The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced today that Tod Leiweke, the chief operating officer of the National Football League (NFL) and a longtime sports industry innovator, will be inducted into the NFF Leadership Hall of Fame. He will be honored Jan. 5 at the Tampa Convention Center during an induction dinner that kicks off the College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship weekend.
"Tod Leiweke has built a reputation as one of the top sports business leaders in our country today," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. "He has established himself as an inspirational visionary who has a deep understanding of the positive impact that sports can have on communities. Additionally, he has become a powerful advocate for football and its unique ability to instill the key values in America's youth that have made our country great. We are extremely proud to recognize his many contributions by inducting him into the National Football Foundation Leadership Hall of Fame."
Established in 2013, the NFF Leadership Hall of Fame provides the NFF with a powerful platform for recognizing the country's most influential individuals who have ascended to the highest levels of success and exhibited the critical leadership qualities that transcend ordinary enterprises. Members of the NFF Leadership Hall of Fame must embody the same qualities in amateur football that define excellence in American life: hard work, discipline, determination, teamwork, integrity and the relentless pursuit to improve.
"Tod Leiweke has helped transform multiple communities throughout his career, and we are especially proud of his impact in my hometown of Tampa, Florida," said Ken Jones, the CEO of Third Lake Capital and Induction Dinner co-chairman. Jones continued, "It's extremely fitting that the NFF is using its national stage to honor him as part of the festivities surrounding the College Football Playoff National Championship in Tampa." National Hockey League (NHL) Tampa Bay Lightning Owner Jeff Vinik and fellow Dinner co-chairman added, "As a personal friend and former colleague, I witnessed first-hand Tod's unmatched charisma and work ethic, and we applaud the National Football Foundation for recognizing his many accomplishments."
Leiweke (pronounced LIGH-wih-kee) will become the ninth inductee into the NFF Leadership Hall of Fame. His outstanding record of leadership and many accomplishments will be highlighted during the Jan. 5 event and subsequently enshrined in an exhibit at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta for future generations to emulate. During his induction, several people who have worked closely with Leiweke will make remarks, and he will be presented with a special diamond ring designed by Herff Jones to commemorate the honor.
"Tod Leiweke has always realized the significance of being in a position where he can make a difference, and he has not only helped create winning franchises, but he has created a legacy of excellence in multiple communities," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "He is a proven leader, and we are proud to shine our national spotlight on him by inducting him into the NFF Leadership Hall of Fame."
The Jan. 5 event marks the continuation of a tradition that began with the inaugural CFP National Championship in 2015, and each year the NFF stages an NFF Leadership Hall of Fame induction as part of the kickoff celebration in the title game's host city. The host committee for the event consists of College Football Hall of Famer Archie Manning (NFF Chairman), Paul Avery (World of Beer CEO and President), the Honorable Bob Buckhorn (Mayor of Tampa), Bryan Glazer (Tampa Bay Buccaneers Co-Chairman), Ken Hagan (Hillsborough County Commissioner), Ken Jones (Third Lake Capital CEO), Kathleen Shanahan (Ground Works Solutions Chairman) and Jeff Vinik (Tampa Bay Lightning Owner).
"The College Football Playoff has done a marvelous job of using the title game's national stage to promote everything right with our great game," said Hatchell. "The NFF Leadership Hall of Fame plays an important role in highlighting the value of football off the field, and I want to thank CFP Executive Director Bill Hancock and his incredible staff for all their support that will allow us to recognize Tod Leiweke at the kickoff event for the 2017 CFP title game. We truly appreciate their efforts."
The NFF Leadership Hall of Fame events serve as a centerpiece of the NFF's annual fundraising efforts, providing critical support for the organization's scholarships, programs and outreach initiatives that emphasize the value of football to society. By creating a powerful fundraising opportunity, the NFF Leadership Hall of Fame allows those who have reached the pinnacle of success to help the NFF strengthen its programs and fulfill its mission of Building Leaders Through Football.
Previous NFF Leadership Hall of Fame inductees include:
2013 - Jerry Jones, owner, president and general manager of the Dallas Cowboys
2013 - George F. Pyne, chairman and CEO Bruin Sports Capital
2014 - Chris Christie, New Jersey Governor
2015 - Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper, founder and chairman of Cooper Aerobics
2015 - Joe Jamail, famed trial lawyer and philanthropist
2015 - Casey Wasserman, chairman and CEO of Wasserman
2016 - Michael Bidwill, president of the Arizona Cardinals
2016 - Doug Ducey, Arizona Governor
Click here to learn more about the NFF Leadership Hall of Fame.
