Zamir Cobb, Executive Director

Zamir Cobb glided through the room at Sidecar Social with ease, stopping to shake hands, share smiles, and listen to stories from former players at the NFL season-opening event sponsored by The Trust (powered by the NFLPA). It's a part of the job Cobb cherishes deeply, being present, building connections, and reminding athletes that their journey still matters long after the final whistle sounds.

That sense of purpose has fueled Cobb's first year as executive director of The Trust, one defined by urgency and opportunity. Looking back, he's proud of what The Trust accomplished during a monumental year of expansion, collaboration, and transformation that touched lives in meaningful ways. Yet, as his family instilled in him years ago and Temple University reinforced, Cobb is focused on what's ahead.

In his view, The Trust is only getting started.

From day one, his priorities have been clear: add new services, remove barriers, and tell players' stories with passion, giving a powerful platform to the work and impact of The Trust, which was built to assist members by providing access to resources, experts, and premier partners as they explore their next chapter.

Enrollment climbed back above 800 last year — the first time since pre-COVID — while referrals soared past 5,000, signaling both reach and relevance. By the end of this fiscal year, The Trust expects most referrals to be automated, streamlining processes and reducing administrative work. Growth has been steady, both on and off the field: the Brain & Body Assessment has risen nearly 25 percent, and scholarship applications increased by 20 percent in the first half of this year, driven by open cycles that provided more former players with access to support.

The momentum carried over into how the community connects. Both online and in live events.

On social media, messaging jumped 122 percent, impressions rose 114 percent, and engagement climbed 69 percent in just the first half of FY26. Events, too, set new standards — from a season kickoff at Sidecar Social, which drew 84 attendees (tripling last year's turnout), to a Gold Key event during Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week that brought together 50 players, including 46 Hall of Famers.

That momentum wasn't limited to online engagement; it also carried over into live events.

Add in a Golf Outing in South Florida ahead of the Former Players Summer Getaway with more than 80 former players in attendance, the addition of 12 new staff members, and fresh partnerships with DSA, Bommarito Sport Performance, and Yo Murphy Performance, and the momentum feels undeniable. Even benefits are expanding, with the YMCA Swim program giving members another reason to dive in.

But the story of this anniversary isn't just about numbers.

It's about people.

Under Cobb's leadership, The Trust has embraced its role as a lifetime teammate — not just a resource, but a community. It's about seeing hopelessness turn into hope, and hope into success — whether it's a player building a million-dollar business, returning to dental school to open a practice, or finding healing through mental health services.

"The premium that players have placed on recognizing the importance of transition prep and ensuring that we're pouring significant resources into their long-term personal and professional success means plenty to me," Cobb said. "This was not always the case, and I think it's easy to lose sight of and take for granted that it is the case now. Players are embracing these benefits to the point that they have made it a bargaining priority. They have advocated for a dedicated benefit to help them transition and are now taking full advantage of it in meaningful ways, which has positively impacted their lives."

Now, as The Trust moves into its second year under Cobb's leadership, the vision is clear: build on the foundation, expand opportunities, and continue to make the transition out of the game not just survivable, but transformative.

"Over the next two quarters, we will start revamping our website and mobile app," Cobb said. "We didn't get to it in the first year, but it remains a strategic priority, ensuring improved functionality and enhancing accessibility. We've experienced our most significant increase in enrollment in the last five years, and we're aiming to repeat this achievement in the current fiscal year."

"We want to continue to add more by way of medical therapies. We're considering massage, stretching, and cryotherapy. We aim to provide all the pain management amenities that players have access to while playing the game. Additionally, we want to expand our efforts in the entrepreneurial space and strengthen our ability to offer real-world work opportunities through our fellowship program."

Another aspect of The Trust that has made Cobb proud is the expansion of partnerships, which has expanded access to services and increased capacity. Players understand and appreciate the value of the services The Trust offers and want to improve accessibility as they strive to exceed their goals.

Cobb understands what many retired players face because he's lived it. Feeling uncertainty, wrestling with the "what's next" questions, and navigating a post-NFL career. He began a career in social services, advanced to upper management in his field, earned an MBA from the University of Phoenix, and kept himself connected by engaging with the NFLPA's former players' chapter in Philadelphia.

"Pain is a huge thing for former players, unfortunately, given the occupational hazard of crashing our bodies for a living," Cobb said. "Every moment of our job ends with someone hitting the ground. It's funny, that's the case. So, we want to increase access to pain management modalities, and we're on the cusp of launching a new benefit offering PT, occupational therapy, and chiropractic care across the country."

Cobb's journey with The Trust began in 2013 as a program manager, where he made an immediate and lasting impact after serving as an upper-level non-profit manager following his playing days with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals. This work has always been personal for Cobb. He returned to The Trust in 2021 as managing director, where he served for three years, helping to strengthen the organization's internal core.

Between his stints at The Trust, Cobb also worked with the NFLPA as a player director within the player affairs department. His ability to build strong relationships with players and key stakeholders proved instrumental in negotiating the NFL's 2020 Collective Bargaining Agreement.

"We are a fluid benefit," Cobb said. "We are constantly growing and adapting to the needs and interests of players, with their voices at the center of everything we do.

For Cobb, that's why the work always comes back to the players. That's why at events like Sidecar Social, he still moves through the room with ease, listening to stories, sharing smiles, and shaking hands.

A year in, the numbers show progress, but for Cobb, every handshake is more than a greeting: it's a covenant. A promise that the best is yet to come and every player's journey still matters long after the final whistle.

This article was written by Rob Knox for The Trust. Knox is an award-winning professional, a member of the Lincoln (Pa.) Athletics Hall of Fame, and adjunct instructor at Temple University. In addition to having work published in SLAM magazine, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Washington Post, and Diverse Issues In Higher Education, Knox enjoyed a distinguished career as an athletics communicator for Lincoln, Kutztown, Coppin State, Towson, and UNC Greensboro. He also worked at ESPN and for the Delaware County Daily Times. Recently, Knox was honored by CSC with the Mary Jo Haverbeck Trailblazer Award and the NCAA with its Champion of Diversity award. Named an HBCU Legend by SI.com, Knox is a graduate of Lincoln University and a past president of the College Sports Communicators, formerly CoSIDA.