Speakers Bio

Vince Papale’s Cinderella rise from Philadelphia Eagles thirty-year-old season ticket holder in one breath, to Philadelphia Eagles football player and team captain in another, is the stuff that dreams are made of. And it’s a true story! After attending a tryout, Vince Papale became the oldest rookie in the history of the NFL at the age of 30. To top it off, Vince Papale’s story is the subject of the Disney movie “Invincible."



In 1976, Vince Papale was working as a schoolteacher and a part-time bartender. Philadelphia Eagles' then-rookie head coach Dick Vermeil held a press conference and invited locals, including Vince Papale, who was a former track star, to a workout. The rest is history. Vince Papale showed up at the workout and ran a 4.5 40-yard dash, a world-class time! Coach Vermeil offered Vince Papale a contract on the spot, but this 30-year-old walk-on still had to make the team. Vince Papale overcame tremendous odds to become the oldest rookie in the history of the NFL. Vince Papale eventually became a team captain and played in the NFL for four years. Vince Papale was voted Man of the Year by the Eagles in 1978, for his many charitable activities and honored by the NFL. Vince Papale's never say die attitude became the inspiration for turning the Eagles into a Super Bowl team.



After being retired by the Eagles after the 1979 season Vince Papale was a TV and Radio broadcaster for eight years. After that Vince Papale entered the world of commercial mortgage banking, which lead to his present position as a Marketing Executive for Sallie Mae. Vince Papale is a colorectal cancer survivor who is sought after as a speaker to raise awareness on cancer prevention. Vince Papale has served as chairman or co-chairman for various associations including the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans, Spina Bifada Association, Multiple Sclerosis Society and the American Heart Association.