May 24, 2023 • 46 mins
Kristen Balboni speaks with Jordan Trgovac, Scouting Assistant for the Carolina Panthers. The duo reflects on Trgovac’s determination to make a career shift, the ins and out of being a successful NFL scout, and the power of being resilient.
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
It's always good to kind of get your story out
there for someone who maybe doesn't know that it's a job.
I think for me that was one thing, that there's
so many jobs out there that you don't even think
are jobs, and to exactly see it or you hear
about it, and so for that, for something like this,
this podcast is really cool for people to go and
listen to and get to think like, oh, maybe I
(00:24):
could do that.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Welcome to Season three of the Inspire Her Podcast, presented
by Atrium Health. This is a podcast series for Panthers
fans where we highlight admirable women from across the Carolinas
as they share stories and lessons from their lives and careers.
And today I am so thrilled because I am joined
by Jordan Targovac. She is a scouting assistant for the Panthers,
and prior to that, she worked in pr for both
(00:49):
the Panthers and the Kansas City Chiefs. But most importantly,
she's my friend. So I'm excited that she is sitting
here with me, especially because Jordan, I know you don't
love talking about yourself, so I'm excited that we convinced
you to do this because we should be talking about you.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
Well, thank you very much. I've always actually wanted to
be on a podcast, so it's very exciting. Oh really, gad,
you're my first. Oh that is exciting.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
You've had a lot of articles written about you recently
and rightfully so, but we're the first podcast.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
You are the third the first podcast. Yes, hey, yeah,
it's yeah, it's been a lot of articles. I don't
know rightfully, so is right, But I know people are interested.
So it's always good to get the word out there.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
And the reason that people are interested is because of
this this path that you've taken, and we are going
to talk about that. I think it's it's really cool,
and especially what you're doing now in scouting. And I
remember even when you transitioned into that job. I remember
standing out on the practice field with you and I
work for the Panthers. I've worked here for three years
and I was like, okay, so now explain it to me,
like exactly what you're doing. So I think it'll be
(01:51):
really cool to for people to understand a little bit
more about it, especially you know, girls and women, because
it's it's a it's a really cool thing that you're doing.
It's it's a neat department and something that, like I said,
even working here that side of things, even I don't
know much about the day to day and how it
all comes together.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
So I'm excited to get into it.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
But but before we get into that, you know, a
lot of these these articles that have come out about
your video pieces have focused on the scouting, which is awesome,
But I love like the rest of your career path too,
and we work together a lot when you were in
PR and I still miss you dearly. I wish that
you would come back, although I understand that you were
on a different and very cool path now.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
But I want to get into all of it.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
So a lot of the questions that, like I get
when people ask me, you know, about my career.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Is like, how did you get started?
Speaker 2 (02:42):
So?
Speaker 3 (02:43):
How did you get started? I do love this story.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
Yeah, So I got started in high school really because
my dad was coaching for the Packers up in Green Bay,
and my parents basically told me, like like any high
school kid, like I needed to get a job, Yes,
do something something with my life, you know, something with
myself other than just school in sports. And so my
dad he helped me get a game day role in
(03:10):
the press box up with the packers with Sarah Quick
up there, who's amazing.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
And that is My first job was at outback, so
you definitely that's a cool first job to have.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
No, it's it was like I always don't even really
think of it as a job because like most people,
they work more than one day week. Yeah, Like, and
I really I felt like I did stuff, but I
was just kind of like watching the game, sure, and
hanging out with people that worked in the press box.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Still how I feel about Sundays too, Like on the side,
like I'm in my thirties now and I'm like, man,
I get to be on the field during game day,
so I get it.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Yeah, I mean it was cool. And then I think
the coolest part about doing that was that after the
games there in Green Bay, we would collect like the
photo vests from the photographers. So we did that in
the tunnel. And it was the same tunnel that my
dad would walk out of on game day, so like
he would walk past and then when he would come
off the field, I would kind of just like leave
with him and then go meet up with my mom
(04:04):
and my brother. And so yeah, that's how I got started,
And really I didn't think it was going to turn
into anything. I just it was kind of like my
high school job. Knew that I kind of like communications
and was going to see where that was going to go.
But I really I went to college to be an
event planner. Really. Yeah, So when I went to College
(04:25):
of Charleston from Green Bay, wanted to get as far
away from the Midwest and the snow as possible and chose,
you know, Charleston, which is amazing and beautiful. And yeah,
I was a communications major, but my minor was Hospitality
and Tourism because I was like I wanted to be
a wedding planner. I don't really know where that came from,
but like I was like, I'm going to be a
(04:46):
wedding planner. I did that for one summer with like
an amazing group of women, but I was like, I
cannot do this.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
See I think you would. I now that you say that,
I never knew that about you. I'm like, oh, I
can see that too, because you are so detail oriented,
you are so on it that I would never want
to be a wedding planner. Having planned most of my
own wedding, I'm like, never again, But I get it now.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
That you say that, Yeah, I mean I think it's
just a little bit of like the bossiness and having
control over things. So like I did, it was fun.
I mean, Charleston weddings are like iconics. I'm sure they're
creating even I think maybe that was a little bit
of it, Like you kind of get thrown into the
fire of a Charleston wedding. But like the weddings were
beautiful and amazing. But I was like, this is not
(05:31):
for me.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
It's not your passion.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
It wasn't my passion, and so I stayed with hospitality
as my minor, just because you get to do a
lot of things in Charleston with that. But decided I
was probably going to go on more of like a
PR path, So I did some internships with like a nonprofit.
I did an internship with a PR firm in Charleston,
(05:53):
working with like boutique hotels and restaurants.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Can I ask a question, yeah about this too. So
you mentioned that your dad was coaching, and of course,
you know your last name is very distinctive. Your dad
was a big part of the early years of the
Panthers here defensive coordinator.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
Yeah, at one point.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
But it's interesting that even though you started in football
on your first job, you really kind of went away from.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
It for a little while.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Was that kind of indirect I don't know, opposition to Okay,
football might be expected. Football is like the family business.
Let me go and see what else is outside? Felt like,
what was your relationship with football at this time?
Speaker 1 (06:27):
Yeah, I think it kind of a little bit. Was
like trying to get away from it. I went to
Charleston that doesn't have a football team. Yeah, I think
I was just trying to explore your own explore my
own life, and see kind of things outside of football.
Football is all that we've ever known and my family's
ever done for me at least, and so I yeah,
I wanted to see what was out there and like,
(06:50):
and my dad was always like, I mean, like football
will be there, like if you want to do it.
But like he's like, you have to like really want
to do it, because as you know, like our hours
are crazy and we work all the time, like you
don't really have a life, and so he was like,
just make sure that they if that's what you're going
to come back and do, like you really have to
want to do it. So I kind of just wanted
to explore different things, go different options, and yeah, then
(07:13):
when I graduated, I still was kind of not exactly
sure what I wanted to do. And who is by
the way, Yeah really no, I mean I'm still to
this day. I mean I'm always kind of like, oh,
maybe I'll try that.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
But we want to be when we grow up.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Yeah, I'll never know, I don't think. But yeah. So
the my old boss at the Chiefs, him and my
dad had weirdly, I think they ran into each other
at a Pro Bowl or something in Hawaii and I
was like, yeah, like she's graduating. She like she needs
to kind of figure out.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
What she's going to do.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
And I'm like, your Dad's like talk to me.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
He's like he's like, look, Jordan, you know it's like at.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
This point a right and it's time to you know,
do something. And I'm like okay. So he hired me.
Ted Cruz hired me as a training camp intern for
the Chiefs and so that's kind of how I got
started and are in communications in cac.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
What was that like your first training camp?
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Because I think about, and we're going to talk about
this in a little bit, your first day.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
I think on the job with the Panthers was in
training camp.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
And I was thinking about that this morning as I
was getting ready for this podcast, and I was like,
the time that I would and if you don't work
in football, I will try to explain this. The time
that I would least like to start a new job
would be training camp because you hit the ground running.
It's almost every single day you're in a location that is,
you know, not normal.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Everything is just on hyper speed.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
There are no weekends, there are no and you're there's
such a steep learning curve that when anyone starts during
training camp you're like, oh my gosh, like, if you
need anything, let me know. And so you also started
your internship, which I know is when a lot of
interns start. So what was it like being thrown into
not just the NFL, but also this very truncated, high
pressure environment.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
Right, Yeah, I mean I think for me it was
exactly like that. You're just thrown in and like us,
the Chiefs go away for training camp, they go to
a different.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
Campus where they go.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
They go to Saint Joe, Missouri. So it's like an
hour outside of Kansas City and like a small little town.
It's very similar to Spartanburg Actually, So yeah, like you
just kind of get thrown in and like you're trying
to learn not just like your job, but like who
you're even working with, names of people, names of coaches,
names of all the players, names of just like support staff,
(09:26):
all of that. And so for me too, like a
lot of people that come into working in communications in
the NFL have done like work as like an SID
in college, working in like their sports information.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
Sports information director.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Yeaheah. So I I didn't do that because I was
playing softball in college and I just didn't really know
that was an option and I kind of did other things.
So I kind of came in like really blind honestly,
like they they really took a chance on me and
just kind of gave me an opportunity. And so it
was just like learning by fire. It was. It was
(10:00):
really fun and like you said, like you don't get
weekends or really time off, but you get really close
with the people that you work with because you're working
with them all the time.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
It is such a bonding experience. I feel like, you know,
any year with training camp, a lot of times that
is you know, your meeting let's say the new player
is the new coaching staff, right. There's always turnover every season,
and it feels like you you know everyone pretty well,
especially if you've worked with them before. But when you
come out of training camp, on the other side, it
feels like a whole different thing because you are so
(10:30):
close with everyone. You're doing stuff all the time, you
eat in the same places as the players, the coaching staff,
the support staff, everyone, and it's it's kind of like
summer camp, right, except you're working really really.
Speaker 3 (10:40):
Hard the entire time.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
So what was it about PR or what did that
just kind of present itself to you in the form
of this internship because I just think you're such a
good PR person and I want to and you're also
a good scout, you know. I just I think that
that's one of those things. Of Course, I'm going to
brag on you, whether you like it or not, but
I think we should explain to everyone who doesn't know
(11:03):
because PR. Of course, I think that's one of those
things like producer, right, where you kind of know what
it is if you don't work in this, but in
the NFL it is very specific, and I think even
with interns, at least I know what the Panthers.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
You're doing a.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Lot like you're not coming in and you know, getting
coffee or observing. You're really thrown into it as like
an associate as a coordinator. So just for anyone listening,
if you don't know specifically about the NFL and PR,
like Jordan said, you have to come in and make
relationships very quickly. You are around the players, the coaching
staff all the time. You're in the football meetings, and
(11:38):
you are the direct contact between the media, whether that's outside,
internal and the entire football staff, coaches players, and there's
a lot more too. You're setting up press conferences, you're
organizing interviews, and it's something that really requires relationships really quickly.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
So what was it about PR that you were like, yeah,
I like this, Yeah, I think it was. It was
that really just building those relationships. I think that PR
that's all it is, really is trying to get people,
whether it's your own team or the outside media or
inside media whoever, to kind of trust you that you're
gonna not steer them in the wrong direction. You've got
(12:15):
to make sure that the players know if I'm putting
them out there for an interview, that they're not going
to get burned and that if I'm telling the media
something like, I'm going to tell them what is going
to be the best interest for them and for the team,
because obviously that the team for us, you know, comes first.
