Abstract
AbstractWe live in the age of instant celebrity and under-developed global influencers. Leaders are chosen based off their athletic prowess and social followers. Far too often today’s athletes find themselves serving as leaders with their development being on their field of play and not through qualitative or indigenous methodologies of leadership. Charles Barkley is famed for his saying in a Nike commercial, “I am not a role model. I am not paid to be a role model. I’m paid to wreak havoc on the basketball court.” The objective of this paper is to dissect the history of athlete leadership, particularly for African Americans playing within the NFL, along with its current state and future belonging. This literature review investigates research that encompasses leadership theory and the crossover of athletes and sports on athletes and leadership. Understanding when athletes first felt the pressures of forced leadership and how they managed to cope will provide insight on not only assisting future athletes but also future leaders. An evasive group to access, professional athletes offer so much more than entertainment within their athletic disciplines.
Keywords: athlete leadership