New York Jets’ Draft-Business Partnerships Empower Local Youth: Internships and Events for the Next Generation

While the New York Jets’ 2025 NFL Draft partnerships with local businesses have already boosted community excitement and small business growth, a lesser-known but impactful component is their focus on empowering local youth—creating internships, mentorship opportunities, and youth-centric events that turn draft season into a learning experience for young people. New York Jets’ Draft-Business Partnerships Empower Local Youth: Internships and Events for the Next Generation highlights how the Jets and their business allies are investing in the future of New York and New Jersey communities by giving teens and young adults hands-on experience in fields like marketing, hospitality, and sports management. At Tony’s Slice Shop in Hoboken—the same pizzeria behind the “Draft Day Special”—the Jets helped create a four-week internship program for three local high school students interested in restaurant management. The students, all from Hoboken High School, work alongside owner Tony Moretti to learn about inventory management, customer service, and marketing, with a focus on promoting the draft-themed special. “These kids are getting real-world experience they can’t get in a classroom,” Moretti said. “One student helped us design social media posts for the Draft Day Special, and another learned how to track sales to see what’s working. The Jets didn’t just help us with business—they helped us give back to the kids who’ll be our community’s leaders someday.”

New York Jets’ Draft-Business Partnerships Empower Local Youth: Internships and Events for the Next Generation also spotlights Brooklyn Threads’ “Youth Design Lab,” a collaboration with the Jets that invited 15 local high school art students to contribute to the design of the limited-edition “Jets Draft 2025” hoodie. The students worked with Brooklyn Threads owner Maya Johnson and a Jets graphic designer to sketch ideas, refine concepts, and vote on the final design—which includes a subtle pattern of football plays drawn by one of the students. The top three student designers were invited to the hoodie’s launch event, where they signed copies for fans and spoke about their creative process. “I’ve always loved art, but I never thought my work could be on a hoodie worn by Jets fans,” said 17-year-old Mia Rodriguez, whose football-play pattern made it into the final design. “Working with the Jets and Brooklyn Threads showed me that art can be a career, not just a hobby. It’s changed everything for me.” A portion of the hoodie’s proceeds also funds a scholarship for one of the design lab students to attend a summer art program at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)—another layer of investment in the youth community.

New York Jets’ Draft-Business Partnerships Empower Local Youth: Internships and Events for the Next Generation wouldn’t be complete without exploring the “Jets Draft Youth Zone” at The Gridiron bar in Newark—a dedicated space within the official draft watch location where kids can participate in football drills, meet former Jets players, and learn about sports-related careers. The Youth Zone, staffed by Jets community relations volunteers and local high school athletes, offers activities like mini football tosses, jersey decorating, and a “Career Corner” where professionals from the Jets’ front office (including marketing, operations, and scouting staff) talk to kids about their jobs. During a recent preview event, 10-year-old Jayden Carter spent an hour talking to a Jets scouting assistant about how to evaluate football players. “I want to be a coach when I grow up,” Jayden said. “He told me I should start watching film and learning the rules now. It was so cool to talk to someone who does that for the Jets.” The Gridiron also donates $1 from every “Draft Day Beer Flight” sold to a local youth football league, ensuring that the bar’s draft success directly benefits kids in the community. Bar manager Mike Carter said the Youth Zone has made the watch parties more family-friendly: “Last year, we had mostly adults. This year, families are coming in with kids—they love the drills, and parents love that their kids are learning something while having fun. It’s a win-win.”

New York Jets’ Draft-Business Partnerships Empower Local Youth: Internships and Events for the Next Generation further explains how these youth-focused initiatives align with the New York Jets’ long-standing commitment to developing young people in the communities they serve. The team’s Jets Foundation has a history of supporting youth football, education, and mentorship programs, but the draft-business partnerships have expanded this work by linking it to real-world business opportunities. “The New York Jets don’t just want to entertain fans—we want to invest in the future of our community,” said Jets community relations director Emily Carter. “By partnering with local businesses on internships and youth events, we’re helping kids see that there are pathways to success right here in New York and New Jersey—whether that’s in restaurant management, fashion design, or sports. These experiences can change the trajectory of a young person’s life, and that’s the most meaningful impact we can have.” The New York Jets also work with local schools to identify students who would benefit most from these opportunities, prioritizing those from low-income families or under-resourced neighborhoods to ensure equity.

New York Jets’ Draft-Business Partnerships Empower Local Youth: Internships and Events for the Next Generation also addresses the long-term potential of these programs, as the Jets and their business partners plan to continue supporting youth beyond the 2025 draft. Tony Moretti has committed to keeping the internship program at his pizzeria year-round, with plans to hire one of the current interns part-time after they graduate high school. Brooklyn Threads is already planning a “Youth Design Lab 2.0” for next year’s draft, with plans to expand to include middle school students. The Gridiron bar, meanwhile, will keep the Youth Zone open for regular Sunday game days during the 2025 NFL season, with the Jets providing ongoing support for activities and guest speakers. “These partnerships aren’t just for the draft—they’re the start of something bigger,” Emily Carter said. “The New York Jets want to build lasting relationships with these businesses and these kids. We want a kid who participates in the Youth Zone this year to be an intern at a Jets partner business next year, and maybe even work for the Jets or one of these businesses someday. That’s how we build a stronger community.”

As the 2025 NFL Draft concludes, New York Jets’ Draft-Business Partnerships Empower Local Youth: Internships and Events for the Next Generation stands as a reminder that the impact of draft season extends far beyond the players the Jets select. The partnerships with local businesses have not only boosted the economy and united fans—they’ve given young people in New York and New Jersey opportunities to learn, grow, and dream. For students like Mia Rodriguez and Jayden Carter, the draft has become more than a football event—it’s a chance to see their potential and imagine a future where they can succeed in their chosen fields. For the New York Jets and their business partners, this legacy of youth empowerment may be the most important success of the 2025 draft. “Winning games is great, but changing lives is better,” said Emily Carter. “These kids are the future of Jets Nation, and we’re proud to invest in them.” As the Jets move into the 2025 season, they’ll carry this momentum forward—proving that football can be a force for good, one young person at a time.