But it's just those relationships that I really loved about PR,
and I think that it now that I'm in scouting, Yeah,
(12:38):
that is something that I miss. I miss getting to
work with you, of course, and like our social team
and all that kind of more on a daily basis,
and those those relationships are are awesome. And I think
that's all you really need to do to be a
good PR person, to just be kind of like personable
and then yeah, I mean you got to be like
organized and all that kind of stuff.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
As well, and you also have to there is a
trade off to where I always think PR, I don't
want to say like a thankless job, but you are
trading on your relationship with players, coaches whatever to ask
them to do. You know, they don't have to do
certain things. So I'll just use myself for an example.
I have relationships with the players. I can go to
them and say, hey, can I do this, But a
lot of times you want to make sure, like me,
(13:17):
as a reporter, I want to make sure, Okay, Brian
Burn selected to the Pro Bowl.
Speaker 3 (13:21):
Hey, Jordan, does he have anything else going on today?
I want to talk to him.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
I want to make sure that you know, but also
that he doesn't have four other things going on or
that he doesn't have to get treatment right And and
PR people are in the football side of things much
more so than my side, So I will frequently go
to PR to ask for help facilitating stuff, or like, hey,
what do you think about this? Does this sound cool
to you if we do this kind of thing? Or
I got a crazy idea, I want to see, like
(13:45):
what you think about this? But you're really you are
you know, going up to players, coaches, whatever, saying like, hey,
I think this would be a cool thing for you
to do. Here do you mind doing because they really
can say no to anything. And I think we have
a great group of guys and everyone here are professionals,
but you really are, like you said, they are trusting.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
You to put them in a position.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
And also if there are things that you feel, Okay,
this is too many interviews, this is too much stuff.
I'm just gonna hold off on this, or can we
do you know what I'm gonna stop right here before
I even take it to a player because they've got
a lot going on right now, like why don't we
save this for another time? So you're also just really
using your relationships and.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
The what you've built up right to kind of navigate
all those things.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
And there's you know, if I come to you for
a request, I also don't know everything else that's being requested, right,
And so it really is this this like intermediary job.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
And that's just with players and coaches.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
There's so much more outward facing, like I said, press conferences, events,
all of that, but there it is such a relationship
thing that I'd imagine if you're in PR and you're
just you just come in bulldoze and you don't have
any kind of nuance with it, you're probably not going
to be a good PR person because you are balancing
a ton.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
Yeah, I think it just it also depends on kind
of the person, because there are some PR people that
that's kind of their way of doing things. I think
it just it's like any job anything in life. You
just have to kind of figure out the way that
you do it best and the way that the people
that you're talking to reciprocate best to you. That's kind
of how I always did did it when I was
in PR.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
So tell me about working with the Chiefs.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
Yeah. So the Chiefs were amazing and I can't thank
them enough for everything that I got to do when
I was there. And it was Honestly, when I moved
to Kansas City, I knew nothing about Kansas City. It
was just another city kind of out there, and it
is actually like really fun. It's a bigger city than
I thought it was going to be. And the football town,
(15:43):
the people there are crazy, like they're on par with
the Packers. Yeah, of just like a fandom that I
did not even know was really a thing, and it
was awesome to see when I was there. They were
very good. So it was also fun and you know,
to be able to do.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
They won a Super Bowl while you were there.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
Yes, so I went to one to one lost one.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
Oh, which so sad.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
I'm just kidding out. I'm lucky enough to say that
I've even done that. Most people go throughir entire career
and don't even get to sniff it. So that was awesome.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
But do you have I don't know if there's like,
do you have a Super Bowl ring. Then I do.
Speaker 4 (16:18):
Yes, Yes, it's at my parents' house. Yeah, somewhere, Yeah, somewhere.
Let's make sure we I mean, it's in there safe.
I'm assuming I know him that my dad, he keeps
it somewhere safe. Yeah, because if it's at my house,
who knows what it's going to happen to it.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
Yeah that's fair, all right, that's awesome.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
So and that's another thing too that we talked about.
It is, like you said, like football is sacrifices. Like
you're moving to a city that you don't know anybody, right,
So what is that like with the trade off of
you know, you're young, that you don't know anyone there,
You're working all sorts of hours? Like how how was
it outside of work? Like, I know, when I moved
to Connecticut right out of school, it worked for ESPN.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
It's like the coolest job ever.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
But in terms of like a life outside of my job,
I didn't have one. I had crazy hours. I you know,
worked weekends. So what was it like for you? Yeah,
I mean I think it was pretty similar. I was
twenty two or twenty three when I moved to Kansas City,
so pretty fresh out of college, and I.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Honestly, I just made friends with people that I worked with.
I think we all do, and we all just hang
out together. We're still really close. I think I went
back to Kansas City like three times last year for
weddings of people that I met when I was there.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
You go to a lot of weddings, You're in a
lot of weddings, and you go to a lot of
weddings that I'm just a good friend.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
Yeah, I'm just at that age right now where everyone's
getting married. So yeah, it's been a it's been a
lot of weddings. This year is a little slower, which
is nice.
Speaker 3 (17:37):
But because your work schedule, which we're going to get into.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
Is Yeah, it's been it's been good. But yeah, so
working in Kansas City and trying to have a life, Yeah,
it was hard, but it was it wasn't It wasn't
that bad. I mean I think it was. I was
lucky my like, one of my best friends that I
made on the team or yeah, on the team, lived
right around the corner from Oh No, we hung out
together all the time. So you just kind of you
kind of make it work. It's the same anywhere.
Speaker 3 (17:59):
So then why come to the Panthers.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
Yeah, So honestly, I came here because I wanted something different.
Where I was at in Kansas City. It was it
was great, but there wasn't a whole lot of upward mobility.
If I was going to stay in PR, there was
the potential to possibly go into scouting there, but I
was kind of like I really wanted to Honestly, I
(18:24):
just wanted to come home. My parents live not far
from here on Lake Tillery, So I just wanted to
come home be or my parents, me or my brother.
I think, especially after COVID, I was kind of like
I felt that homesickness for the first time, Like I
had not lived anywhere near my family since I went
to college, So I was kind of ready to come
(18:46):
back home. Panthers had a great opportunity where I saw
if I wanted to stay in PR, like there was
good upward mobility if I was going to choose that path,
and then I didn't honestly know that the scouting role
was going to work out. I came here, but I
was like, if it does, it does, and if it doesn't,
like we'll see what happened.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
So that was something that you were already thinking about
when you came here in PR was that you So
you at this point knew scouting might be something that
you were interested in. I didn't know that. Even in
all our conversations, I don't think I realized that.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
Yeah, So when I was in Kansas City, the GM there,
Brett v had we had talked about potentially coming and
doing something and scouting, and and like I said, it
just wasn't the right time to make that move there.
So when I came to Carolina, it was kind of
in the back of my mind, but it was it
wasn't like I wasn't like I was coming to Carolina,
(19:39):
I was going to do PR and then I was
going to move to scouting. Like that wasn't really my.
That wasn't my.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
That's what I'm saying. Like, you and I have had
lots of conversations, and I never picked you. Like when
you told me you were like, I think I'm gonna
do scout, I was like, what, yeah you know? So, yes, no,
I know that, but but it's something that interested you
when you got into.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
The football world.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
Yeah, I think it was just something that it was different.
I mean, I I'm a lot, I I'm a person,
I like to learn new things and do different stuff.
So I think I'd been doing PR for five years
and I had learned a lot and there was still
a lot to learn, but this was just another path
that was interesting and I was like, I'm just going
to try it and see what happens.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
I remember you telling me that You're like, I'm ready
for I'm ready to learn something new, Like I'm excited
about this. So, you know, we talked a little bit
about you coming in to do PR, and I do
want to get to a lot of the scouting because
I am so interested in it. But I do just
have to say this, like I said, you came in
like I think training camp, like the first day of
training camp was your first day?
Speaker 3 (20:34):
Yeah, and that is when we met. Was that two
years ago? Three years ago? Now two?
Speaker 1 (20:39):
Yeah? Like twenty twenty one, I think. I know Honestly,
when I was when I was driving in today, I
was like, when did I come here? And I could
not read I was twenty twenty.
Speaker 3 (20:46):
One, last training camp.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
So no, it's twenty twenty one because you were you
were pregnant with Jack.
Speaker 3 (20:50):
Yeah, yes, I was.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
I was, yeah, waddling around Spartanburg in a hundred degree heat. No,
I was, but I just I think it's interesting because
I think we I met you, we had like a
big meeting and we met you and Chris Brandon, who
still works in PR. You guys were hired at the
same time. And I think by the next day, Jordan
I like, and again, so just if you if you've
(21:12):
listened to this, you know, like I said, like, PR
is all about relationships and it is a like I said, like,
I think it'd be so hard to come in and
be a PR coordinator training camp, right because it's so
much about interpersonal relationships and you probably hadn't even met
the team, right, I don't think. And I think by
the next day Jordan was like already on She was like, yeah,
I got this for you, I got this for you,
(21:33):
I got this, And I'm like, how, like, how.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
Did you do that?
Speaker 2 (21:35):
It was it was almost instantaneous. How on top of
everything you were? How you were like who do you
want to talk to the next few days? Because especially
at training camp, the interview lists are long because you
have outside media coming in guys, Like I said, there's
no weekends, so you're just constantly there's a lot of
excitement right around the beginning of it, and you were
just so on everything and it was that turnaround for
(21:59):
anyone who doesn't work in this business.
Speaker 3 (22:00):
I'm still impressed by it, and I just think it's
really cool.
Speaker 4 (22:05):
You know.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
I don't know is that I think for me, that's
just how my brain works, Like I just had to
if I'm going to come in, I'm gonna do something.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
There is no acclamation period, Well there wasn't. It couldn't
be felt like you had been here for two years.
Speaker 1 (22:17):
Yeah, I mean I think that was kind of what
I was trying to do. Like, I mean, you did it.
Bruce and Ryan and Preston were here and they're amazing
and great and Preston's off, you know, living his best
golf life now. But that they they hired me for
a reason. So I was like, I'm just going to
come in and just make like let's just go like
we're at training camp. We don't really have time to
(22:38):
like yeah, art around, like we kind of got to
figure it out. And like you said, like training camp is,
it's like quick it goes and you just gotta you
gotta figure it out, like and I think it makes
it easy when you also work with people like you
who have their stuff ready to go and then you
know what you want, so you just kind of got
to put it together. But yeah, I mean it was
(22:59):
a crazy time. It was. I just like, yeah, it was.
