How to Build a Winning Playbook: Ameer McFarland COM, JMS'27 Prepares for a Career in Sports Media
On any given game day at MetLife Stadium, Barclays Center, or the Prudential Center, thousands of fans stream through the gates sporting jerseys and showing their team pride, ready for kickoff. Behind the scenes, an intricate operation has been unfolding long before the first snap. Among the students learning how that massive enterprise works is Ameer McFarland COM, JMS'27.
A double major in Journalism and Media Studies and Communication, McFarland is preparing for a career at the intersection of media, branding, and sports, where he can work with athletes, teams, and the major brands that align with them.
Rather than narrowing his focus too early in college, he has opted to take a broader approach that will give him flexibility in an evolving media landscape. "I decided to double major in Communication and Journalism and Media Studies because both offer me the versatility I am looking for," McFarland explained. "Based on the spaces I can see myself working in, being well-versed across multiple areas will be valuable long term."
While deciding to double major, McFarland said he was inspired by the many SC&I graduates who have succeeded in their professions. "I looked at the career paths SC&I students had gone on to pursue, and that gave me confidence that this combination would prepare me for a range of opportunities. It felt like the right decision because it allowed me to develop both strategic communication skills and a strong understanding of media."
As an intern for the events and game-day operations team for the New York Jets, as well as working (as his schedule permits) with the New York Liberty public relations game-day staff, the Devils Youth Foundation, and Rutgers University Athletics, McFarland said he experiences firsthand the fast-paced logistics and storytelling that shape the fan experience. These opportunities, he said, represent not just proximity to professional sports but rather a real-world view into the industry he hopes to grow within.
Mentorships Change the Game
While coursework in both majors has helped shape his interests, he said one class in particular has already left a mark. McFarland points to his Principles of Public Relations course as a defining influence early in his Rutgers experience. "So far, my Principles of Public Relations class has had the greatest impact on me," he said. "Even though it has only been a few weeks since it began, Professor Mark Beal has already made a strong impression on both me and the rest of the class."
The Road to a Professional Team
Looking ahead, McFarland sees himself staying firmly rooted in the sports world.
Long term, I want to continue working in sports and collaborate directly with brands and organizations I genuinely already connect with. I haven’t narrowed it down to one specific role, but I see myself somewhere on the communications side, whether that’s marketing, public relations, or media relations.
Ameer McFarland COM, JMS'27
His ambitions extend across the broader sports ecosystem: from teams and leagues to global brands and agencies.
"Ultimately, my goal is to work with a professional team, a league, a major brand like Nike, or a sports agency where I can contribute to how athletes and organizations are represented and understood."
Don’t Wait to Ask
For students navigating similar career paths, McFarland emphasizes one lesson he has learned early: success rarely happens in isolation. Much of the advice that shaped his outlook came from mentors and professionals who were willing to offer guidance along the way.
"I’ve received a lot of great advice from people who went out of their way to help me when they didn’t have to, and that has always stuck with me," he says. "The earlier you realize you don’t have to do everything alone, the better off you’ll be."
Building relationships, he believes, requires both humility and initiative. "It can feel intimidating to reach out, ask questions, or admit you don’t know something, but leaning on people who understand where you are makes navigating school, life, and career decisions much easier," he explained.
Equally important, he said, is maintaining those connections and creating value for others. "Stay in contact after projects, update people as you grow, and help others without expecting anything in return. Being genuine goes a long way."
That philosophy, paired with a willingness to take initiative, has become central to how he approaches opportunities.
"I’d also say be proactive and solve problems," McFarland said. "Don’t wait for opportunities to come to you, sometimes you have to go find them."
For a student already gaining experience inside an NFL game-day operation, that advice feels less like theory and more like a mindset in motion—one that could carry him from Rutgers classrooms to the communications departments of the sports world’s biggest stages.
Learn more about the Communication major and the Journalism and Media Studies major at the Rutgers School of Communication and Information.
Image provided by Ameer McFarland.
