Steelers' Snell, Johnson among 40 players attending NFLPA rookie event
Before football workouts resume next week with the start of organized team activities, two rookies from the Pittsburgh Steelers will get a crash course on the business side of the sport.
Wide receiver Diontae Johnson and running back Benny Snell are among 40 rookies who will participate in the 25th annual NFLPA Rookie Premiere, which is Thursday through Sunday in Los Angeles.
The rookie premiere is an event that helps rookies “jumpstart their endorsement careers,” according to the players’ association.
West Virginia quarterback Will Grier and Penn State running back Miles Sanders, a Woodland Hills graduate, also will attend the event. Of the 40 players, 39 are from skill positions, with defensive end Nick Bosa being the exception.
Johnson was a third-round draft choice, and the Steelers selected Snell in the fourth round.
The NFLPA will have 30 business partners on hand to assist the rookies in “seasonal campaigns and player-identified merchandise and showcase goods and services.”
“The NFLPA Rookie Premiere is an unparalleled opportunity for partners to engage with tomorrow’s most influential athletes,” said NFL Players Inc. president Ahmad Nassar. “For the first time as professionals and following in the footsteps of Russell Wilson, Saquon Barkley and Baker Mayfield, this year’s rookies will learn about the business of football from union leadership as they start to build a plan to succeed beyond their playing careers while connecting on a personal level with partners who share their passion for the game.”
Joe Rutter is a TribLive reporter who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since the 2016 season. A graduate of Greensburg Salem High School and Point Park, he is in his fifth decade covering sports for the Trib. He can be reached at jrutter@triblive.com.
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