The San Francisco 49ers internship program gives young professionals hands-on experience in the sports industry while helping them build valuable connections. The program provides hands-on experience, mentorship, and professional development opportunities that prepare interns for careers in the sports industry. Each intern contributes to the team's success while building meaningful connections and gaining exposure to various departments within the organization.
In this recap, we're spotlighting the 2025 San Francisco 49ers intern class: their career paths, contributions to the organization, and advice for those looking to break into the sports industry.
Avery Lee - 49ers Foundation Intern
Q: If your internship had a slogan, what would it be?
A: "No job is too big or too small!"
Q: What advice would you give to future 49ers interns?
A: "Be curious! Always do your research on new topics relating to your work and the people you are working with. Work to build relationships around the organization and really put in the effort to maintain those relationships. The internship will go by so quickly, so take in every moment and be where your feet are!"
Q: What is your favorite memory from a 49ers gameday?
A: "My favorite memory from a 49ers gameday was the Week 18 Rivalry game vs. the Seahawks when I got to deliver Foundation gift bags to my high school's girls flag football team, who were getting honored for their CCS Open Division Championship. A lot of the girls play on the varsity girls high school basketball team I coach as well so it was great to see them enjoying the game and at my Niners workplace. I would have loved to play flag football in high school, and it has been incredible to witness these young girls having fun on the field and getting to be a part of the work the Foundation and PREP is doing to grow the game."
Katherine Cotterell - Corporate Communications Intern
Q: What was your favorite part about working with the 49ers organization?
A: "My favorite part about working with the 49ers organization was learning about the team's history and tradition in the Bay Area. Coming from the East Coast, I started my internship with a limited understanding of 49ers history and the team's legacy in the Bay. Through daily interactions with staff, many of whom grew up as fans, my knowledge of the team grew tremendously. Understanding what The Oval means to fans in the Bay Area and around the world made my work throughout the season all the more meaningful, and I take great pride knowing that my work this season has a small place in 49ers history."
Q: If your internship had a slogan, what would it be?
A: "'Best in the universe!' - My manager, Jacob Fill, and I coined this term early into the internship, and it quickly entered our lexicon. This saying speaks to the work of the entire organization, from hosting world-class events to creating lifelong memories for fans, and everything in between."
Q: Can you share a memorable project or moment that had a significant impact on you?
A: "Entering this season, my experience pitching stories and leading communications with reporters was limited. Over the course of the season, I worked with local and national reporters countless times to spotlight our fans, team, and stadium, while building genuine relationships with them along the way. At our Week 18 game against the Seattle Seahawks, a local reporter approached me and thanked me for my collaboration throughout the season. I was immediately taken aback by his sincerity. His recognition prompted me to reflect on our work together and my personal growth as a PR practitioner in just a few months. Our interaction was a reminder that in this industry, investing in relationships carries tremendous value."
Sydney Grossfeld - Community Relations
Q: What was your favorite part about working with the 49ers organization?
A: "My favorite part about working with the 49ers organization was truly becoming part of a family. From day one, every person within the organization made me feel welcomed and valued. There's a strong sense of community and support that extends far beyond the workplace. Once you're part of the 49ers family, you're part of it for life."
Q: What advice would you give to future 49ers interns?
A: "My advice to future interns is to soak up every single day because time will fly by. Embrace every opportunity that comes your way. Whether it's stepping into a new project, attending an event, or offering support outside your department, each experience is a chance to learn and grow. Be curious, stay open minded, and take advantage of every moment."
Q: What was the most valuable lesson you learned during your internship with the 49ers?
A: "The most valuable lesson I learned during my internship is that relationships are everything. Take the time to build meaningful connections, whether you're at an event or simply walking the halls of the stadium. Every conversation matters. You are surrounded by incredibly talented and inspiring people, so invest in those relationships. At the end of the day, it is your relationships that matter most."
Dylan Goodman - Photography
Q: Can you share a memorable project or moment that had a significant impact on you?
A: "There were many memorable projects and moments that impacted me throughout my internship; however, one that stands out most was working on the My Cause My Cleats campaign. This campaign gave players and coaches the opportunity to represent a chosen organization or charity through customized cleats, which we photographed and shared with fans both leading up to and during gameday. What made the experience especially meaningful was knowing that the campaign supports so many impactful organizations. Being able to contribute, even in a small way, to raising awareness for those causes – and then documenting the cleats being worn on the field during our win against the Panthers – made the entire process deeply impactful for me."
Q: If you could describe your 49ers internship experience in a touchdown celebration, what would it be?
A: "If I could describe my 49ers internship experience as a touchdown celebration, it would be QB Brock Purdy's dougie – unexpected, fun, and not possible without the rest of the team. Like when Brock hit the Dougie for the first time, everyone was surprised but immediately embraced it. Throughout my internship, I was constantly surprised by the level of responsibility and trust placed in me by my boss and the team. I had the opportunity to take ownership of the live-editing process, pitch creative ideas, and spend gamedays working on the sidelines – experiences I did not necessarily expect, but ones that pushed me to grow quickly and contribute in meaningful ways. Even during challenging moments, I felt supported in taking creative risks, learning from mistakes, and continuing to develop as both a photographer and teammate."
