From Peoria to professional football

11/03/2014 2:27 PM

By Kelly O’Brien ‘15

Turn on NFL Network, and you will see the talents of a Bradley grad on your TV.  Justin Restaino ’13 plays a crucial role on the network’s team, creating live graphics as a junior visual artist.  You can see a game’s score, check out the latest NFL news scrolling at the bottom of your screen and know the names of players being interviewed thanks to the visuals provided by Restaino.

While studying television arts at Bradley, Restaino gained video editing abilities and familiarity with control room operations, which equipped him well for his current position.

“Bradley helped me prepare for the professional world by giving me hands on experience working in a television studio beginning my freshman year,” he said. “Not only was that experience invaluable, it also allowed me to think about which career path I wanted to take.”

Restaino also credits his time on Bradley’s speech for his career’s ascent, calling his participation in the organization “life changing” because of the skills it instilled in him.

“During the grueling interview processes I went through looking for work, including my current position at the NFL, I used the speaking and interpersonal skills I could not get anywhere else,” he said.  “I was told that I gave one of the best interviews they have seen in a long time, and I feel I owe that skill to the speech team.”

Because of Bradley, Restaino now enjoys a job that encompasses his passion for sports.

“My favorite aspect of my job is definitely being surrounded by sports all day,” he said.  “It is not often that your interests outside of work happen to also be what you get to go do everyday.”

In addition to loving his work at NFL Network, he is learning from award-winning coworkers.

“Being so fresh out of college, it has been amazing to be surrounded by individuals who have done this their entire lives and have won Emmys,” he said.  “I am truly learning from the best in the business.”

For students hoping to follow Restaino’s professional footsteps into the media industry, he suggests networking with as many people as possible.

“Make connections,” he said.  “Whether it be alumni of the university, or random people on LinkedIn, seek people out.  For two months I did nothing but email people I didn’t know and ask for advice on how to break into the industry.  To this day, I still get emails from people wondering if I am available to work, and because of my experiences at Bradley, I can happily say I am not.”