I think the first day I got here, I we
had our press like our intro training camp press conference
was like that day, and you're like meeting everybody. Yeah
that you've like that you've not met before. I knew
the people like in my department we had kind of talked.
(23:21):
We hadn't even really met met before. But yeah, it was.
It was. It was crazy. Now that I go back
and think on it, it was. It was wild.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
But you are one of those people that nothing seems
to ever phase you, you know, on the outside. And
it's just like I said, I think that's like one
of the biggest compliments that I could give somebody, is
I mean, it was like you had been here for
two years by by day two, and and then I
remember thinking distinctly and this is I feel this way
about our entire PR department. But you know, certain people
(23:52):
have certain roles, right, and your role was a lot
of like interview planning stuff. I remember thinking, like two
days later, I'm like, what did I ever do without Jordan?
So what was it like working in pr You know,
how was it different from from Panthers to Chiefs.
Speaker 3 (24:09):
What was that experience?
Speaker 1 (24:10):
Like, Yeah, I think when I came from the Chiefs
to the Panthers, I had a little bit of an
elevated role, so I got to be in charge of
some more stuff and do different things. And the teams
are very just different in the way that they're run,
and not one is better than the other, but it's
just you get to do a little bit different stuff
(24:31):
based upon the city you're living in, based upon how
the team is doing, whether they're doing well, whether they're
doing poorly, you know, whether you have a new coach,
you have a coach that's been at the team forever. Like,
things just run a little bit differently. So I think
just different things. I don't know, I don't really Yeah,
that's not really like an answer, but no, it is.
Speaker 3 (24:49):
It is interesting too.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
That's something that you know, I've worked for other networks,
but I've never worked for another team.
Speaker 3 (24:55):
And you hear that.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
It's always so interesting to talk to people who have
worked for different teams, because you get a team is
very much you know, a reflection of your ownership, your coach,
your GM. Then there's you know, the media side. So
some teams are gonna play it a little safer, some
teams are gonna be crazy like.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
Us, you know, and so it is really cool to.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
See what it's like in different places, which I just
think is like, what a valuable experience. So and then also,
you know, one thing that I really miss as well
is like we used to share seats on a plane,
like he would you know, we had one seat in
between us. You traveled, so you did game day. You
were on the field as a game day contact. Can
I ask you about that. I don't think that we've
(25:36):
ever really talked about that. I don't think I've ever
really talked to anybody about that in PR. But it's
a neat role. I promise we are going to get
scouting too. But I just it's just so interesting. So
tell me about the game day role for a PR coordinator,
like cause I just think it's cool and I don't
know how much people know about it.
Speaker 1 (25:55):
Yeah, So it's that was that was probably one of
the biggest things that changed when I came here was
I got to be on the field for games, which
was really fun. It's just like a different way of
watching the game.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
Yes, even I spent a lot of time together on
that you were home games right home.
Speaker 1 (26:10):
I did some away. It's kind of depended that we
were also kind of in that weird COVID limbo where
we can only travel so many people. So it was
it was, you know, crazy, but yeah, So on the sideline,
you basically are the like kind of liaison between like
what's going on on the field and then like everyone
up in the press box, so you have to figure
out like if someone's injured, like what's going on, you
(26:32):
have to go talk to the trainers, get those injuries,
give them to the media, people, give them to you,
send them up to the press box, and then like
sometimes if it's kind of taking too long, like you're
getting calls down on the field trying to get an
answer on what's going on, and you're like, I'm not
a trainer, I don't know what's going on. Like you
look like you heard just toe, but who knows.
Speaker 2 (26:52):
Because in the NFL, this you know, and this is
different than college. There are specific injury designations that you
can see if something happened with your own eyes or
a camera might pick it up if someone goes into
an injury and I can say, okay to me, like
you said, it looks like, you know he hurt his
toe on that last play, but you typically you know
that you know that an injury designation is coming, whether
(27:15):
that's out, doubtful, probable to return. You know he was
checked out and he's good to go back in the game.
You know that's coming. That's part of the NFL framework
and all of that runs through you, but as you said,
it goes through the training staff sometimes the coaching staff,
and you really have to make sure that you're right
on it.
Speaker 3 (27:32):
Yeah, because it is and this is a for me.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
These are this is their player's livelihood, this is their health,
and it is a huge responsibility. And and if you're
the PR person, you're standing by the phone like I
don't know if anyone's seen the phone back behind the bench,
and then you have like you said, me coming up
to you, the the TV reporters people are waiting to
tweet out like what it is. You know, So it
is a huge responsibility.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
Yeah, it was it. I do remember like the first game,
I was like pretty nervous. Luckily, you start like in
training camp and in preseason, so you kind of get
a little bit of like, you know, get your feet
wet a little bit. But yeah, those first times, and
then if you have like a major player who goes down,
like you know, face your franchise, and then everyone is
like kind of holding their breath and you're it just
(28:18):
like ratchets everything up, especially if if they're in that
tent for a really long time and you're just kind
of waiting for them to come out of there.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
Yeah, So it's a it's a neat thing, but it is, uh,
it is a lot of responsibility.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
So so you do pr the Panthers for a year, right,
a year and a half.
Speaker 1 (28:36):
It was like a season, it was a full season.
Was just a season.
Speaker 2 (28:39):
Yeah, and then I still remember standing out on the
practice field and you were like, I'm going to move
to scouting.
Speaker 3 (28:46):
And immediately, I think I said this already. I was like, no,
you can't leave me.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
Your my my plane, buddy, Like what are we going
to do without you? But then at the same time,
I'm like, oh, yeah, like you're you're gonna be so
good at whatever you do, so tell me about that decision.
I also think it's interesting about the ability to move
to a different department. I've seen that with the Panthers before,
So how does that all work?
Speaker 1 (29:08):
Yeah? So I just really honestly throughout, starting in training camp,
I kind of started to make a relationship with Scott
Fitter RGM, and I would help him with his interviews
and stuff. So we kind of got to know one another.
And he's a great guy and you've talked to him,
he's amazing. Yeah, he's phenomenal. So we just kind of
always kept that relationship going. And then I think it
(29:30):
was the it was the draft. Yeah, so last year's draft.
As soon as the draft ended, we were kind of
all just like the drafts over, you kind of decompress,
you do. We had that was it Kenny Chesney concert.
Speaker 2 (29:41):
Yeah, that was It was like the Sunday of the draft. Yeah,
because I was leaving and we had just finished like
a weekend of crazy draft stuff and people were like
coming in yeah and.
Speaker 1 (29:50):
It was cool. Yeah, So like we had kind of
like a post draft, like we got to go to
the concert.
Speaker 3 (29:55):
Oh you stayed for that. I was like, I just
want to go home and go to bed for you.
Speaker 1 (29:58):
No, I stayed. I was I was like, you know what,
not really like I'm not a huge country person, but
it's it's at the stadium, this is this is fun.
It was actually really fun time. It was a good time. Yeah,
but we were we were talking and I can't remember
exactly who I was who I was talking to, but
I was like, you know, like, yeah, I think like
maybe i'd want to get into scouting and and kind
of do something in scouting, and I think I could
(30:19):
could help you guys. And I really didn't think like
anything was going to come of it. And then the
next week, I think it was like Monday after the draft,
I got an email and it was from someone down
in scouting and they were like, hey, like come to
my office. And I was like, oh, bully, I was
like myn in trouble, Like what did I do? And
he was like, hey, like do you do you want
to come and work in scouting And I was like yeah,
(30:42):
I was like yeah, why not, Let's do it. And like,
I think a week or so later, Scott called me
down to his office and he was like, all right,
if you want to do this, like let's let's do it.
And that's cool, I know, and like I always kind
of feel like a little bit bad because I think
like it didn't like fall in my lap and it
kind of just happened organically.
Speaker 3 (31:02):
But I think not if you hadn't said anything about it.
Speaker 2 (31:04):
Yeah, yeah, that's yeah, But I think that is the
mark of you. And like I'm of course, like you said,
I'm going to brag on you. I am so proud
of you. But anyone who knows you knows like you
are gonna be good at what If you said to
me like, hey, I want to do podcast, I'd be like, yeah.
Speaker 3 (31:20):
Come on.
Speaker 2 (31:20):
Like so the fact that you put it out there, yeah,
I'm not surprised at all that they got right on
it and were like Jordan, please come on.
Speaker 1 (31:26):
Yeah. So, I mean that was really cool for me.
And I remember like calling my parents and my dad
and I was like, hey, like I think I'm going
to move over to scouting, and my dad like, I
don't remember exactly what he said, but he said something
like a finally, like you're gonna move on to like
the football football side, and he was so excited.
Speaker 2 (31:42):
Was that a conversation that you had talked about or
knew that you wanted to do?
Speaker 3 (31:49):
You know, I know that you said you were interested
in it.
Speaker 2 (31:51):
But was that something that you were like, hey, like
the next step mom and Dad, I think is going
to be this or were they a little like like, oh,
you've admitted it to yourself, Like.
Speaker 1 (32:01):
I think we had talked about it, and my dad
and his friends, who are you know, coaches and whatever
in the league have always been like, yeah, you should
try and come on the football side, And of course
my dad's always been like yeah, coaching, and I'm like,
that's not really what I I don't know, you know,
never say never, but that's not for me. But scouting
I think would be would be interesting. And honestly, when
I came over to the scouting side, I kind of
(32:22):
thought I was going to be doing a little bit
more like not like admin stuff, but like not as
much like actual like scouting, going out, going to schools
and doing stuff. And they kind of just like, again,
I think it's just like the name of the game
in the NFL, you just get thrown into the fire.
And it's what I ended up doing, and it was
It was awesome, and I basically spent the whole summer
(32:44):
just like learning how to scout, how to write reports,
how to watch tape, correctly with all of our guys
in house who were awesome and you know, took their
own time to sit and do that with me, and
then ended up doing a little bit more of the
ad men's stuff just because somebody left and it was
a job that needed filling, which I actually really enjoyed
(33:06):
doing both. So it was actually kind of, you know,
best of both worlds that I got to do this
past season.
Speaker 2 (33:10):
And that is and I do want to because you
had to explain this to me as well. You are
a college scout and there's correct or so different.
Speaker 1 (33:21):
So yeah, so I'm one of our scouting assistants and
this season I think they try we tried to do
something where we have more of like a college scouting
assistant and more of a pro scouting assistant. We both
do both things. We kind of do it all because
you have to, just because there's so much to do.
But yes, I do focus.
Speaker 2 (33:39):
You're specializing on college right now. You are specializing a
little bit in that, so can you explain. And I
love what you said about like you spent the summer
learning how to watch tape and scout and write reports,
and that's pretty standard for everyone coming in, right, Like
it would be different. It might be different if you
did this at the Chiefs. Like there's a way that
the Panthers want to do things and and so that
(34:00):
is part of the process, right right of Like, of
course you've been watching tape for a long time, you
know football, but they want you to do things a
certain way in the organization. And so what would you say, Like,
if you had to sum up the job of what
you're doing, what would you say it is in like
three to four sentences.
