Sam Rapoport

Keynote Speaker

NFL Executive; People Magazine’s 25 Women Changing the World; Host, NFL and iHeart Radio Podcast; Sports Illustrated Most Powerful, Most Influential, Most Outstanding Women in Sports; Fortune’s 40-under 40; Change Management Expert

Bold, forward-thinking executive leading organizational transformation in the NFL. Sam Rapoport shares actionable takeaways for how to drive seemingly insurmountable progress in organizations that are slow to change.

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Sam Rapoport'S SPEAKING FEE $25K - $40K

Sam Rapoport has spent 22 seasons working in football, dedicating her career to expanding access and opportunity for girls and women across the game.

Rapoport has spearheaded significant efforts to advance the NFL’s progress toward building a diverse and inclusive League. Most notably, since 2017 her work to empower and establish women in football has resulted in the of hiring more than 250 women into football roles league-wide and has positioned the NFL as a sports industry leader, with more women coaches than any other male professional sports league.

The success of Rapoport’s transformative efforts at the NFL has catalyzed a movement for women in sports — one that stands to have a hugely positive impact on the industry.

Rapoport is a host of the NFL’s groundbreaking podcast called “Earnin’ It: The NFL’s Forward Progress” with iHeart Radio and has recently appeared as a guest on Pat McAfee Show, Up & Adams with Kay Adams and was featured on the TODAY Show on NBC.

Rapoport was recently named one of Sports Illustrated‘s Most Powerful, Most Influential, and Most Outstanding Women in Sports, Sports Business Journal’s 2023 Game Changers and Adweek’s 2023 Champions of Change. She was also awarded the NFL Commissioner’s Award selected by Commissioner Roger Goodell, Fortune’s 40 Under 40, Outsports’ Hero of the Year, and was recently named one of People Magazine’s 25 Women Changing the World.

Rapoport has played football since the age of 14 as quarterback of several women’s tackle and flag football teams. She is a graduate of McGill University in Montreal, Canada and resides with her wife, Rebecca, and their young children, Jordy and Tobin in the New York area.

Featured Videos

Sam Rapoport: Creating Opportunity for Women in the NFL

Sam Rapoport’s Speech Topics

Breaking the Grass Ceiling: How the Face of the NFL Is Forever Changed

Sam provides the blueprint for how the NFL went from no women in coaching, scouting, and officiating positions to rapid progress and record numbers. In 2024, the NFL now has more women in coaching roles than any other male professional sports league in the world.
Sam provides 5 key “sticky” takeaways that an organization can use to create change in any space of the business.
These strategies can be implemented to help any organization drive change. The audience will:
- Ignite their passion to identify opportunities, and create change
- Learn how the NFL achieved progress in such a short timeline
- Learn how to apply these principles in your organization
- Leave the session feeling inspired – like you could run through a brick wall

What other organizations say about Sam Rapoport

I had the pleasure of being a literal front row participant to Sam’s incredible session. It was humbling, and powerful, and I came out of there telling my colleagues that I’m so glad people like Sam exist in our world. Not just for the sake of my five-year-old daughter at the center of my universe, of which I have no doubt her world will be significantly better thanks to Sam, but for the rest of us, who are 100% into the mission but need inspirational leaders to follow. Her passion and enthusiasm are nothing short of brilliant and I’m so glad I got to feel that force for good up close.
Health Care

What other organizations say about Sam Rapoport

Sam. You were awesome today. In my 30 plus years in the industry, I have heard a lot of leaders come and speak to us in many forums, and I can hands down say you had by far the most impactful discussion with all of us. I truly appreciate your comments, thoughts, and leadership. As a father of four daughters, I continue to wonder how best to support them and see that they are afforded all of life’s opportunities. I’m hopeful my team will share a replay of your discussion so that I can share it with them. Wishing you all the best as you continue to achieve your goals and aspirations.
Financial Services

What other organizations say about Sam Rapoport

I wanted to thank you for being such an integral part of providing our clients the opportunity to participate in such a fabulous event. You did not disappoint — our clients loved you!!! The results are in and although everyone scored in the 90 percentile, you my dear scored the highest! Hands down, we want to do more with you — your message just resonates with everyone.
Technology

What other organizations say about Sam Rapoport

Most inspiring speaker I’ve ever heard!!! I cannot thank you enough for the inspiration you’ve provided for work I’m involved in both at work and in my civic engagement. I may print out the entire transcript and read it again and again. At the very least, I’ll print out many quotes and hang them in front of my desk. I feel like so many of us are working in the same direction but you exquisitely laid it out in simple, memorable language so we can better coordinate our forward movement. Your presentation today has renewed my energy to be a fierce force for change, and to follow and share your 5-step playbook.
Health Care

What other organizations say about Sam Rapoport

I couldn’t let the day end without reaching out and expressing my deep gratitude for spending time with the team today. Your day-to-day work in the NFL undeniably makes an impact, but it’s clear that speaking to large groups is truly a calling. You have the incredible ability to connect with people and multiply yourself and your wisdom, touching the hearts and minds of everyone in the room. I promise you, every single person took something away that is going move this place forward in a meaningful way. The response to your session has been nothing short of overwhelming. I couldn’t take a step for the rest of the evening without someone stopping me to express how much they loved hearing your story. They all wanted to share the learnings that they found most impactful ? each person resonated with something different but it all aligned with the spirit, depth and breadth of your message. The entire night of conversations were ignited by your story. Thank you for making such a profound difference. Please know that your presence and words are leaving a lasting and meaningful impact on all of us.
Financial Services

Latest News

The Associated Press
NFL’s look changing as more women move into prominent roles at teams across league
Adweek
Champions of Change: 24 Women Who Are Transforming the Sports World
Sports Business Journal
Sam Rapoport — National Football League
Forbes
Four Leadership Lessons From A Retired Quarterback
Outsports
Top 10: Outsports Power 100, the most influential LGBTQ people in sports
Yahoo Sports
At NFL women’s forum, head coaches share trade secrets, find antidote to ‘anticompetitive’
TODAY
How the NFL Women’s Forum is shaping the future of football
Apple Podcasts
PMS 2.0 858 – NFL Combine Chatter, NFL Senior Director Of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Sam Rapoport, & The Return Of AJ Hawk

Works by Sam Rapoport

Sam Rapoport
A Kid’s Book About Allyship
Sam Rapoport
Earnin’ It: The NFL’s Forward Progress Podcast

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Sam Rapoport Topics & Types

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