Dawn Aponte is entering her sixth season as the NFL’s Chief Football Administrative Officer, responsible for driving football operations objectives and initiatives related to the administrative and operational aspects of the game, as well as player health & safety initiatives and football development efforts at all levels of the sport.
In 2020, she played a critical role in leading the efforts and successful completion of the NFL season in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic, serving as the primary liaison between the Football Operations team and key internal and external stakeholders, including Health and Safety personnel, club football staff and league broadcast partners.
Aponte was named a Sports Business Journal Game Changer in 2012. She was also a 2021 recipient of the Steve Sabol Foundation Award. Aponte is also a member of the NFL Foundation UK Board of Trustees.
Aponte graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Delaware in 1993 and passed the C.P.A. exam shortly thereafter. She went on to receive her Master’s degree in Finance and Management from Wagner College, then earned her Juris Doctorate from New York Law School.
