In Depth

Milton Ahlerich and NFL Security: Goal-Line Stand

Anything can happen at a football game. But Milton Ahlerich, the NFL's VP of security, has sworn to make it safe for players and fans alike.

By Daintry Duffy

Players who suddenly come into a lot of money can be victimized in other ways as well. "Everyone they've ever knownall the relativescome out of the woodwork," says Ahlerich. "The mother complains that he bought the girlfriend a new Mercedes when she only got a Chevrolet." At the yearly rookie symposium, actors stage scenarios that the players might encounter, and they discuss how best to deal with them. They portray a bar scene where a player's girlfriend is called names, potential domestic violence situations where a player is trying to break his relationship off with a woman who doesn't want to leave, and a scenario where a player is slapped by a woman. Then they have players step into the skits to test their reactions. "It really holds their attention," says Ahlerich. "It gets some laughs, but it also teaches."

Of course, nothing is better than when the rookies can hear from fellow players and seasoned vets about situations they have encountered and the choices they have made. Every year the security group puts out a video focusing on a particular problem and makes it a point to include real players talking about their experiences in this area, the mistakes they made, what it cost them and what they put their families through. This year's topic was DUI.

And, lest you think the NFL security team can relax in the off-season, Ahlerich shoots down the myth that there even is an off-season. His responsibilities are year-round, he says. "We have to do all the due diligence, the background checks for the draft, a league in Europe with six teams," his voice trails off, seemingly distracted by some long list of to-dos somewhere. "No, we actually prefer the regular season where teams are just playing football games on Sundays."

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