in. The combine takes place in Indianapolis in February and is attended by representatives from all 32 NFL teams.

Players who participate in the combine go through a series of drills designed to test their athletic abilities, and they are also weighed and measured. They also undergo psychological testing, and they are interviewed by team representatives. All of this information is then compiled into what is known as a player’s “combine profile,” which is used by teams to help them make decisions about which players to draft.

Players who do not participate in the combine can still be drafted by an NFL team; however, they may have a harder time getting noticed by scouts if they don’t have a combine profile.

The actual draft takes place in April, and it consists of seven rounds during which each team chooses one player. Players who are not chosen during the draft become “undrafted free agents,” and they are free to sign with any team that offers them a contract.

Be prepared for the NFL Combine

The National Football League Combine is a week-long showcase occurring every February at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, where college football players perform physical and mental tests in front of NFL coaches, general managers, and scouts.

With their futures in the NFL on the line, players are put through a series of workouts that include the 40-yard dash, bench press, vertical jump, broad jump, 3-cone drill, and shuttle run. They are also given the opportunity to meet with teams for interviews.

The goal of the NFL Combine is to give these young men a chance to show off their skills and abilities in hopes of impressing the people who have the power to make their dreams of playing in the NFL a reality.

Conclusion

The NFL is a very difficult league to get into. However, if you have the skill, dedication, and determination, you can make it into the league. There are many ways to get into the NFL, but the most common way is to be drafted by an NFL team.

Whether you are drafted or signed as a free agent, you will need to stand out during training camp and preseason to make the final roster. Once you make an NFL roster, you will need to perform well during the regular season to keep your spot on the team.

The best way to increase your chances of making it into the NFL is to play football at the collegiate level. Playing football at a high level will give you the opportunity to be scouted by NFL teams and increase your chances of being drafted or signed as a free agent.