Speaker 1 (34:21):
Basically, if you're going from the college side, you're looking
at the college players and you're trying to find those
players that we're going to target in the draft. So
you're watching tape, you're going to the schools, you're learning
about the players, and then after you get all that,
you have to put in reports into our college system.
(34:43):
So you've got to basically just summarize quickly and concisely
what that player is, what they're good at, what they're
bad at, what they bring to us, and how they're
going to make us better. And so we do that
so that Scott and Dan and Sameir and Adrian now
who just joined us, all of them can go and
(35:04):
just read it quickly and be like, Okay, this guy
he's going to help us. This guy's not going to
help us. This guy's really good, but he doesn't really
fit our system. So basically just going through and trying
to make us better, which is exactly what the pro
guys do too. But on the college side, you just
do it, you know, from a college level. Pro guys
do it from players that are already in the league.
Speaker 2 (35:22):
Do you focus on certain position groups or certain schools?
Like how do you define whether it's you know, at
the start of a new scouting season or whatever, like
is it just anyone that comes.
Speaker 3 (35:33):
Across your desk or you get how does that work?
Speaker 1 (35:35):
Yeah, so we have like our area scouts are broken
out into areas across the country. So for me, since
I'm a scouting assistant, I'm like one of our in
house scouts, so I have and I always forget. It's
probably like eight or nine schools in North and South
Carolina and a school up in Virginia. And so you
go to the school and you yeah, no, you look
(35:56):
at everything. You don't like It's that people always ask like, oh,
do you just do one position? Sn't know? You look
at like the entire team and.
Speaker 2 (36:04):
So much you think about how many players are because
because there are times too where you might think you're
going to look at one person right and you're like,
oh my gosh, what about this guy over here?
Speaker 1 (36:13):
Yeah, Like so we do have like a service that
I don't even know if it's a service, but it's
a an organization that goes in and they go kind
of before everybody and they kind of highlight the players
that they think are gonna have the best chance of
making it. There's always players that either are in that
group that don't make it, or there's players that aren't
in that group that do know make it. So you
(36:35):
kind of have to.
Speaker 2 (36:37):
It's an art like, it's an it's and it's an
evaluation thing, and that if it could just be done
by a service or if you know, there'd be no draft,
there would be no surprises if if if it was
just as easy.
Speaker 3 (36:47):
I mean, it's so much about judgment right.
Speaker 1 (36:49):
Right, And then it's also about when we go into
the schools, the pro liaison will also be like, hey, like,
these are the guys that we that we've seen that
we think have the temperament, that we think have this
level to make it in the NFL. So that's another
just another relationship building thing that you have to be
able to trust the pro liaison at the school and
trust the staff at the school to tell you, you know,
(37:12):
what they think is going to be best for you.
Speaker 2 (37:14):
How do you differentiate This might be a little inside
baseball to mixed metaphors, but how do you differentiate if
you're going to a school like I know you're going
to take some trips this week actually as soon as
we finish, and someone impresses you, but like maybe not
like a second third round.
Speaker 3 (37:31):
Draft pick, but maybe a you know, an undrafted guy.
So how do you differentiate there?
Speaker 2 (37:39):
Like when the talent isn't popping off the charts, but
you think, like, hey, for the right price or the
right opportunity, this guy could really make an impact.
Speaker 3 (37:48):
Or is it just like it's you're good or you're not.
Speaker 1 (37:51):
Yeah, no, I mean there's obviously different like levels of goodness.
It's probably not the right word.
Speaker 2 (37:57):
But yeah, so is that a category like that you
would differentiate between.
Speaker 1 (38:01):
Yeah, So we have a it's a system of grading,
a grading system. So you have, you know, like someone
who you think is going to come out like this
person's going to be a first round pick, this person's
going to be a second round and it goes all
the way down to this person is good enough to
make it to a training camp and help us out,
but maybe they don't make a fifty three man roster.
(38:24):
Maybe they just make a practice squad. And that's kind
of where you also go and you look at you
look at traits of a person. So sometimes there's people
who have really good traits like super long arms, super speed,
right speed, and my boss hates when I use the
word super so very long arms, but yeah, so it's
(38:48):
just kind of those things that sometimes you think the person,
you know, maybe they're not like great, great, great at something,
but like they have something that we can build on,
or something that our coaches like. And there's sometimes coaches,
I know, like when my dad was coaching, he liked
certain traits of players and would be like, Okay, I
would rather have this guy with this trait that I
can build than this guy who's maybe a little bit
(39:09):
more polished. So just kind of those those types of things.
Speaker 2 (39:13):
What was it like going through your first year where
you're evaluating and then you get to the part of
a draft or bringing guys in an even free agency,
although I know, like you said, you're primarily focused on college,
but you do pro as well. So to kind of
see the process come to fruition and maybe there are
people that you had conviction about or didn't you've seen
(39:34):
them either do well here or somewhere else, or you've
seen the process. So, like, what was it like to
see this first full year of all of that work
kind of play out in terms of the next group
of guys that have come in.
Speaker 1 (39:48):
Yeah, So I think it's it's been really cool because
you go into the schools, you kind of know what
you're looking for, and then you either come out and
you like a player, you don't like a player. And
that's not to say that they wouldn't make it somewhere else,
but maybe they're just not right for us. And I
think so so far, we've gone through our first round
of draft meetings where we've had to go through and
(40:10):
you list the players that we've given like draftable grades,
and we go through and we just kind of talk
about the player, what we like about them, what we
don't like about them, what we think they're going to add.
And I think that's cool because you get to hear
different perspectives people like Jeff Morrow who have been with
the team since it started in ninety five, and then
you have like me and our two interns who are
(40:31):
just starting and kind of everyone has a little bit
of a different perspective on a player. So I think
that's been awesome to see, and like there are people
that someone really really likes someone and someone really really
also doesn't like that person, and they kind of go
to bat for the person, whether one way or the other.
And so I think it's going to be really cool
to go through this draft this year with the players
(40:53):
that I've actually like watched and evaluated and see kind
of where they end up and if other people other
teams kind of see them in the same way that
you do.
Speaker 2 (41:01):
Has it been fun interesting empowering to like realize as
you're typing up these reports, like, oh, I have conviction
on this person, and I will defend them, and my
opinion is the one that people are going to listen to. Like,
I imagine that's a really cool thing because that is
that is football, right, That's something that I've never done personally,
(41:23):
But you think like you are taking I mean, the
Panthers just traded up to number one you are, You're
putting a lot into that scenario, right, and no one
knows for sure that anyone is going to pan out,
but you now have the.
Speaker 3 (41:35):
Ability to influence those decisions.
Speaker 2 (41:38):
So is that cool to develop that skill right as
a scout, to feel confident in what you're looking at
and then to you know, go to bat uh if
and when you know that time arises.
Speaker 1 (41:51):
Yeah. I think for me, I think I'm always happy
when we're talking about a player that I've watched and
then like someone else talks about them and they kind
to see them the exact same way, and I'm like, Okay,
this person's been doing this for fifteen years and we're
seeing things very similarly. So that's kind of how for me,
that's how I learn and know that I'm kind of
(42:12):
on the right track. And sometimes maybe we don't. Maybe
someone really likes someone and I don't like them, but
that's just I mean, like you said, that's how football goes.
And so yeah, I think it is cool to see
just this whole process kind of starting to come together.
Speaker 2 (42:26):
So what are you most excited about? And like what
is your focus as we get closer and closer to
the draft. I know you're traveling, so let's start there,
like what are you doing right now? Because I know
you are busy, busy, busy.
Speaker 1 (42:41):
Yeah, So like yeah, like you said, right after this,
I'm gonna go, I'm going to East Carolina.
Speaker 3 (42:46):
Literally right after this. You're leaving in your car in
a few minutes.
Speaker 1 (42:49):
Yeah. But so we we're in like our pro day
kind of circuit right now. So we're going to the schools.
It's basically just to go to the schools like mini
combines to be everyone at the school. So you go
into the school. I'm going to East Carolina this week
and app State at the end of the week. So
you go, you watch all of the players from that school.
They run, they test, they do drills, and then you
(43:11):
kind of just have a little bit more information on
players and maybe someone runs very well that that you
hadn't really paid that much attention to, and then you
kind of go back and you watch them and then
you'll be like, oh, yeah, this person does have a
little something that I just didn't see. Are you missed?
And that happens especially with as many players as we
look at throughout the year. So I think this time
(43:34):
of years very exciting, just like I said, because it's
all kind of coming to a close. It's kind of
you know, you've worked all year on these players and
now you're doing pro days. And then once we get
back from Pro Days, we'll do like our top thirty
visits with the players that are, you know, our top
thirty candidates to draft and they come in. So I've
been getting that set up, getting all their flights and everything,
(43:55):
making sure that they're going to get into Charlotte the
way they're supposed to. And then we do our second
round draft meetings where we kind of tie a bow
on everything, and then it's the draft.
Speaker 2 (44:05):
I remember Scott always says to me, like during the draft,
He's like, this is the Scouts super Bowl, right, And
you can tell just how busy you guys are. And
so I appreciate you taking the time in between all
the stuff you've got going on to sit down and
do this. I could ask you questions for another two hours,
but I'll just make you answer them when we're not
on microphones.
Speaker 3 (44:25):
Thank you so much for doing this. How was your
first podcast?
Speaker 1 (44:28):
It was It was fun. It was awesome. I feel
I mean, you know, you hear your own voice for
a lot of time. I don't know how you do
this all the.
Speaker 3 (44:34):
Time, listen to yourself, good voice.
Speaker 1 (44:35):
It was fun and I really enjoyed it. I think
it's always good to kind of get your story out
there for someone who maybe doesn't know that it's a job.
I think for me that was one thing that there's
so many jobs out there that you don't even think
are jobs until exactly see it or you hear about it,
And so for that, for something like this, this podcast
(44:57):
is really cool for people to go and listen to
and get to think like, oh, maybe I could.
Speaker 2 (45:02):
I could do that exactly Like I said, I work
in the organization, and you still had to I mean,
of course I know what scouts are, but I like, okay,
the day to day tell me about it. So before
I let you go, what is if someone is listening
to this going like oh that sounds like something I'd
be super interested in. What advice would you give to
them in terms of, you know, kind of having this
on the horizon.
Speaker 1 (45:22):
Yeah, I think just just go for it, Like, if
you want to do it, reach out to someone in
the organization. And yes, we do get a lot of
text emails, calls and all that, but reach out, try
to get to know us, and there's always opportunities to
do something, and whether it's at the NFL level or
the college level, just just try it. And that's kind
(45:45):
of how I've always been, is like I'm just going
to go out and try something, and then if it
doesn't work, go out and try the next thing.
