In conjunction with the highly successful Card4Life student-athlete development program, Stanford Football has announced the launch of the Card4Life mobile app, a private networking platform where former and current Stanford Football student-athletes can stay connected to the team and to each other. The application was developed in partnership with NextPlay, a software company that creates branded engagement platforms for college and professional teams.
"We always remind our players that Stanford is not a four-year decision, but a lifetime decision," said Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football David Shaw. "The Card4Life program and now the Card4Life app allows us to continue proving that point, connecting our current team with our incredible alumni network to create opportunities for internships, mentoring, and connections that will last a lifetime."
The Card4Life app gives current Stanford Football student-athletes an opportunity to engage in new ways. Current student-athletes can explore internship and job opportunities through an employer marketplace or prepare for the future with career development content. Most importantly, current student-athletes have direct access to a network of former Stanford Football players who they can connect with for advice, mentorship, or guidance on the next phase of their career.
"Our Card4Life student-athlete development program is a really important aspect of what we do here at Stanford," explained Senior Associate Athletics Director Matt Doyle, who also serves as the program's Director of Player Development. "It provides our current student-athletes with opportunities to hear and learn from our incredible alumni network in many different industries. One of my favorite aspects of the Card4Life app is that it allows both former and current players to be instantly connected. If a student-athlete wants to reach out to an alum from his hometown or in an industry that he wants to learn more about, the Card4Life app is the perfect platform."
Over the course of the last few weeks, the Card4Life program has been quite busy. On March 5th and April 2nd, Stanford Football welcomed back 23 current NFL players to visit spring practice and to spend time with our players, coaches and football recruits. In recent days, former Cardinal greats Lester Archambeau, '90, Doug Baldwin, '10, and DeRonnie Pitts, '01, MBA '07, volunteered their time to talk to the current team about their life experiences since they graduated from Stanford. Archambeau, who currently works for the NFLPA, spoke to the current roster on the "Path to the Pros" program. Baldwin, current CEO of Ventrk, spoke to a gathering of current and former players about his life journey since retiring from the Seattle Seahawks in 2018. And Pitts, a former record-setting wide receiver for the Cardinal, spoke to the team about financial literacy through the Stanford-sponsored "Mind over Money" program.
"Since my playing days at Stanford ended, I've found incredible value in the Stanford Football alumni network," said former Stanford defensive back and current ESPN College Football analyst Rodney Gilmore, '82, "I've been able to use my connections made at Stanford to create business connections and the Card4Life app will allow me and my fellow teammates to connect with the current players as well as alumni from any year, no matter where they live and work."
The Card4Life app will also feature team-generated content, information on football program events, and a network of connectivity exclusively available to former and current Stanford Football players. The platform will empower former Cardinal players to connect with each other directly and maintain relationships with teammates for a lifetime.
The new technology will allow Stanford Football to continue differentiating itself with the Card4Life student-athlete development program, which was re-branded in 2021, and has provided annual opportunities for networking and engagement with Cardinal student-athletes across generations.
For alumni looking to join the Card4Life community, employers looking to work with Cardinal student- athletes, or other questions about Card4Life, please contact Senior Associate Athletic Director Matt Doyle at mdoyle76@stanford.edu"