Elvis Gooden Named CEO for NFL Alumni

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J., Dec. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Elvis Gooden, interim CEO of the NFL Alumni (NFLA) since April of 2017, has been named Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately, the organization announced today.

In addition, three-time Super Bowl Champion Bart Oates has been named NFLA President. The announcement was made by NFL Alumni Co-Chairmen Ron Jaworski and Bill Schultz.

Gooden has served as CFO for the NFLA since July, 2013, and was named NFLA Interim President/CEO last April.

"We are pleased that both individuals have agreed to lead our organization as we begin our next half century of caring for our retired players and caring for the kids in our local communities," said co-chairs Jaworski and Schultz. "Both men have distinguished themselves in business and have been tremendous contributors to our NFL Alumni organization for several years.  We believe they will be an excellent team to work together with our members, local chapters and communities in the future."

Gooden has an accounting degree from Hunter College in New York and has extensive management, financial, business and technology experience. He worked as state-certified Chief Municipal Finance Officer for 16 years in three New Jersey municipalities, including New Brunswick. He also served as a financial consultant for several New Jersey parking authorities and has been involved as CFO-Consultant on business acquisitions and sales in the state.

Oates played 11 seasons (1985-95) in the NFL and was a five-time Pro Bowl center for the Giants and 49ers. He has been the President of the New York-New Jersey chapter of NFLA for the last eight years. Oates earned his undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University in 1983 and obtained his law degree from Seton Hall University in 1990 while still an active player. He most recently was General Counsel for Metro DX Labs and has been an attorney at Raymond A. Koski & Associates in New Jersey for a quarter-century.

NFL Alumni is the oldest, most well-known and well-respected retired player organization in professional sports. Membership includes thousands of retired players, coaches, front office executives, spouses, cheerleaders, and avid fans.

A primary mission of NFL Alumni is to inform, assist, and serve players in their post-NFL lives.  Alumni are offered a diverse package of medical, business, and legal services to help keep them and their families healthy, productive, and connected to the league and their former teammates.

The NFL Alumni also has a traditional mission of "Caring for Kids" across the country. Player alumni give back in their local communities by raising funds for youth-related charities through their 35 regional chapters. It is a tradition that has existed for more than 50 years and continues to raise millions of dollars in support of these local causes.

Members of the search committee which proposed Mr. Gooden and Mr. Oates to the Board were former NFL players Chairman John Haines (Vikings, Colts; 1984-86); Bill Schultz (Colts, Oilers, Broncos, Bears; 1990-97); Ron Rice (Lions; 1995-2001); Beasley Reece (Cowboys, Giants, Buccaneers; 1976-84); and Andrew Bolton (Seahawks, Lions; 1976-78). 

About NFL Alumni
NFL Alumni is comprised of former NFL players, coaches, staffers, cheerleaders, spouses, and associate members whose mission is to serve, assist and inform former players and their families. The Alumni offers a variety of medical, financial, and social programs to help members lead healthy, productive and connected lives, as well as community initiatives under its "Caring for Kids" programs. Pro Football Legends is the commercial marketing arm of the NFL Alumni. For more information, please visit www.nflalumni.org.

Media Contacts:

Kyrsten Van Natta
IPZ
(862) 205-9841
[email protected]

Julie Nelson
NFL Alumni
(973) 241-4935
[email protected]

SOURCE NFL Alumni Association