Speaker 3 (45:52):
That's perfect, all right, Jordan Turkovac, thank you so much.
I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (46:00):
Don't stand sting stand
It's always good to kind of get your story out
there for someone who maybe doesn't know that it's a job.
I think for me that was one thing, that there's
so many jobs out there that you don't even think
are jobs, and to exactly see it or you hear
about it, and so for that, for something like this,
this podcast is really cool for people to go and
listen to and get to think like, oh, maybe I
(00:24):
could do that.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Welcome to Season three of the Inspire Her Podcast, presented
by Atrium Health. This is a podcast series for Panthers
fans where we highlight admirable women from across the Carolinas
as they share stories and lessons from their lives and careers.
And today I am so thrilled because I am joined
by Jordan Targovac. She is a scouting assistant for the Panthers,
and prior to that, she worked in pr for both
(00:49):
the Panthers and the Kansas City Chiefs. But most importantly,
she's my friend. So I'm excited that she is sitting
here with me, especially because Jordan, I know you don't
love talking about yourself, so I'm excited that we convinced
you to do this because we should be talking about you.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
Well, thank you very much. I've always actually wanted to
be on a podcast, so it's very exciting. Oh really, gad,
you're my first. Oh that is exciting.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
You've had a lot of articles written about you recently
and rightfully so, but we're the first podcast.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
You are the third the first podcast. Yes, hey, yeah,
it's yeah, it's been a lot of articles. I don't
know rightfully, so is right, But I know people are interested.
So it's always good to get the word out there.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
And the reason that people are interested is because of
this this path that you've taken, and we are going
to talk about that. I think it's it's really cool,
and especially what you're doing now in scouting. And I
remember even when you transitioned into that job. I remember
standing out on the practice field with you and I
work for the Panthers. I've worked here for three years
and I was like, okay, so now explain it to me,
like exactly what you're doing. So I think it'll be
(01:51):
really cool to for people to understand a little bit
more about it, especially you know, girls and women, because
it's it's a it's a really cool thing that you're doing.
It's it's a neat department and something that, like I said,
even working here that side of things, even I don't
know much about the day to day and how it
all comes together.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
So I'm excited to get into it.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
But but before we get into that, you know, a
lot of these these articles that have come out about
your video pieces have focused on the scouting, which is awesome,
But I love like the rest of your career path too,
and we work together a lot when you were in
PR and I still miss you dearly. I wish that
you would come back, although I understand that you were
on a different and very cool path now.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
But I want to get into all of it.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
So a lot of the questions that, like I get
when people ask me, you know, about my career.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Is like, how did you get started?
Speaker 2 (02:42):
So?
Speaker 3 (02:43):
How did you get started? I do love this story.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
Yeah, So I got started in high school really because
my dad was coaching for the Packers up in Green Bay,
and my parents basically told me, like like any high
school kid, like I needed to get a job, Yes,
do something something with my life, you know, something with
myself other than just school in sports. And so my
dad he helped me get a game day role in
(03:10):
the press box up with the packers with Sarah Quick
up there, who's amazing.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
And that is My first job was at outback, so
you definitely that's a cool first job to have.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
No, it's it was like I always don't even really
think of it as a job because like most people,
they work more than one day week. Yeah, Like, and
I really I felt like I did stuff, but I
was just kind of like watching the game, sure, and
hanging out with people that worked in the press box.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Still how I feel about Sundays too, Like on the side,
like I'm in my thirties now and I'm like, man,
I get to be on the field during game day,
so I get it.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Yeah, I mean it was cool. And then I think
the coolest part about doing that was that after the
games there in Green Bay, we would collect like the
photo vests from the photographers. So we did that in
the tunnel. And it was the same tunnel that my
dad would walk out of on game day, so like
he would walk past and then when he would come
off the field, I would kind of just like leave
with him and then go meet up with my mom
(04:04):
and my brother. And so yeah, that's how I got started,
And really I didn't think it was going to turn
into anything. I just it was kind of like my
high school job. Knew that I kind of like communications
and was going to see where that was going to go.
But I really I went to college to be an
event planner. Really. Yeah, So when I went to College
(04:25):
of Charleston from Green Bay, wanted to get as far
away from the Midwest and the snow as possible and chose,
you know, Charleston, which is amazing and beautiful. And yeah,
I was a communications major, but my minor was Hospitality
and Tourism because I was like I wanted to be
a wedding planner. I don't really know where that came from,
but like I was like, I'm going to be a
(04:46):
wedding planner. I did that for one summer with like
an amazing group of women, but I was like, I
cannot do this.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
See I think you would. I now that you say that,
I never knew that about you. I'm like, oh, I
can see that too, because you are so detail oriented,
you are so on it that I would never want
to be a wedding planner. Having planned most of my
own wedding, I'm like, never again, But I get it now.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
That you say that, Yeah, I mean I think it's
just a little bit of like the bossiness and having
control over things. So like I did, it was fun.
I mean, Charleston weddings are like iconics. I'm sure they're
creating even I think maybe that was a little bit
of it, Like you kind of get thrown into the
fire of a Charleston wedding. But like the weddings were
beautiful and amazing. But I was like, this is not
(05:31):
for me.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
It's not your passion.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
It wasn't my passion, and so I stayed with hospitality
as my minor, just because you get to do a
lot of things in Charleston with that. But decided I
was probably going to go on more of like a
PR path, So I did some internships with like a nonprofit.
I did an internship with a PR firm in Charleston,
(05:53):
working with like boutique hotels and restaurants.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Can I ask a question, yeah about this too. So
you mentioned that your dad was coaching, and of course,
you know your last name is very distinctive. Your dad
was a big part of the early years of the
Panthers here defensive coordinator.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
Yeah, at one point.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
But it's interesting that even though you started in football
on your first job, you really kind of went away from.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
It for a little while.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Was that kind of indirect I don't know, opposition to Okay,
football might be expected. Football is like the family business.
Let me go and see what else is outside? Felt like,
what was your relationship with football at this time?
Speaker 1 (06:27):
Yeah, I think it kind of a little bit. Was
like trying to get away from it. I went to
Charleston that doesn't have a football team. Yeah, I think
I was just trying to explore your own explore my
own life, and see kind of things outside of football.
Football is all that we've ever known and my family's
ever done for me at least, and so I yeah,
I wanted to see what was out there and like,
(06:50):
and my dad was always like, I mean, like football
will be there, like if you want to do it.
But like he's like, you have to like really want
to do it, because as you know, like our hours
are crazy and we work all the time, like you
don't really have a life, and so he was like,
just make sure that they if that's what you're going
to come back and do, like you really have to
want to do it. So I kind of just wanted
to explore different things, go different options, and yeah, then
(07:13):
when I graduated, I still was kind of not exactly
sure what I wanted to do. And who is by
the way, Yeah really no, I mean I'm still to
this day. I mean I'm always kind of like, oh,
maybe I'll try that.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
But we want to be when we grow up.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Yeah, I'll never know, I don't think. But yeah. So
the my old boss at the Chiefs, him and my
dad had weirdly, I think they ran into each other
at a Pro Bowl or something in Hawaii and I
was like, yeah, like she's graduating. She like she needs
to kind of figure out.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
What she's going to do.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
And I'm like, your Dad's like talk to me.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
He's like he's like, look, Jordan, you know it's like at.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
This point a right and it's time to you know,
do something. And I'm like okay. So he hired me.
Ted Cruz hired me as a training camp intern for
the Chiefs and so that's kind of how I got
started and are in communications in cac.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
What was that like your first training camp?
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Because I think about, and we're going to talk about
this in a little bit, your first day.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
I think on the job with the Panthers was in
training camp.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
And I was thinking about that this morning as I
was getting ready for this podcast, and I was like,
the time that I would and if you don't work
in football, I will try to explain this. The time
that I would least like to start a new job
would be training camp because you hit the ground running.
It's almost every single day you're in a location that is,
you know, not normal.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Everything is just on hyper speed.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
There are no weekends, there are no and you're there's
such a steep learning curve that when anyone starts during
training camp you're like, oh my gosh, like, if you
need anything, let me know. And so you also started
your internship, which I know is when a lot of
interns start. So what was it like being thrown into
not just the NFL, but also this very truncated, high
pressure environment.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
Right, Yeah, I mean I think for me it was
exactly like that. You're just thrown in and like us,
the Chiefs go away for training camp, they go to
a different.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
Campus where they go.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
They go to Saint Joe, Missouri. So it's like an
hour outside of Kansas City and like a small little town.
It's very similar to Spartanburg Actually, So yeah, like you
just kind of get thrown in and like you're trying
to learn not just like your job, but like who
you're even working with, names of people, names of coaches,
names of all the players, names of just like support staff,
(09:26):
all of that. And so for me too, like a
lot of people that come into working in communications in
the NFL have done like work as like an SID
in college, working in like their sports information.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
Sports information director.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Yeaheah. So I I didn't do that because I was
playing softball in college and I just didn't really know
that was an option and I kind of did other things.
So I kind of came in like really blind honestly,
like they they really took a chance on me and
just kind of gave me an opportunity. And so it
was just like learning by fire. It was. It was
(10:00):
really fun and like you said, like you don't get
weekends or really time off, but you get really close
with the people that you work with because you're working
with them all the time.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
It is such a bonding experience. I feel like, you know,
any year with training camp, a lot of times that
is you know, your meeting let's say the new player
is the new coaching staff, right. There's always turnover every season,
and it feels like you you know everyone pretty well,
especially if you've worked with them before. But when you
come out of training camp, on the other side, it
feels like a whole different thing because you are so
(10:30):
close with everyone. You're doing stuff all the time, you
eat in the same places as the players, the coaching staff,
the support staff, everyone, and it's it's kind of like
summer camp, right, except you're working really really.
Speaker 3 (10:40):
Hard the entire time.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
So what was it about PR or what did that
just kind of present itself to you in the form
of this internship because I just think you're such a
good PR person and I want to and you're also
a good scout, you know. I just I think that
that's one of those things. Of Course, I'm going to
brag on you, whether you like it or not, but
I think we should explain to everyone who doesn't know
(11:03):
because PR. Of course, I think that's one of those
things like producer, right, where you kind of know what
it is if you don't work in this, but in
the NFL it is very specific, and I think even
with interns, at least I know what the Panthers.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
You're doing a.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Lot like you're not coming in and you know, getting
coffee or observing. You're really thrown into it as like
an associate as a coordinator. So just for anyone listening,
if you don't know specifically about the NFL and PR,
like Jordan said, you have to come in and make
relationships very quickly. You are around the players, the coaching
staff all the time. You're in the football meetings, and
(11:38):
you are the direct contact between the media, whether that's outside,
internal and the entire football staff, coaches players, and there's
a lot more too. You're setting up press conferences, you're
organizing interviews, and it's something that really requires relationships really quickly.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
So what was it about PR that you were like, yeah,
I like this, Yeah, I think it was. It was
that really just building those relationships. I think that PR
that's all it is, really is trying to get people,
whether it's your own team or the outside media or
inside media whoever, to kind of trust you that you're
gonna not steer them in the wrong direction. You've got
(12:15):
to make sure that the players know if I'm putting
them out there for an interview, that they're not going
to get burned and that if I'm telling the media
something like, I'm going to tell them what is going
to be the best interest for them and for the team,
because obviously that the team for us, you know, comes first.
