Building a Titan: Ralph Ockenfels on a 34-year NFL career shaped by UNI values
Building a Titan: Ralph Ockenfels on a 34-year NFL career shaped by UNI values
Back in the 80s, Ralph Ockenfels was an undecided freshman at the University of Northern Iowa who couldn’t quite picture what career would await him upon graduation. 35 years after earning his bachelor’s in economics, Ockenfels is celebrating the culmination of a 34-year career in the NFL, including 26 years with the Tennessee Titans. It’s safe to say he found his passion and dedicated himself to building a career worthy of a storied legacy.
“I always encourage students to find your passion and not worry necessarily about the economics when you start,” said Ockenfels. “If you work really hard and you gain some success, that growth will come in time. For me, I was fortunate. I got an opportunity, and once I got that opportunity, I worked really, really hard to continue to foster that growth.”
Ockenfels retired this summer from the Titans as vice president, business development. Over the years, he’s been with two teams while they competed in three Super Bowls, including the Green Bay Packers’ victory over the New England Patriots in 1997. He began his career with the Packers in 1991. He spent a year as an intern and worked with the franchise until 1998 when an opportunity arose with the Tennessee Oilers (now Titans) that had just relocated to Nashville from Houston.
Since he was coming off back-to-back Super Bowls with the Packers, friends were puzzled why Ockenfels was considering this new opportunity.
“When I left Green Bay and came to Nashville, I look back at that, and a lot of it was I wanted to try something new, and I think that was ingrained in me as a student at UNI — don't be afraid to take on challenges,” he said. “It was literally a new team in a new city with a new stadium and a new brand and a completely new identity. I look back 26 years later and having been a part of that and seeing what the Tennessee Titans became to the state of Tennessee, and in particular the city of Nashville, and being a part of that growth was an amazing adventure. I wouldn't trade that for anything.”
Ockenfels’ experience at UNI also provided him with lifelong friends that he still speaks to. He lived in Rider Hall for two years and played intramural sports. In addition to the ability to tackle tough challenges, Ockenfels sees the interpersonal skills UNI taught him as one of the greatest advantages of a UNI education.
“I look back at the UNI days, and it really helped foster and develop your interpersonal skills, which I think are absolutely vital to success,” he said. “Regardless of your field or industry, your ability to connect with people is crucial. You learn a lot of that beyond the classroom at a school like Northern Iowa. That has served me really, really well.”
Upon graduation, Ockenfels briefly worked in the financial industry, but quickly learned it wasn’t for him. So he decided to save up for graduate school in Illinois where he studied sport management. It was after earning his master’s that the opportunity in Green Bay arose.
“I think I made a whopping $400 a month and had two roommates, but the truth is, I would have worked for free, because it really didn't matter,” said Ockenfels. “I just wanted an opportunity.”
In reflecting on his top accomplishments, Ockenfels points to the major naming rights agreements he’s orchestrated. Most notably, he worked with Nissan on Nissan Stadium in Tennessee. The agreement came on the heels of the Titans’ worst season on the field.
“For me, that’s probably one of the bigger achievements that we could show Nissan the value of the Titans as a team regardless of our win-loss record over the course of a year,” he said.
The agreement was so successful that the team's upcoming stadium, set to be complete in 2027, will be New Nissan Stadium.
Now that his professional days are behind him, Ockenfels is looking forward to going to Titans games simply for the fun of it and enjoying the experience as a fan, rather than an employee. Although he no longer will be with the franchise day-to-day, he hopes to have left a strong legacy of building the team from the ground up.
“I hope my legacy is I left the Tennessee Titans a lot better than when I started.”
Since retiring, Ockenfels also started a sports consulting firm, Ockulus Sports & Events Group.
