From the NFL Draft to Nonprofit Impact: Aamil Wagner’s Notre Dame Journey

 

From the NFL Draft to Nonprofit Impact: Aamil Wagner’s Notre Dame Journey

For Aamil Wagner, Notre Dame wasn’t always part of the plan. But one visit to campus shifted everything.

“It immediately felt like home,”  he says. “The mission to be a force for good—and the expectation to become your best—made the decision easy.”

That sense of purpose stayed with him through his undergraduate experience and into the Master of Nonprofit Administration (MNA) program, where he’s now building the tools to turn passion into impact.

 

Turning Passion into Preparation

Growing up in a family deeply connected to nonprofit work, Aamil always knew he wanted to make a difference. The MNA program gave him a clearer path forward.

“I wanted to do something I was passionate about,”  he says. “This program is helping me build on the skills I already have and actually create something meaningful.”

Through his practicum with the Pflueger Hahn Foundation, Aamil is working at both the strategic and structural level—developing mission statements, setting goals, and identifying key performance indicators that will guide long-term growth.

It’s work that reflects the program’s intentional design.

“The MNA prepares you to run every aspect of a nonprofit,”  he says. “From ethics to accounting to planning, everything builds on itself.”

 

A New Perspective on Leadership

Along the way, Aamil has gained a deeper appreciation for the people behind nonprofit work—and the level of commitment it requires.

“Nonprofit leaders have to be some of the best leaders in the world,”  he says. “The dedication they bring is incredible, and it’s often undervalued.”

That mindset aligns closely with Aamil’s own experience. A 2025 Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year finalist and Allstate AFCA Good Works Team honoree, his leadership has long been rooted in service. The MNA is helping him sharpen that foundation with a stronger focus on ethical decision-making and long-term impact.

 

Building What Comes Next

As Aamil prepares for the NFL Draft, he’s also thinking about what comes after football—and how his MNA experience will shape that future.

He plans to remain in South Bend to finish the program alongside his cohort, while beginning to map out the next chapter: joining the NFL and launching his own nonprofit.

His vision is focused on expanding access to youth sports and supporting athletes facing rare diseases, with a goal of reducing financial barriers and creating opportunities for kids to discover their passion.

“I want to give every kid the chance to find and do what they love,”  he says.

With the foundation he’s building through Notre Dame's MNA program, that vision is already taking shape.