🏈NFL Storytelling Through Live Production and Events

From Oil Fields to the NFL

Ben didn’t grow up dreaming of working in sports. In fact, he stumbled into his first role at Kansas State – recording football practices – because his dad, a business professor, asked a coach if there were any jobs open. “I didn’t have that burning urge to work in sports,” Ben admits. But once he saw his boss create a custom video to hype up players before kickoff, he was hooked. “He edited the Hulk to turn purple instead of green, for K-State. I remember thinking, ‘I don’t know how you do that – but I want to.’”

He dove into motion graphic design (graphic design that moves) and learned everything he could. After college internships with the Tampa Bay Rays and Under Armour, Ben still couldn’t land a full-time job. It was the middle of the 2008 financial crisis, and even promising opportunities slipped away. So he took an engineering job in the oil fields of Montana, working 12-hour night shifts in freezing conditions. “I was making good money. But I was hating my life,” he says. That’s when he bet on himself. He left the oil fields and took a role with a minor league baseball team in Inland Empire, California – far from glamorous, but full of opportunity. “It wasn’t easy, but I was doing what I loved. We had the freedom to try anything. It was chaotic, creative, and honestly, some of the most fun I’ve ever had in sports,” he says.

The First NFL Schedule Release to Go Viral

After creative roles with the New Orleans Pelicans and a dual-role with the Saints, Ben took a position with the Dallas Cowboys that opened the next chapter of his career. There, he helped spark what’s now a yearly NFL tradition: the viral schedule release video. “Our Post Malone video was the first one that really broke through,” Ben says. “There were no rules. It was like – what do we want to do? We’ve got Post Malone. Let’s have him play beer pong with Jerry Jones.” He followed that with a Steven A. Smith cameo video that earned him a local Emmy. “That one meant a lot. I helped write and direct it – and, unfortunately, ended up acting in it too,” he jokes.

At the Texans, Ben has leaned into creativity on an even bigger stage. He helped launch the team’s Christmas Day game on Netflix with none other than Beyoncé. “It wasn’t all me,” he’s quick to note. “But I kicked off the conversations. I knew we wanted to do something big – and it became this insane production with her team that nailed every little detail. It was epic.”

People Skills, Creativity, and Hunger

When asked what separates the best in the business, Ben doesn’t hesitate: “People skills first. If you can’t talk up or down the ladder – if you can’t make your case clearly, you will struggle.” Creativity, of course, is core to his work. But he’s clear it’s not just a gift – it’s a muscle. “You’ve got to work on it. You can be naturally creative, but if you don’t train it, it’s wasted.”

And finally: hunger. That relentless desire to go further than what’s expected. “A lot of people do enough to get the job done. But the ones who really stand out are the ones who keep pushing – who stay late, ask more questions, try something that hasn’t been done yet.” He points to Drew Ferguson at the Cowboys as the gold standard. “Drew doesn’t stop at ‘good enough.’ He could turn in something at 5 PM that’s already solid, already social-media worthy. But he’ll stay until 10 PM tweaking frames, adjusting timing, perfecting details that most people wouldn’t even notice. He has that next-level hunger – and that’s what separates great from elite.”

Don’t Fear the Pivot—Or the Free Work

Ben’s advice to college students is as blunt as it is practical: “Work for free. Seriously. If the football or basketball team doesn’t need help, go to rowing. Go to tennis. Build your reel. Make a cool video, even if only ten people see it.” It’s not about where you start – it’s about showing you care. “The way you stand out is by doing great work, wherever you can do it. If that’s equestrian or swimming or cross country, go crush it there. Show up, be dependable, create something thoughtful – and now you’ve got proof you can do the work. That’s your calling card.”

Looking back, his advice to younger Ben would be simple: trust your gut. “Every decision I made got me here. You can spend all day wondering ‘what if’ – but it won’t change anything. Look at today. Show up for that.”

Leaving a Mark, Not Just a Title

For Ben, success isn’t about trophies. It’s about the people. “When I leave the Texans, I don’t want people to miss the work. I want them to miss me. I want to bring energy, fun, and joy to the day. Because if we’re spending most of our lives at work, why not enjoy it?”

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