The National Football Foundation has a rich history with many of our nation’s leaders having lent their name and personal fortunes to building its legacy, and the organization’s future appears bright. Archie Manning, a true humanitarian and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame from Mississippi, serves as the current chairman, and Steven J. Hatchell, the former commissioner of the Big 12 and Southwest conferences and executive director of the Orange Bowl, serves as the current president & CEO.
 
More than 30 corporate CEOs and executives currently participate as members of the board or in an emeritus capacity. Fifteen current and former athletics directors serve alongside six current and former conference commissioners, one university president, one active college football coach, the executive director emeritus of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and the executive director of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA). Eleven members of the College Football Hall of Fame and the inaugural Campbell Trophy® recipient hold positions on the board as well as five owners/executives of professional sports teams, three national broadcasters, the commissioner of the National Football League and one member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Archie Manning

NFF Chairman Since 2007
NFF Board Member Since 1993

When people think of Archie Manning, they think football. But Archie's appeal transcends his athletic achievements. People far and wide have been inspired by his warm personality, his drive and sense of humor. He was recently selected Father of the Year by the National Father's Day Council. He currently serves in public relations and consulting capacities for several local, regional and national companies, including Reebok, Gatorade, AstroTurf, Direct TV and CBS Sports. For 25 years he hosted four Archie Manning Cystic Fibrosis benefit golf tournaments in Louisiana and Mississippi and is active in a wide variety of charitable and civic causes.

Archie was born May 19, 1949, in Drew, Mississippi. He attended the University of Mississippi where he was named an All-American Quarterback and is the only Ole Miss player to have his number retired. He was voted Mississippi's Greatest All-Time Athlete in 1992, and recently named Mississippi's Most Popular Athlete of the Century. He was elected to the 50-Year All-South Team (1940-1990), named one of the Top 25 Athletes of the Century in Louisiana and he and his son Peyton were named among the 100 All-Time Greatest College Football Players. Archie was inducted into the National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame and is a member of other Halls of Fame including Louisiana and Mississippi.

In 1971, Archie was the second player chosen in the NFL draft - the number one draft choice of the New Orleans Saints. He set Saints passing records, played in two Pro Bowls and was named the NFL Most Valuable Player in 1978. He was the first player in Saints history to be inducted into the Louisiana Superdome Wall of Fame. He concluded his 15-year career in 1985. He was also drafted four times by major league baseball. While in pro football, he received the Byron "Whizzer" White Humanitarian Award, the Bart Starr Humanitarian Award, the Spirit of Good Sports Award from the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association and the U.S. Jaycees named him one of 10 Outstanding Young Americans. In 2005 Archie received the Legends award from the Davey O'Brien Foundation and the Aspire award, a tribute to life's coaches, from the Cal Ripken Foundation. In 2018, Manning received the SEC's Michael L. Slive Distinguished Service Award and the Walter Camp Football Foundation's Distinguished American Award.

His community activities include Louisiana Special Olympics, the New Orleans Area Boy Scout Council, the Salvation Army, United Way Speakers Bureau, Allstate Sugar Bowl Committee, New Orleans Sports Foundation, and National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Board of Directors. Archie and his wife Olivia reside in New Orleans and have three sons, Cooper, Peyton and Eli.

Mr. Manning joined the NFF Board of Directors in 1993 and became chairman in 2008. In 2016, he received the NFF's highest honor, the Gold Medal.

Steven J. Hatchell

NFF President & Chief Executive Officer Since 2005
NFF Board Member Since 2006

Steven J. Hatchell became president and CEO of The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame in 2005, bringing with him more than 35 years of experience as one of the nation’s top collegiate athletics administrators.
 
Founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, the NFF remains in the vanguard of using amateur football as a force in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in America’s young people. Heading the NFF, Steve oversees a nationwide organization with 120 chapters in 47 states with more than 12,000 members who host more than 300 local annual events and reach more than 500,000 student-athletes at 5,000 high schools with its programs.
 
During Hatchell’s tenure, the NFF has experienced remarkable growth. He moved the NFF headquarters from the East Coast to Irving, Texas, and he played a critical role in the opening of the state-of-the art $68.5 million College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. Hatchell spearheaded the launch of the NFF Leadership Hall of Fame, raising millions of dollars for the NFF scholarship programs, which collectively award more than $1.3 million each year.
 
Hatchell has chaired the Football Bowl Association and the NCAA Football Committee. He served as the commissioner of the Big 12 Conference, Southwest Conference, Metro Conference, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the executive director of the Orange Bowl. He was the sports information director at the University of Colorado, Colorado State and the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association. He has also served on several U.S. Olympic Committee boards and as part of the staff for three Olympic Games. Hatchell chaired the 13^th Annual Bishop’s Gala for Catholic Charities of Dallas on January 22, 2011. He graduated from the University of Colorado in 1970, and he received an Honorary C Club award from the university in 1983.

The Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) named him the 2015 recipient of the FWAA Bert McGrane Award for his contributions to the coverage of college football and his advocacy on behalf of those who cover the sport. Also in 2015, he claimed a NACDA Golden Anniversary Award, representing the NFF and its efforts in supporting the organization during its first 50 years. Hatchell is also a member of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and the University of Colorado Athletics halls of fame.

Clayton I. Bennett

NFF Vice Chairman
Board Member Since 1995
President, Dorchester Capital
Chairman, Oklahoma City Thunder

Jack Ford

NFF Vice Chairman
Board Member Since 2000
CBS News Correspondent and PBS Host
Author and Documentary Producer

William H. McRaven

NFF Vice Chairman
Board Member Since 2017
Retired U.S. Navy Four-Star Admiral
Former Chancellor of the University of Texas System

Kathleen A. Murphy

NFF Vice Chairwoman
Board Member Since 2013
Former President, Personal Investing, Fidelity Investments