Roman Oben is a distinguished former professional football player turned executive in the National Football League (NFL), known for his exceptional leadership skills, strategic thinking, and deep commitment to the development of football initiatives. Oben was born in Cameroon and raised in Washington, D.C., where he attended the University of Louisville, playing for the Cardinals football team, earning a degree in Economics, and being inducted into Louisville’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009.
Oben was selected by the New York Giants in the third round of the 1996 NFL Draft and went on to have a successful 12-year career as an offensive tackle with several teams, including the Cleveland Browns, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and San Diego Chargers. He was a pivotal player on the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl XXXVII championship team, starting every game that season and helping to establish the team’s reputation as a dominant force in the NFL. Concurrent with his NFL career, Roman earned a master’s degree in public administration from Farleigh Dickinson University.
Following his retirement from pro football, Oben embarked on a career in executive leadership, working in various business development roles and serving on the board of directors for several companies. In 2015, he was hired by the NFL as the Director of Player Health & Safety, a position in which he has excelled, developing, and implementing numerous programs aimed at promoting the growth and development of football initiatives across the country. Oben is currently the NFL’s Vice President of Football Development where he drives the league’s football participation & development strategy from Youth through College. He has also helped reshape the way the collegiate student athlete is educated on NFL preparedness both on & off the field.
Beyond his work with the NFL, Oben is deeply committed to giving back to his community and has been involved in numerous philanthropic initiatives throughout his career. He has spent his entire professional career using his platform as a professional athlete and executive to raise awareness about issues affecting marginalized communities. Oben is regarded as a thoughtful, strategic, and visionary leader who is dedicated to improving the game of football and creating opportunities for the next generation of players.