Quad City Steamwheelers Reverse Job Fair seeking employers

The Quad Cities Chamber is teaming up with IowaWORKS to host the second Quad City Steamwheelers reverse hiring fair, an event where QC employers will get the opportunity to meet with Steamwheeler athletes who are seeking job opportunities that fit with their professional football schedule. The event will be held on March 13 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the IowaWORKS office located at 1801-A, E. Kimberly Rd. in Davenport.

If your business is interested in participating, call IowaWORKS at 563-445-3200 Ext. 43335. There are only limited spots remaining. Registration closes on March 6.

The players hold degrees in various industries, and also possess unique work and volunteer experience. They're generally available to work from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekdays, and they’re also available for limited weekend hours.

As the 2023 IFL season approaches, 20 to 25 Steamwheeler athletes are hoping to find job opportunities in the Quad Cities that will supplement their professional football careers. While some athletes are searching for temporary positions, others are seeking long-term career opportunities with companies that would allow them some scheduling flexibility during the football season.

Following last year’s reverse hiring fair, around a dozen Steamwheelers found positions with QC employers. Head Coach Cory Ross said, “One thing that I understand about this game is it doesn’t last forever. We want to give these guys an opportunity to find jobs and build their resume and not put all their eggs in one basket.”

A football player’s athletic career often ends abruptly, whether it be due to injury or being cut from the roster. That’s one of the reasons that Ross said he recruits athletes who exhibit high integrity, and who are likely to find success not just on the football field but also in their communities. “We try to make sure that we recruit very high character guys, guys who are going to embrace our community and do as much as they can to help. We want to build a family, we care a lot about our guys and we want those guys to care a lot about each other.”

Last season, those same high character individuals returned to the field for the first time since 2019, following the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the long hiatus, the Steamwheelers came together to achieve some of the greatest success in franchise history, falling just short in the IFL Championship Game. Ross said, “the best workers are part of a team, and you need team-oriented guys to make your business work. We have some hard workers who are very positive and willing to put the team first.”

Many Steamwheelers are new to the area, and are hoping to find a job that’ll enable them to move their families to the Quad Cities after the season ends. Ross said that his athletes have come to the Quad Cities from places as far as California, Florida and Texas, and some have made the Quad Cities their long-term home.

“We’ve had at least one or two guys every year that we bring in from out of the area who end up becoming permanent residents. They become local guys and they fall in love with the community and in the way of living in the Quad Cities.”