ISSA and NFLPA Help Athletes Go Pro in Fitness

As the 2025–26 NFL season gets underway, more than 125 former NFL players are already writing their next chapter, this time as certified fitness professionals through the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA). As a Rewards Partner of the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), ISSA offers former NFL athletes and their families access to discounted fitness certification programs in order to help them transition out of football and into fulfilling careers in health, wellness, and performance training.

What Comes After Football?

The transition out of the league is rarely as smooth as the path in. Giovanni Pascascio knows that reality better than most. A wide receiver who spent time with the Tennessee Titans, Pascascio’s playing career ended not with a press conference, but with a phone call and a flight home.

“I wasn’t prepared,” he shared. “Nobody dreams about getting cut. I got on the plane from Nashville back to Phoenix, and I had no idea what I was going to do. There was no roadmap, no support system. You're just...done.”

Giovanni describes that moment as a “culture shock.” Like many undrafted or short-tenured players, he didn’t qualify as a vested veteran, so the exit came fast and without much guidance. “If something like ISSA's partnership had existed back then, if I’d gotten off that plane and seen an email from the NFLPA saying, ‘Here are your options, here’s ISSA’ it would’ve been a game-changer.”

Go Pro in Fitness

That’s exactly why ISSA and the NFLPA teamed up. The mission is simple: help former players, and their families, build sustainable careers through world-class fitness education and career resources.

What does it mean to “Go Pro in Fitness”? It means:

• Being your own boss: Set your schedule, build your clientele, own your future.

• Making an impact: Use your athletic experience to coach, mentor, and inspire others, especially the next generation.

• Training your way: Study, take the exam, and get certified entirely online.

• Getting hired: Through ISSA’s Career Connect platform, you’re connected to guaranteed interviews and entrepreneurial resources from day one.

As former player Clay Harbor puts it, “ISSA has helped so many people, so many trainers and so many clients over the years. I thought it was a perfect fit for me.”

The Need is Real and Personal

Today, Giovanni continues to serve as a Fitness Education Advisor at ISSA while also training athletes in Phoenix, where he specializes in developing wide receivers. His players regularly earn opportunities to compete beyond high school, including several who have signed to Division I football programs.

“I’m still doing what I love - coaching, training and staying connected to the game,” he said. “Thanks to ISSA, I’m now certified with a fulfilling career where I can provide better outcomes for the next generation of athletes.” 

This isn’t just a lifeline for former pros. It’s a foundation. It’s structure, purpose, and opportunity wrapped into one. And it helps avoid the kind of post-career uncertainty that too many athletes still face.

Stories of Impact

Here’s what other NFLPA members have said about ISSA:

• “When you can apply the science of fitness and offer solid and customized training programs, but also motivate, that’s when everybody wins.” — Jawon Chisholm

• “Unlike other certifications, ISSA wants us to really know what we’re doing instead of  just passing tests. Helping athletes understand how to train effectively and efficiently is a rewarding part of my journey.” — Ross Weaver

• “ISSA made it easy to register, study, and succeed. I learned a lot throughout the process.” — Christian DiLauro

• “It’s a natural next step. I’m excited to bring the benefits of exercise to the senior community, ensuring they have fun while staying active.” — Chris Scott

A Better Way Forward

There’s a growing recognition, finally, that athletes deserve more than a handshake on the way out. They deserve a path forward. And thanks to the NFLPA and ISSA, they now have one.

Giovanni said it best, “This could have been a smooth transition. Instead of feeling lost and unsure of what came next, I could have been training, earning, still chasing the dream and building a new one at the same time.” 

That’s what ISSA is offering. That’s what going pro in fitness really means.

Tami Nealy is the VP of Communications at the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA). She oversees brand positioning, media relations, and strategic content across ISSA’s portfolio of health and wellness education brands. With more than 20 years of experience in public relations and brand storytelling, Tami specializes in translating industry trends into clear, actionable insights that support aspiring and ISSA-certified personal trainers, health coaches, and nutrition professionals in building successful wellness careers. She is also an adjunct professor at Grand Canyon University where she teaches in the College of Business.