Gallagher Expands Athlete Internship Program to Prepare Pros for Careers Beyond Sports

Insurance brokerage giant Gallagher is expanding its innovative internship program aimed at professional athletes, offering them the opportunity to gain business skills and career experience to help prepare for life after sports. The six-week summer initiative provides participants with professional development, mentorship, and hands-on exposure to insurance brokerage, sales, and corporate culture, equipping them with tools for a future beyond the playing field.

Launched in 2024 with a pilot group of four players from the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, the Gallagher Partnership Intern Program has now grown to include members of the National Women’s Soccer League’s Chicago Stars. Eight athletes took part in this year’s program, including current midfielder Leilanni Nesbeth and former player Chardonnay Curran, who welcomed the chance to transition from the soccer pitch to a corporate setting.

“It means a lot for us to be able to get our foot in the door,” Nesbeth told CNBC. Curran added, “I’ve never had a job outside of soccer. Being a pro soccer player was my first career, and I’ve never been in a corporate setting.”

Soccer game | Source: Pexels

Athlete Skills in the Corporate World

Gallagher executives see clear parallels between professional sports and business success. “They know what it’s like to work hard and how long that path is to get to success,” said Chris Mead, Gallagher’s chief marketing officer. “They know what it’s like to be part of a team and how to lead one.”

The firm has already gone on to employ some of its athlete interns after their playing days ended. Mead noted that in Europe, Gallagher currently employs a professional rugby player who has become one of its top salesmen. “There’s a time when the light bulb goes off and they see how celebrating a win on the pitch is no different than celebrating a win after a sale or doing something wonderful for a customer,” he said.

Adapting to Athlete Needs

The internship program is tailored to accommodate the demanding schedules of professional athletes, offering flexibility while delivering exposure to a variety of corporate functions. Participants report that the experience helps demystify industries they had never previously considered.

“We went in there knowing nothing about insurance, and now I could probably bore your head off about RPS,” Nesbeth joked, referencing “risk placement services.” Curran described how the program reshaped her perspective: “After doing the internship, everything I thought about insurance was the exact opposite.”

For many participants, the program is particularly valuable given the challenges of building a sustainable long-term career in sports. Professional athletic careers can be brief and unpredictable, with salaries varying widely. In the NWSL, for example, average annual earnings are about $125,000.

Football game | Source: Pexels

Industry Trend

Gallagher is not alone in linking professional sports and insurance. State Farm has long featured top athletes in its advertising campaigns, from former NFL quarterback Eli Manning to Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and WNBA star Caitlin Clark. Other insurers are also stepping into the sports world in new ways.

On Monday, AIG announced it was becoming the first Fortune 500 company to invest directly in an English professional soccer club, taking a stake in Salford City Football Club of EFL League Two. Meanwhile, Nationwide, also an NWSL partner, runs a similar program in Columbus, Ohio, offering players professional development opportunities at its corporate headquarters.

“Our hope is that the players walk away with new skills and experiences that may serve them now and in their post-playing careers, perhaps back at Nationwide,” said Jim McCoy, vice president of sports marketing for the company.

Gallagher’s approach reflects a growing recognition of the need to prepare athletes for careers beyond their sports. By bridging the gap between the locker room and the boardroom, the firm aims to ensure that professional players have both the skills and opportunities to succeed long after the final whistle.