But it's just those relationships that I really loved about PR,
and I think that it now that I'm in scouting, Yeah,
(12:38):
that is something that I miss. I miss getting to
work with you, of course, and like our social team
and all that kind of more on a daily basis,
and those those relationships are are awesome. And I think
that's all you really need to do to be a
good PR person, to just be kind of like personable
and then yeah, I mean you got to be like
organized and all that kind of stuff.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
As well, and you also have to there is a
trade off to where I always think PR, I don't
want to say like a thankless job, but you are
trading on your relationship with players, coaches whatever to ask
them to do. You know, they don't have to do
certain things. So I'll just use myself for an example.
I have relationships with the players. I can go to
them and say, hey, can I do this, But a
lot of times you want to make sure, like me,
(13:17):
as a reporter, I want to make sure, Okay, Brian
Burn selected to the Pro Bowl.
Speaker 3 (13:21):
Hey, Jordan, does he have anything else going on today?
I want to talk to him.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
I want to make sure that you know, but also
that he doesn't have four other things going on or
that he doesn't have to get treatment right And and
PR people are in the football side of things much
more so than my side, So I will frequently go
to PR to ask for help facilitating stuff, or like, hey,
what do you think about this? Does this sound cool
to you if we do this kind of thing? Or
I got a crazy idea, I want to see, like
(13:45):
what you think about this? But you're really you are
you know, going up to players, coaches, whatever, saying like, hey,
I think this would be a cool thing for you
to do. Here do you mind doing because they really
can say no to anything. And I think we have
a great group of guys and everyone here are professionals,
but you really are, like you said, they are trusting.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
You to put them in a position.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
And also if there are things that you feel, Okay,
this is too many interviews, this is too much stuff.
I'm just gonna hold off on this, or can we
do you know what I'm gonna stop right here before
I even take it to a player because they've got
a lot going on right now, like why don't we
save this for another time? So you're also just really
using your relationships and.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
The what you've built up right to kind of navigate
all those things.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
And there's you know, if I come to you for
a request, I also don't know everything else that's being requested, right,
And so it really is this this like intermediary job.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
And that's just with players and coaches.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
There's so much more outward facing, like I said, press conferences, events,
all of that, but there it is such a relationship
thing that I'd imagine if you're in PR and you're
just you just come in bulldoze and you don't have
any kind of nuance with it, you're probably not going
to be a good PR person because you are balancing
a ton.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
Yeah, I think it just it also depends on kind
of the person, because there are some PR people that
that's kind of their way of doing things. I think
it just it's like any job anything in life. You
just have to kind of figure out the way that
you do it best and the way that the people
that you're talking to reciprocate best to you. That's kind
of how I always did did it when I was
in PR.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
So tell me about working with the Chiefs.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
Yeah. So the Chiefs were amazing and I can't thank
them enough for everything that I got to do when
I was there. And it was Honestly, when I moved
to Kansas City, I knew nothing about Kansas City. It
was just another city kind of out there, and it
is actually like really fun. It's a bigger city than
I thought it was going to be. And the football town,
(15:43):
the people there are crazy, like they're on par with
the Packers. Yeah, of just like a fandom that I
did not even know was really a thing, and it
was awesome to see when I was there. They were
very good. So it was also fun and you know,
to be able to do.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
They won a Super Bowl while you were there.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
Yes, so I went to one to one lost one.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
Oh, which so sad.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
I'm just kidding out. I'm lucky enough to say that
I've even done that. Most people go throughir entire career
and don't even get to sniff it. So that was awesome.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
But do you have I don't know if there's like,
do you have a Super Bowl ring. Then I do.
Speaker 4 (16:18):
Yes, Yes, it's at my parents' house. Yeah, somewhere, Yeah, somewhere.
Let's make sure we I mean, it's in there safe.
I'm assuming I know him that my dad, he keeps
it somewhere safe. Yeah, because if it's at my house,
who knows what it's going to happen to it.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
Yeah that's fair, all right, that's awesome.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
So and that's another thing too that we talked about.
It is, like you said, like football is sacrifices. Like
you're moving to a city that you don't know anybody, right,
So what is that like with the trade off of
you know, you're young, that you don't know anyone there,
You're working all sorts of hours? Like how how was
it outside of work? Like, I know, when I moved
to Connecticut right out of school, it worked for ESPN.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
It's like the coolest job ever.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
But in terms of like a life outside of my job,
I didn't have one. I had crazy hours. I you know,
worked weekends. So what was it like for you? Yeah,
I mean I think it was pretty similar. I was
twenty two or twenty three when I moved to Kansas City,
so pretty fresh out of college, and I.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Honestly, I just made friends with people that I worked with.
I think we all do, and we all just hang
out together. We're still really close. I think I went
back to Kansas City like three times last year for
weddings of people that I met when I was there.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
You go to a lot of weddings, You're in a
lot of weddings, and you go to a lot of
weddings that I'm just a good friend.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
Yeah, I'm just at that age right now where everyone's
getting married. So yeah, it's been a it's been a
lot of weddings. This year is a little slower, which
is nice.
Speaker 3 (17:37):
But because your work schedule, which we're going to get into.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
Is Yeah, it's been it's been good. But yeah, so
working in Kansas City and trying to have a life, Yeah,
it was hard, but it was it wasn't It wasn't
that bad. I mean I think it was. I was
lucky my like, one of my best friends that I
made on the team or yeah, on the team, lived
right around the corner from Oh No, we hung out
together all the time. So you just kind of you
kind of make it work. It's the same anywhere.
Speaker 3 (17:59):
So then why come to the Panthers.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
Yeah, So honestly, I came here because I wanted something different.
Where I was at in Kansas City. It was it
was great, but there wasn't a whole lot of upward mobility.
If I was going to stay in PR, there was
the potential to possibly go into scouting there, but I
was kind of like I really wanted to Honestly, I
(18:24):
just wanted to come home. My parents live not far
from here on Lake Tillery, So I just wanted to
come home be or my parents, me or my brother.
I think, especially after COVID, I was kind of like
I felt that homesickness for the first time, Like I
had not lived anywhere near my family since I went
to college, So I was kind of ready to come
(18:46):
back home. Panthers had a great opportunity where I saw
if I wanted to stay in PR, like there was
good upward mobility if I was going to choose that path,
and then I didn't honestly know that the scouting role
was going to work out. I came here, but I
was like, if it does, it does, and if it doesn't,
like we'll see what happened.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
So that was something that you were already thinking about
when you came here in PR was that you So
you at this point knew scouting might be something that
you were interested in. I didn't know that. Even in
all our conversations, I don't think I realized that.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
Yeah, So when I was in Kansas City, the GM there,
Brett v had we had talked about potentially coming and
doing something and scouting, and and like I said, it
just wasn't the right time to make that move there.
So when I came to Carolina, it was kind of
in the back of my mind, but it was it
wasn't like I wasn't like I was coming to Carolina,
(19:39):
I was going to do PR and then I was
going to move to scouting. Like that wasn't really my.
That wasn't my.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
That's what I'm saying. Like, you and I have had
lots of conversations, and I never picked you. Like when
you told me you were like, I think I'm gonna
do scout, I was like, what, yeah you know? So, yes, no,
I know that, but but it's something that interested you
when you got into.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
The football world.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
Yeah, I think it was just something that it was different.
I mean, I I'm a lot, I I'm a person,
I like to learn new things and do different stuff.
So I think I'd been doing PR for five years
and I had learned a lot and there was still
a lot to learn, but this was just another path
that was interesting and I was like, I'm just going
to try it and see what happens.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
I remember you telling me that You're like, I'm ready
for I'm ready to learn something new, Like I'm excited
about this. So, you know, we talked a little bit
about you coming in to do PR, and I do
want to get to a lot of the scouting because
I am so interested in it. But I do just
have to say this, like I said, you came in
like I think training camp, like the first day of
training camp was your first day?
Speaker 3 (20:34):
Yeah, and that is when we met. Was that two
years ago? Three years ago? Now two?
Speaker 1 (20:39):
Yeah? Like twenty twenty one, I think. I know Honestly,
when I was when I was driving in today, I
was like, when did I come here? And I could
not read I was twenty twenty.
Speaker 3 (20:46):
One, last training camp.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
So no, it's twenty twenty one because you were you
were pregnant with Jack.
Speaker 3 (20:50):
Yeah, yes, I was.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
I was, yeah, waddling around Spartanburg in a hundred degree heat. No,
I was, but I just I think it's interesting because
I think we I met you, we had like a
big meeting and we met you and Chris Brandon, who
still works in PR. You guys were hired at the
same time. And I think by the next day, Jordan
I like, and again, so just if you if you've
(21:12):
listened to this, you know, like I said, like, PR
is all about relationships and it is a like I said, like,
I think it'd be so hard to come in and
be a PR coordinator training camp, right because it's so
much about interpersonal relationships and you probably hadn't even met
the team, right, I don't think. And I think by
the next day Jordan was like already on She was like, yeah,
I got this for you, I got this for you,
(21:33):
I got this, And I'm like, how, like, how.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
Did you do that?
Speaker 2 (21:35):
It was it was almost instantaneous. How on top of
everything you were? How you were like who do you
want to talk to the next few days? Because especially
at training camp, the interview lists are long because you
have outside media coming in guys, Like I said, there's
no weekends, so you're just constantly there's a lot of
excitement right around the beginning of it, and you were
just so on everything and it was that turnaround for
(21:59):
anyone who doesn't work in this business.
Speaker 3 (22:00):
I'm still impressed by it, and I just think it's
really cool.
Speaker 4 (22:05):
You know.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
I don't know is that I think for me, that's
just how my brain works, Like I just had to
if I'm going to come in, I'm gonna do something.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
There is no acclamation period, Well there wasn't. It couldn't
be felt like you had been here for two years.
Speaker 1 (22:17):
Yeah, I mean I think that was kind of what
I was trying to do. Like, I mean, you did it.
Bruce and Ryan and Preston were here and they're amazing
and great and Preston's off, you know, living his best
golf life now. But that they they hired me for
a reason. So I was like, I'm just going to
come in and just make like let's just go like
we're at training camp. We don't really have time to
(22:38):
like yeah, art around, like we kind of got to
figure it out. And like you said, like training camp is,
it's like quick it goes and you just gotta you
gotta figure it out, like and I think it makes
it easy when you also work with people like you
who have their stuff ready to go and then you
know what you want, so you just kind of got
to put it together. But yeah, I mean it was
(22:59):
a crazy time. It was. I just like, yeah, it was.
