FOOTBALL COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE

Title: Football Communications Associate                          

Department: Football Communications                              

Reports To: Manager of Football Communications

Supervises People: No

About the Role

The Associate Development Program is a paid 12-month full-time (temporary) experience designed for early-career individuals or those beginning their professional careers. A bachelor’s degree, relevant certification, or a combination of related education and experience aligned with the responsibilities of the role is required. Relevant coursework, training, or equivalent experience is valued. The format allows for structured professional development and hands-on learning.

The Football Communications Associate will primarily support the Football Communications department, with involvement in various other Communications efforts. The Football Communications department’s primary function is to be a conduit between the media and our players and coaches. As part of this process, the team provides media training for team personnel and manages all interview requests. The department is also responsible for writing press materials and compiling statistical information throughout the year. The ideal candidate will have strong writing skills and the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment. This position would work primarily at the team’s headquarters in Lake Forest, IL plus at Soldier Field for home gamedays, with the ability for some remote work. 

2026-27 Associate Development Program Dates: Monday, June 1, 2026 – Friday, May 21, 2027

Who We Are

As one of the founding franchises of the NFL, family is the core of who we are. We believe every person matters and we can collectively achieve success through our values of respect, championship mindset, community, and perseverance. We’re different from other companies, as our vision is to be “one of one”. We strive to be a championship football organization that consistently performs at a level of excellence on and off the field. Our people represent a vast array of cultural backgrounds, human experiences and perspectives and we believe they, collectively and as authentic individuals, are our greatest resource. Our working environment is one where your talent and contributions are valued by the organization and the community.

 Responsibilities

• Team Media Coordination
  • Work with players on management and preparation of interviews, both on a regular and non-regular basis including local media and national media requests, production meetings and post-game availability.
  • Assist coaches and staff with projects that may arise (focus on roster and statistical projects).
• Local Media Coordination 
  • Assist daily local media with their coverage of the organization through facilitation of interviews in a timely manner and pitching team-related storylines and background information on members of the organization.
  • Monitor Open Locker Room
    • Team with the rest of the Football Communications staff to help oversee daily (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday) open locker room period, allowing media access for 45 minutes.

• Clips

• Collect local clips electronically and drop into clips template
  • Email set of clips to specific clips lists based on content included
• Compile feature clips over course of training camp/in-season
• Publications
  • Manage NFLOMG page
    • Responsible for updating and maintaining elements such as the Roster, Calendar, Media Center, etc.
  • Game Program
    • Work with other departments for content of fixed pages prior to the start of season
    • Update non-fixed pages for each program (work with other departments to give deadlines for content)
    • Oversee proofreading and confirmation of all changes on non-fixed pages
  • Flip Card
    • Responsible for creation of the Flip Card for every home game. 
  • Weekly Game Release
    • Assist Manager of Football Communications with assigned sections of the Weekly Release
    • Help proofread all sections

• Game Day Management
  • Transport all Gameday Materials to the stadium
  • Coordinate Press Box set-up
  • Assist with potential on-field postgame interviews 
  • Assist with postgame locker room media access 
  • Execute Postgame Transcripts and assist Manager of Football Communications with Postgame Notes
  • Other duties as assigned

 Qualifications

• College graduate with a concentration in Communications, Public Relations or related background; relevant experience considered
• Strong writing skills: proven experience in use of AP style preferred
• Basic understanding of Adobe InDesign, Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Dependable, flexible and able to adapt to a variety of situations and personalities
• Able to effectively work in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment and demonstrate the ability to juggle multiple projects. Organization and time management skills are critical to the success of this role.
• Able to work at least 40 hours per week including nights and weekends
• Able to work non-traditional hours, in non-traditional settings. This includes working all home and away games, in addition to the entirety of team training camp.
• Experience with football statistics and statistic websites
• Previous experience with an NFL club, or major college program a plus, but not required
• Ability to develop strong media relationships, both locally and nationally
• Reliable transportation is required for this role

What We Offer

We remain committed to upholding the standard of being a first-class organization and employer of choice. 

COMPETITIVE INDUSTRY PAY

The Football Communications Associate is a full-time temporary position. This position is an HOURLY role. The expected hourly rate for this role is $18 per hour. Please note, due to job function, regular over-time (paid as time-and-a-half) is expected. 

BENEFITS & PERKS

Our Associate offerings include but are not limited to: 

• Core Coverage: Optional medical coverage (employer paid premium + employee paid deductible) 
• Flexible Work Location: Up to 2 days a week of remote work (role dependent) 
• Time to Recharge: 5 days of paid vacation time, 3 paid sick/mental health days plus 10 paid holidays, paid time off to volunteer 
• Experiences: complimentary preseason tickets for one game, ability to buy additional tickets for home & away games 
• Wellness: FREE breakfast, lunch, snacks and drinks, access to onsite fitness facilities and BearsFit, complimentary Calm app access 
• Connection: Social events for staff and their families, Employee Resource Groups, and more 
• Professional Development: complimentary LinkedIn Learning access, professional development sessions, guest speakers, mentorship 

 Additional information on employee benefits can be found by visiting www.ChicagoBears.com/jobs. 

 Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion 

The Chicago Bears organization continues to deepen its commitment to establishing an inclusive, equitable work environment that reflects the diversity within our communities and fan base. We value, respect, and appreciate diversity at all levels, on and off the field, and are guided by a vision of success that includes integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion into our club's DNA and culture. The Chicago Bears seek to attract, retain and develop top talent, regardless of personal characteristics, and we invite and encourage all individuals to apply for positions of interest.

The specific statements shown in each section of this description are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements and criteria necessary to successfully perform the job. Chicago Bears Football Club, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.