Tod Leiweke's Bio
A top executive with a proven track record of success in the sports industry, including more than 30 years of experience and stints as the CEO of NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLS organizations, Tod Leiweke was named the chief operating officer of the NFL in July of 2015.
Throughout his career, Leiweke, 56, has developed a reputation for building outstanding management teams that achieve excellence, allowing him to leave a series of world-class franchises in his wake. His impressive track record includes leading the Seattle Seahawks to the franchise's first ever NFL Super Bowl appearance in 2006 and the Tampa Bay Lightning to the NHL Stanley Cup Finals in 2015. Possessing a keen understanding of brand loyalty, his hallmark for success has always focused on serving the fans and developing deep ties to the community and all of the key stakeholders.
Before taking on his current job with the NFL, Leiweke spent five years (2010-2015) as the CEO of Tampa Bay Sports and Entertainment, where he helped transform the Tampa Bay Lightning into an NHL Stanley Cup contender. While in Tampa, Leiweke helped lead a $40 million renovation of the team's home facility, now known as Amalie Arena. The upgrades included significant improvements to enhance the fan and sponsorship experiences, including a party deck, improved lighting, an old-fashion pipe organ, a new restaurant and Tesla coils that produce the world's largest indoor lightning strikes. The project finished on time, which also allowed the venue to serve as the site of the 2012 Republican National Convention.
Leiweke's devotion to fans resulted in increased ticket sales, placing the Lightning in the top 10 for average NHL home attendance during his last three years in Tampa. Season ticket sales jumped more than 35 percent after the team's Stanley Cup run, and Leiweke helped introduce an innovative program for season ticket holders, creating microchipped jerseys that provide discounts at concession stands throughout the stadium. The Tampa Bay Lightning recently welcomed Leiweke back, honoring him as their 41st Lightning Community Hero of the 2015-16 season.
Prior to his time in Tampa, Leiweke served as the CEO of the Seattle Seahawks for seven years (2003-2010) while adding CEO responsibilities in 2007 for Vulcan Sports & Entertainment, the management company for all of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's sports-related organizations, which also includes the Seattle Sounders and Portland Trailblazers.
In Seattle, Leiweke took over a Seattle Seahawks organization that failed to sellout its games, suffering local TV market blackouts. He revived the team's now-famous 12th Man tradition, and he made several other changes to enhance the stadium experience. His efforts re-energized the fan base, resulting in a string of 60 consecutive sellouts at Qwest Field, now known as CenturyLink Field, and season ticket sales went from 29,000 to 62,000. During his tenure and with the fans on board, the organization earned five straight playoff berths, four NFC West Division titles and an appearance in Super Bowl XL.
The Seattle Sounders, which share CenturyLink Field with the Seahawks, benefited from his leadership when his efforts resulted in the team joining Major League Soccer as an expansion team in 2009. The team immediately set the record for average attendance and led the league in season ticket sales in its inaugural season, two benchmarks that the franchise has continued to achieve annually ever since.
For his efforts with the Seahawks, Trail Blazers, and Sounders, Leiweke was named a finalist for the 2009 Sports Executive of the Year by Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Journal. The same year, he was named Executive of the Year by the Puget Sound Business Journal and CEO of the Year by the Seattle Sports Commission. The following year, the SportsBusiness Journal named the Seattle Sounders the 2010 Professional Sports Team of the Year.
While in Seattle, Leiweke also oversaw the $60 million construction of the Virginia Mason Athletic Center, which serves as the Seahawks' practice facility and headquarters, and he chaired the 2008-09 United Way of King County donation drive, raising more than $100 million during the recession for the charity. As part of the campaign to raise funds, he led a highly publicized expedition to climb the 14,410-foot Mount Rainer along with NFF Board Member and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
Before landing in Seattle, Leiweke served from 1999-2003 as the first president of the Minnesota Wild, which had landed a coveted NHL expansion slot, and the chief operating officer of Minnesota Sports & Entertainment (MSE). During his career, he has also held top executive positions with the PGA Tour's First Tee, NHL's Vancouver Canucks and NBA's Golden State Warriors.
Born on Jan. 12, 1960 in St. Louis, Mo., Leiweke currently resides in New York City with his wife, Tara, and two children.
Article provided and written by the National Football Foundation.