Bill Polian Speaking Fee: $20,000 to $30,000

Bill Polian's journey in professional football is a testament to strategic vision and leadership. Born on December 8, 1942, in the Bronx, New York, he graduated from Mount Saint Michael Academy in 1960. Polian attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy before earning a history degree from New York University in 1964, where he played safety for the NYU Violets football club team. Polian's NFL career began in 1978 as a scout for the Kansas City Chiefs. He later contributed to the Canadian Football League's Montreal Alouettes and Winnipeg Blue Bombers, assembling Grey Cup-winning teams. In 1984, he joined the Buffalo Bills as director of pro personnel and was promoted to general manager in 1986. Under his guidance, the Bills achieved four consecutive Super Bowl appearances from 1990 to 1993. In 1995, Polian became the first general manager of the expansion Carolina Panthers. Remarkably, by their second season, the Panthers secured a 12-4 record and reached the NFC Championship Game. Polian's success continued with the Indianapolis Colts, where he served as president and general manager from 1998 to 2011. During his tenure, the Colts won Super Bowl XLI and achieved eight division titles. Throughout his career, Polian was named NFL Executive of the Year by The Sporting News six times, reflecting his exceptional ability to build winning teams. In 2015, his contributions were honored with induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Beyond his executive roles, Polian has shared his insights as an NFL analyst for ESPN and co-founded the Alliance of American Football in 2018. Polian's legacy is marked by his unwavering commitment to excellence and his profound impact on the game of football.