I think the first day I got here, I we
had our press like our intro training camp press conference
was like that day, and you're like meeting everybody. Yeah
that you've like that you've not met before. I knew
the people like in my department we had kind of talked.
(23:21):
We hadn't even really met met before. But yeah, it was.
It was. It was crazy. Now that I go back
and think on it, it was. It was wild.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
But you are one of those people that nothing seems
to ever phase you, you know, on the outside. And
it's just like I said, I think that's like one
of the biggest compliments that I could give somebody, is
I mean, it was like you had been here for
two years by by day two, and and then I
remember thinking distinctly and this is I feel this way
about our entire PR department. But you know, certain people
(23:52):
have certain roles, right, and your role was a lot
of like interview planning stuff. I remember thinking, like two
days later, I'm like, what did I ever do without Jordan?
So what was it like working in pr You know,
how was it different from from Panthers to Chiefs.
Speaker 3 (24:09):
What was that experience?
Speaker 1 (24:10):
Like, Yeah, I think when I came from the Chiefs
to the Panthers, I had a little bit of an
elevated role, so I got to be in charge of
some more stuff and do different things. And the teams
are very just different in the way that they're run,
and not one is better than the other, but it's
just you get to do a little bit different stuff
(24:31):
based upon the city you're living in, based upon how
the team is doing, whether they're doing well, whether they're
doing poorly, you know, whether you have a new coach,
you have a coach that's been at the team forever. Like,
things just run a little bit differently. So I think
just different things. I don't know, I don't really Yeah,
that's not really like an answer, but no, it is.
Speaker 3 (24:49):
It is interesting too.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
That's something that you know, I've worked for other networks,
but I've never worked for another team.
Speaker 3 (24:55):
And you hear that.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
It's always so interesting to talk to people who have
worked for different teams, because you get a team is
very much you know, a reflection of your ownership, your coach,
your GM. Then there's you know, the media side. So
some teams are gonna play it a little safer, some
teams are gonna be crazy like.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
Us, you know, and so it is really cool to.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
See what it's like in different places, which I just
think is like, what a valuable experience. So and then also,
you know, one thing that I really miss as well
is like we used to share seats on a plane,
like he would you know, we had one seat in
between us. You traveled, so you did game day. You
were on the field as a game day contact. Can
I ask you about that. I don't think that we've
(25:36):
ever really talked about that. I don't think I've ever
really talked to anybody about that in PR. But it's
a neat role. I promise we are going to get
scouting too. But I just it's just so interesting. So
tell me about the game day role for a PR coordinator,
like cause I just think it's cool and I don't
know how much people know about it.
Speaker 1 (25:55):
Yeah, So it's that was that was probably one of
the biggest things that changed when I came here was
I got to be on the field for games, which
was really fun. It's just like a different way of
watching the game.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
Yes, even I spent a lot of time together on
that you were home games right home.
Speaker 1 (26:10):
I did some away. It's kind of depended that we
were also kind of in that weird COVID limbo where
we can only travel so many people. So it was
it was, you know, crazy, but yeah, So on the sideline,
you basically are the like kind of liaison between like
what's going on on the field and then like everyone
up in the press box, so you have to figure
out like if someone's injured, like what's going on, you
(26:32):
have to go talk to the trainers, get those injuries,
give them to the media, people, give them to you,
send them up to the press box, and then like
sometimes if it's kind of taking too long, like you're
getting calls down on the field trying to get an
answer on what's going on, and you're like, I'm not
a trainer, I don't know what's going on. Like you
look like you heard just toe, but who knows.
Speaker 2 (26:52):
Because in the NFL, this you know, and this is
different than college. There are specific injury designations that you
can see if something happened with your own eyes or
a camera might pick it up if someone goes into
an injury and I can say, okay to me, like
you said, it looks like, you know he hurt his
toe on that last play, but you typically you know
that you know that an injury designation is coming, whether
(27:15):
that's out, doubtful, probable to return. You know he was
checked out and he's good to go back in the game.
You know that's coming. That's part of the NFL framework
and all of that runs through you, but as you said,
it goes through the training staff sometimes the coaching staff,
and you really have to make sure that you're right
on it.
Speaker 3 (27:32):
Yeah, because it is and this is a for me.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
These are this is their player's livelihood, this is their health,
and it is a huge responsibility. And and if you're
the PR person, you're standing by the phone like I
don't know if anyone's seen the phone back behind the bench,
and then you have like you said, me coming up
to you, the the TV reporters people are waiting to
tweet out like what it is. You know, So it
is a huge responsibility.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
Yeah, it was it. I do remember like the first game,
I was like pretty nervous. Luckily, you start like in
training camp and in preseason, so you kind of get
a little bit of like, you know, get your feet
wet a little bit. But yeah, those first times, and
then if you have like a major player who goes down,
like you know, face your franchise, and then everyone is
like kind of holding their breath and you're it just
(28:18):
like ratchets everything up, especially if if they're in that
tent for a really long time and you're just kind
of waiting for them to come out of there.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
Yeah, So it's a it's a neat thing, but it is, uh,
it is a lot of responsibility.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
So so you do pr the Panthers for a year, right,
a year and a half.
Speaker 1 (28:36):
It was like a season, it was a full season.
Was just a season.
Speaker 2 (28:39):
Yeah, and then I still remember standing out on the
practice field and you were like, I'm going to move
to scouting.
Speaker 3 (28:46):
And immediately, I think I said this already. I was like, no,
you can't leave me.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
Your my my plane, buddy, Like what are we going
to do without you? But then at the same time,
I'm like, oh, yeah, like you're you're gonna be so
good at whatever you do, so tell me about that decision.
I also think it's interesting about the ability to move
to a different department. I've seen that with the Panthers before,
So how does that all work?
Speaker 1 (29:08):
Yeah? So I just really honestly throughout, starting in training camp,
I kind of started to make a relationship with Scott
Fitter RGM, and I would help him with his interviews
and stuff. So we kind of got to know one another.
And he's a great guy and you've talked to him,
he's amazing. Yeah, he's phenomenal. So we just kind of
always kept that relationship going. And then I think it
(29:30):
was the it was the draft. Yeah, so last year's draft.
As soon as the draft ended, we were kind of
all just like the drafts over, you kind of decompress,
you do. We had that was it Kenny Chesney concert.
Speaker 2 (29:41):
Yeah, that was It was like the Sunday of the draft. Yeah,
because I was leaving and we had just finished like
a weekend of crazy draft stuff and people were like
coming in yeah and.
Speaker 1 (29:50):
It was cool. Yeah, So like we had kind of
like a post draft, like we got to go to
the concert.
Speaker 3 (29:55):
Oh you stayed for that. I was like, I just
want to go home and go to bed for you.
Speaker 1 (29:58):
No, I stayed. I was I was like, you know what,
not really like I'm not a huge country person, but
it's it's at the stadium, this is this is fun.
It was actually really fun time. It was a good time. Yeah,
but we were we were talking and I can't remember
exactly who I was who I was talking to, but
I was like, you know, like, yeah, I think like
maybe i'd want to get into scouting and and kind
of do something in scouting, and I think I could
(30:19):
could help you guys. And I really didn't think like
anything was going to come of it. And then the
next week, I think it was like Monday after the draft,
I got an email and it was from someone down
in scouting and they were like, hey, like come to
my office. And I was like, oh, bully, I was
like myn in trouble, Like what did I do? And
he was like, hey, like do you do you want
to come and work in scouting And I was like yeah,
(30:42):
I was like yeah, why not, Let's do it. And like,
I think a week or so later, Scott called me
down to his office and he was like, all right,
if you want to do this, like let's let's do it.
And that's cool, I know, and like I always kind
of feel like a little bit bad because I think
like it didn't like fall in my lap and it
kind of just happened organically.
Speaker 3 (31:02):
But I think not if you hadn't said anything about it.
Speaker 2 (31:04):
Yeah, yeah, that's yeah, But I think that is the
mark of you. And like I'm of course, like you said,
I'm going to brag on you. I am so proud
of you. But anyone who knows you knows like you
are gonna be good at what If you said to
me like, hey, I want to do podcast, I'd be like, yeah.
Speaker 3 (31:20):
Come on.
Speaker 2 (31:20):
Like so the fact that you put it out there, yeah,
I'm not surprised at all that they got right on
it and were like Jordan, please come on.
Speaker 1 (31:26):
Yeah. So, I mean that was really cool for me.
And I remember like calling my parents and my dad
and I was like, hey, like I think I'm going
to move over to scouting, and my dad like, I
don't remember exactly what he said, but he said something
like a finally, like you're gonna move on to like
the football football side, and he was so excited.
Speaker 2 (31:42):
Was that a conversation that you had talked about or
knew that you wanted to do?
Speaker 3 (31:49):
You know, I know that you said you were interested
in it.
Speaker 2 (31:51):
But was that something that you were like, hey, like
the next step mom and Dad, I think is going
to be this or were they a little like like, oh,
you've admitted it to yourself, Like.
Speaker 1 (32:01):
I think we had talked about it, and my dad
and his friends, who are you know, coaches and whatever
in the league have always been like, yeah, you should
try and come on the football side, And of course
my dad's always been like yeah, coaching, and I'm like,
that's not really what I I don't know, you know,
never say never, but that's not for me. But scouting
I think would be would be interesting. And honestly, when
I came over to the scouting side, I kind of
(32:22):
thought I was going to be doing a little bit
more like not like admin stuff, but like not as
much like actual like scouting, going out, going to schools
and doing stuff. And they kind of just like, again,
I think it's just like the name of the game
in the NFL, you just get thrown into the fire.
And it's what I ended up doing, and it was
It was awesome, and I basically spent the whole summer
(32:44):
just like learning how to scout, how to write reports,
how to watch tape, correctly with all of our guys
in house who were awesome and you know, took their
own time to sit and do that with me, and
then ended up doing a little bit more of the
ad men's stuff just because somebody left and it was
a job that needed filling, which I actually really enjoyed
(33:06):
doing both. So it was actually kind of, you know,
best of both worlds that I got to do this
past season.
Speaker 2 (33:10):
And that is and I do want to because you
had to explain this to me as well. You are
a college scout and there's correct or so different.
Speaker 1 (33:21):
So yeah, so I'm one of our scouting assistants and
this season I think they try we tried to do
something where we have more of like a college scouting
assistant and more of a pro scouting assistant. We both
do both things. We kind of do it all because
you have to, just because there's so much to do.
But yes, I do focus.
Speaker 2 (33:39):
You're specializing on college right now. You are specializing a
little bit in that, so can you explain. And I
love what you said about like you spent the summer
learning how to watch tape and scout and write reports,
and that's pretty standard for everyone coming in, right, Like
it would be different. It might be different if you
did this at the Chiefs. Like there's a way that
the Panthers want to do things and and so that
(34:00):
is part of the process, right right of Like, of
course you've been watching tape for a long time, you
know football, but they want you to do things a
certain way in the organization. And so what would you say, Like,
if you had to sum up the job of what
you're doing, what would you say it is in like
three to four sentences.
