Brandon Brown speaks at Ozzie Newsome General Manager Forum

In partnership with the Black College Football Hall of Fame, the National Football League (NFL) recently announced the second annual Ozzie Newsome General Manager Forum and the fifth annual Quarterback Coaching Summit. From June 21-23, front office personnel and coaches from the NFL will take part in the programs both at the NFL Los Angeles office and virtually to experience professional development and networking opportunities with NFL club executives. 

"The Ozzie Newsome General Manager Forum and Quarterback Coaching Summit are part of our ongoing efforts to establish a cultural norm of opportunity for all, and a steadfast commitment to developing a diverse and inclusive workforce," said NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent Sr.. "With the in-person engagement participants will be exposed to the experienced coach and seasoned football personnel. They will have the opportunity to gain insight from these leaders in the football community."

Participants will gain insights and knowledge directly from quarterback coaches, offensive coordinators, head coaches and general managers. The programming will provide a platform to help prepare, educate, and identify quality minority candidates across the league. Both the Forum and the Summit will feature a variety of sessions, including how to build a coaching staff, position coach roles, analytics and how to prepare for interview sessions. There will also be sessions hosted by club ownership, including priorities and the process of selecting a head coach and general manager.

"We want to continue to create opportunities for some of the best and brightest football minds around the country to display their knowledge to NFL club leadership and media," Black College Football Hall of Fame Co-Founder Doug Williams. "There are many quality diverse coaching candidates and front office executives that deserve to be considered for open positions in the league." 

Giants Assistant General Manager Brandon Brown spoke at the GM Forum on Tuesday to discuss different aspects of the scouting process.

FOX Sports' Laura Okmin joins Her Playbook podcast

For more than two decades, Laura Okmin has covered some of the most significant events in sports, including 10 Super Bowls, three Olympics, multiple NBA Finals, World Series and All-Star Games. She is a seasoned reporter for FOX Sports' NFL coverage and the third-longest tenured sideline reporter in the league's history.

She recently joined Madelyn Burke on the "Her Playbook" podcast to discuss a variety of topics, including her journey in the business.

Below is an excerpt from the podcast, which can be found in full here.

"My best friend for 20 years was Stuart Scott," Okmin said of the late ESPN anchor. "When Stuart and I met, it was when we were covering the NBA Finals when I was traveling with the Chicago Bulls during the heyday with Michael [Jordan], so it was a big time. I was so in over my head and I was so intimated. I wasn't ready. I will never forget, I walked into the presser we were waiting on, Pat Riley, because that day the Heat had just traded for Alonzo Mourning from Charlotte.

"I walked in the room that I was very usually the only woman, maybe one other one or two. I just remember at that particular time, there were no other women and I sort of looked around the room and kind of hid. Like 'All right, I don't want to stand out so I'm going to hide.' Stuart was in there, and Stuart was the only person of color. Stuart found me very quickly and was kind of like 'What's up?' He was ESPN2, his star hadn't hit yet. We were both coming up. I'll never forget just him talking about we were the two that stood out, but I was the one kind of in the fetal position not wanting to be seen, and Stuart walked in in all his Stuart glory like 'Why wouldn't they look at me? We stand out.' For the next 20 years, Stuart really became my best friend, but also someone I could go to."