Growing up in a small town just north of downtown Detroit, Brandon Harlin idolized his hometown team, the Detroit Lions, especially quarterback Matthew Stafford, the team's all-time leading passer, and NFL Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson, regarded as one of the greatest wide receivers of all time.
Playing Little League and football in Highland Park, Michigan, a place he described as having "seen better days," Harlin dreamed of one day working alongside his NFL heroes.
"Regardless of where I'm from, and what goes on there, I always knew I wanted to make something more of myself," he said. "I wanted to be that example, that beacon of hope for others just like me."
Harlin overcame poverty and homelessness to make his NFL dream a reality. He joined the New York Giants as an intern in the summer of 2022 and, by the end of the season, he was working full-time as a player engagement coordinator, a challenging position that required establishing trust with more than 90 football players.
Harlin said he loves everything about the job, which entails helping players with "anything they need, especially off the field."
"We are here for them no matter what comes up, going back to school, trouble in a marriage, anything," he said. "We aren't counselors, but we have their best interests at heart. There is life outside of football and that contributes to how well the guys perform."
Despite his success, Harlin said he knew he had more to accomplish. His desire to get ahead in the NFL–perhaps leading a team himself one day–hinged on continuing his education, he said.
"Being here with the Giants, an historic, older franchise, I could read the room, and I knew a lot of my peers and co-workers had (a master's degree.) I knew it would open more possibilities for me," he explained.
Former Giants linebacker Jessie Armstead, who helped the Miami Hurricanes win national championships in 1989 and 1991, spoke often about his "glory days at the U," Harlin said. He encouraged Harlin to consider pursuing his master's degree at the University.
"Jessie is somebody I look up to and he would talk about it a lot," Harlin said. "I looked into it, doing it online, and it was just a perfect match for me."
Harlin enrolled in UOnline's Master of Sport Administration Program, offered through the School of Education and Human Development, in May 2023.
By December 2024, when he walked across the stage at commencement, Harlin said he emerged "more confident and content" about his ability to navigate his place in the NFL.
"I walked away feeling much more in tune with the industry. I have so much faith that I can continue to progress within this profession," he said.
Harlin said he uses lessons from the sport administration program in his daily work.
"I learned a lot about myself and how to lead," he said. "It isn't always about being in charge. It's about leading by example and knowing that the other people on your team, their voices and opinions matter. You want to enable them to grow into that next level."
Harlin said he also gained a greater perspective on the tremendous impact the sports industry has on the world.
"It's much bigger than just something you watch in your leisure time," he said. "So much goes into it and it has a global impact. I'm happy to be a small percentage of that impact."
Beyond his professional development, Harlin said he is motivated by the example he is setting for his three young nephews, ages 14, 10 and 6, who may face some of the same challenges he did.
"I want this to be the standard for them," Harlin said. "I want them to know that they can do it because they've seen their uncle do it. I want them to exceed everything I've done, go on and get their doctorate if they want to."
Harlin's sister Lindsey, who took him in when he was a senior in high school hopping from one friend's home to another, has since decided to pursue her master's degree too, Harlin said.
"They are definitely proud of me, my nephews and my sister and brother-in-law," he said. "A lot of good has come out of it. It's been amazing."
Although earning his degree online while working 12-hour days during football season was challenging, Harlin said his relationships with the faculty and his fellow classmates were a big help.
"The faculty were very understanding and supportive," he said. "But at the end of the day, whether you are doing your homework on a plane or getting up early before work, you've got to get it done."
Like anything in life, he said, students will get from the program what they put into it.
"It really is what you make it," he said. "You are not on campus, and you are dealing with other working professionals just like you. You need to take advantage of every opportunity you are presented with."
He's also keenly aware of the example he sets for young people in his hometown.
"This is for that small city of Highland Park, that I represent proudly wherever I go ... that is constantly reminded of how poverty-stricken and violent it is," he wrote on LinkedIn. "This is for little black boys and girls who dare to dream outside their neighborhood walls. This is for all of you to keep going no matter what!"
Learn more about UOnline's Master of Science in Education, Sport Administration.