Speaker 1 (34:21):
Basically, if you're going from the college side, you're looking
at the college players and you're trying to find those
players that we're going to target in the draft. So
you're watching tape, you're going to the schools, you're learning
about the players, and then after you get all that,
you have to put in reports into our college system.
(34:43):
So you've got to basically just summarize quickly and concisely
what that player is, what they're good at, what they're
bad at, what they bring to us, and how they're
going to make us better. And so we do that
so that Scott and Dan and Sameir and Adrian now
who just joined us, all of them can go and
(35:04):
just read it quickly and be like, Okay, this guy
he's going to help us. This guy's not going to
help us. This guy's really good, but he doesn't really
fit our system. So basically just going through and trying
to make us better, which is exactly what the pro
guys do too. But on the college side, you just
do it, you know, from a college level. Pro guys
do it from players that are already in the league.
Speaker 2 (35:22):
Do you focus on certain position groups or certain schools?
Like how do you define whether it's you know, at
the start of a new scouting season or whatever, like
is it just anyone that comes.
Speaker 3 (35:33):
Across your desk or you get how does that work?
Speaker 1 (35:35):
Yeah, so we have like our area scouts are broken
out into areas across the country. So for me, since
I'm a scouting assistant, I'm like one of our in
house scouts, so I have and I always forget. It's
probably like eight or nine schools in North and South
Carolina and a school up in Virginia. And so you
go to the school and you yeah, no, you look
(35:56):
at everything. You don't like It's that people always ask like, oh,
do you just do one position? Sn't know? You look
at like the entire team and.
Speaker 2 (36:04):
So much you think about how many players are because
because there are times too where you might think you're
going to look at one person right and you're like,
oh my gosh, what about this guy over here?
Speaker 1 (36:13):
Yeah, Like so we do have like a service that
I don't even know if it's a service, but it's
a an organization that goes in and they go kind
of before everybody and they kind of highlight the players
that they think are gonna have the best chance of
making it. There's always players that either are in that
group that don't make it, or there's players that aren't
in that group that do know make it. So you
(36:35):
kind of have to.
Speaker 2 (36:37):
It's an art like, it's an it's and it's an
evaluation thing, and that if it could just be done
by a service or if you know, there'd be no draft,
there would be no surprises if if if it was
just as easy.
Speaker 3 (36:47):
I mean, it's so much about judgment right.
Speaker 1 (36:49):
Right, And then it's also about when we go into
the schools, the pro liaison will also be like, hey, like,
these are the guys that we that we've seen that
we think have the temperament, that we think have this
level to make it in the NFL. So that's another
just another relationship building thing that you have to be
able to trust the pro liaison at the school and
trust the staff at the school to tell you, you know,
(37:12):
what they think is going to be best for you.
Speaker 2 (37:14):
How do you differentiate This might be a little inside
baseball to mixed metaphors, but how do you differentiate if
you're going to a school like I know you're going
to take some trips this week actually as soon as
we finish, and someone impresses you, but like maybe not
like a second third round.
Speaker 3 (37:31):
Draft pick, but maybe a you know, an undrafted guy.
So how do you differentiate there?
Speaker 2 (37:39):
Like when the talent isn't popping off the charts, but
you think, like, hey, for the right price or the
right opportunity, this guy could really make an impact.
Speaker 3 (37:48):
Or is it just like it's you're good or you're not.
Speaker 1 (37:51):
Yeah, no, I mean there's obviously different like levels of goodness.
It's probably not the right word.
Speaker 2 (37:57):
But yeah, so is that a category like that you
would differentiate between.
Speaker 1 (38:01):
Yeah, So we have a it's a system of grading,
a grading system. So you have, you know, like someone
who you think is going to come out like this
person's going to be a first round pick, this person's
going to be a second round and it goes all
the way down to this person is good enough to
make it to a training camp and help us out,
but maybe they don't make a fifty three man roster.
(38:24):
Maybe they just make a practice squad. And that's kind
of where you also go and you look at you
look at traits of a person. So sometimes there's people
who have really good traits like super long arms, super speed,
right speed, and my boss hates when I use the
word super so very long arms, but yeah, so it's
(38:48):
just kind of those things that sometimes you think the person,
you know, maybe they're not like great, great, great at something,
but like they have something that we can build on,
or something that our coaches like. And there's sometimes coaches,
I know, like when my dad was coaching, he liked
certain traits of players and would be like, Okay, I
would rather have this guy with this trait that I
can build than this guy who's maybe a little bit
(39:09):
more polished. So just kind of those those types of things.
Speaker 2 (39:13):
What was it like going through your first year where
you're evaluating and then you get to the part of
a draft or bringing guys in an even free agency,
although I know, like you said, you're primarily focused on college,
but you do pro as well. So to kind of
see the process come to fruition and maybe there are
people that you had conviction about or didn't you've seen
(39:34):
them either do well here or somewhere else, or you've
seen the process. So, like, what was it like to
see this first full year of all of that work
kind of play out in terms of the next group
of guys that have come in.
Speaker 1 (39:48):
Yeah, So I think it's it's been really cool because
you go into the schools, you kind of know what
you're looking for, and then you either come out and
you like a player, you don't like a player. And
that's not to say that they wouldn't make it somewhere else,
but maybe they're just not right for us. And I
think so so far, we've gone through our first round
of draft meetings where we've had to go through and
(40:10):
you list the players that we've given like draftable grades,
and we go through and we just kind of talk
about the player, what we like about them, what we
don't like about them, what we think they're going to add.
And I think that's cool because you get to hear
different perspectives people like Jeff Morrow who have been with
the team since it started in ninety five, and then
you have like me and our two interns who are
(40:31):
just starting and kind of everyone has a little bit
of a different perspective on a player. So I think
that's been awesome to see, and like there are people
that someone really really likes someone and someone really really
also doesn't like that person, and they kind of go
to bat for the person, whether one way or the other.
And so I think it's going to be really cool
to go through this draft this year with the players
(40:53):
that I've actually like watched and evaluated and see kind
of where they end up and if other people other
teams kind of see them in the same way that
you do.
Speaker 2 (41:01):
Has it been fun interesting empowering to like realize as
you're typing up these reports, like, oh, I have conviction
on this person, and I will defend them, and my
opinion is the one that people are going to listen to. Like,
I imagine that's a really cool thing because that is
that is football, right, That's something that I've never done personally,
(41:23):
But you think like you are taking I mean, the
Panthers just traded up to number one you are, You're
putting a lot into that scenario, right, and no one
knows for sure that anyone is going to pan out,
but you now have the.
Speaker 3 (41:35):
Ability to influence those decisions.
Speaker 2 (41:38):
So is that cool to develop that skill right as
a scout, to feel confident in what you're looking at
and then to you know, go to bat uh if
and when you know that time arises.
Speaker 1 (41:51):
Yeah. I think for me, I think I'm always happy
when we're talking about a player that I've watched and
then like someone else talks about them and they kind
to see them the exact same way, and I'm like, Okay,
this person's been doing this for fifteen years and we're
seeing things very similarly. So that's kind of how for me,
that's how I learn and know that I'm kind of
(42:12):
on the right track. And sometimes maybe we don't. Maybe
someone really likes someone and I don't like them, but
that's just I mean, like you said, that's how football goes.
And so yeah, I think it is cool to see
just this whole process kind of starting to come together.
Speaker 2 (42:26):
So what are you most excited about? And like what
is your focus as we get closer and closer to
the draft. I know you're traveling, so let's start there,
like what are you doing right now? Because I know
you are busy, busy, busy.
Speaker 1 (42:41):
Yeah, So like yeah, like you said, right after this,
I'm gonna go, I'm going to East Carolina.
Speaker 3 (42:46):
Literally right after this. You're leaving in your car in
a few minutes.
Speaker 1 (42:49):
Yeah. But so we we're in like our pro day
kind of circuit right now. So we're going to the schools.
It's basically just to go to the schools like mini
combines to be everyone at the school. So you go
into the school. I'm going to East Carolina this week
and app State at the end of the week. So
you go, you watch all of the players from that school.
They run, they test, they do drills, and then you
(43:11):
kind of just have a little bit more information on
players and maybe someone runs very well that that you
hadn't really paid that much attention to, and then you
kind of go back and you watch them and then
you'll be like, oh, yeah, this person does have a
little something that I just didn't see. Are you missed?
And that happens especially with as many players as we
look at throughout the year. So I think this time
(43:34):
of years very exciting, just like I said, because it's
all kind of coming to a close. It's kind of
you know, you've worked all year on these players and
now you're doing pro days. And then once we get
back from Pro Days, we'll do like our top thirty
visits with the players that are, you know, our top
thirty candidates to draft and they come in. So I've
been getting that set up, getting all their flights and everything,
(43:55):
making sure that they're going to get into Charlotte the
way they're supposed to. And then we do our second
round draft meetings where we kind of tie a bow
on everything, and then it's the draft.
Speaker 2 (44:05):
I remember Scott always says to me, like during the draft,
He's like, this is the Scouts super Bowl, right, And
you can tell just how busy you guys are. And
so I appreciate you taking the time in between all
the stuff you've got going on to sit down and
do this. I could ask you questions for another two hours,
but I'll just make you answer them when we're not
on microphones.
Speaker 3 (44:25):
Thank you so much for doing this. How was your
first podcast?
Speaker 1 (44:28):
It was It was fun. It was awesome. I feel
I mean, you know, you hear your own voice for
a lot of time. I don't know how you do
this all the.
Speaker 3 (44:34):
Time, listen to yourself, good voice.
Speaker 1 (44:35):
It was fun and I really enjoyed it. I think
it's always good to kind of get your story out
there for someone who maybe doesn't know that it's a job.
I think for me that was one thing that there's
so many jobs out there that you don't even think
are jobs until exactly see it or you hear about it,
And so for that, for something like this, this podcast
(44:57):
is really cool for people to go and listen to
and get to think like, oh, maybe I could.
Speaker 2 (45:02):
I could do that exactly Like I said, I work
in the organization, and you still had to I mean,
of course I know what scouts are, but I like, okay,
the day to day tell me about it. So before
I let you go, what is if someone is listening
to this going like oh that sounds like something I'd
be super interested in. What advice would you give to
them in terms of, you know, kind of having this
on the horizon.
Speaker 1 (45:22):
Yeah, I think just just go for it, Like, if
you want to do it, reach out to someone in
the organization. And yes, we do get a lot of
text emails, calls and all that, but reach out, try
to get to know us, and there's always opportunities to
do something, and whether it's at the NFL level or
the college level, just just try it. And that's kind
(45:45):
of how I've always been, is like I'm just going
to go out and try something, and then if it
doesn't work, go out and try the next thing.
Speaker 3 (45:52):
That's perfect, all right, Jordan Turkovac, thank you so much.
I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (46:00):
Don't stand sting stand
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