Q: How has this experience shaped your future career goals?
A: "This experience has further confirmed my aspiration to pursue a career in sports, particularly as a sports photographer. I love the fast-paced environment, the camaraderie within the organization, and the creative trust I experienced both behind the camera and throughout the office. Working alongside such talented professionals – including incredible female creatives – has also been deeply inspiring. This internship not only reinforced the type of work I want to pursue, but also emphasized the kind of collaborative, creative environment I hope to continue growing within."
Cassandra Yra - Marketing
Q: Can you share a memorable project or moment that had a significant impact on you?
A: "Working on the Latino Heritage Month Campaign video was really memorable for me because it was one of my first big projects I had the chance to work on. Seeing a story being told by Latinos for Latinos was extremely impactful to me. This was also a fun bonding moment for the studios team and gave me an opportunity to get to know the team."
Q: What advice would you give to future 49ers interns?
A: "Always advocate for yourself. You matter and so do your ideas."
Q: Who on the 49ers staff would you draft first for your dream team and why?
A: "I would draft 49ers director of photography services T. Lloyd because he would have great energy, always be on time, and compete with a competitive spirit!"
Aidan Birenbaum - Game Presentation & Live Events
Q: Can you share a memorable project or moment that had a significant impact on you?
A: "Due to the government shutdown, we had to scrap all of our entertainment programming for our Salute to Service game. My boss tasked me with finding a replacement halftime show, one that honored the theme but didn't rely on federal funding. I found a band called The Resilient, which is composed of veterans wounded in service who found music as a means of therapy while recovering. I picked the setlist and helped produce the show, and it was a resounding success. At the time, it was our highest rated halftime show."
Q: What is your favorite memory from a 49ers gameday?
A: "My favorite memory from a 49ers gameday is definitely getting to do the pregame foghorn tradition with LB Fred Warner. As the stage manager, I had to brief him on how to do it, deal with NBC flooding the stage, and balance NBC's cameras taking it live on television and our cameras for the video board feed. Then, when the time came, Fred went completely off script and got lost in the moment! This was my first time getting yelled at on headset, and I had to react in real time. After jumping up and down and yelling at Fred Warner, I got his attention and got him to speak into the microphone. Not only was this one of the cooler experiences I had, but it was also definitely a major learning moment!"
Q: Who on the 49ers staff would you draft first for your dream team and why?
A: "49ers senior director of game presentation & live events LJ, without a doubt!! She is the perfect captain and can motivate everyone to be the best version of themself, and has the experience to back it up. I think she would be the coach and the quarterback, and we would go 17-0 for sure."
Seth Zapata - Studios
Q: Can you share a memorable project or moment that had a significant impact on you?
A: "I was tasked with directing Forty Niner Way, our in-house produced show for Week 17's game against the Chicago Bears. This project gave me valuable experience that prepared me for a long career in the NFL."
Q: What advice would you give to future 49ers interns?
A:"Don't be afraid to make mistakes, it's how you respond to those mistakes that matters."
Q: How has this internship helped you grow professionally and personally?
A: "This internship has helped me grow in all avenues of the NFL production process professionally and helped me grow personally as I learn to connect with those around me. In my next role, I will use skills I developed with the 49ers, such as working with players and structuring an NFL production."
Justin Holmes - Brand and Fan Engagement
Q: What was your favorite part about working with the 49ers organization?
A: "My favorite part of working with the 49ers organization was being able to see the direct impact of the work we do on fans. Whether it was hosting influencers on game day, working fan engagement events, or helping at a flag football camp, I got to experience firsthand how meaningful these moments are to people. It was incredibly rewarding to represent the brand and help create experiences that fans genuinely care about."
Q: What advice would you give to future 49ers interns?
A: "I would tell future interns to embrace the fast pace and be open to learning in real time. Take initiative and do not be afraid to step into responsibility when opportunities come up. Also, make an effort to build relationships across departments because there is so much you can learn from the people around you. The experience goes by quickly, so make the most of every opportunity."
Q: What skills or knowledge did you gain that you'll take with you in your career?
A: "One of the biggest things I gained was confidence. Working live events and being trusted with real responsibility taught me how to stay calm, make decisions in the moment, and represent a brand professionally. I also learned how much thought goes into creating experiences that feel authentic to fans while still delivering value for partners. That balance is something I'll take with me moving forward."
Sophia Buoy - Football Communications
Q: Can you share a memorable project or moment that had a significant impact on you?
A: "I had the opportunity to work on a promotional video shoot for our "Thursday Night Football" matchup against the Los Angeles Rams with members of the Prime Video crew and one of our Alumni. Getting to pitch the script to my department and seeing the video come together on the broadcast is something I'll always be proud of."
Q: What is your favorite memory from a 49ers gameday?
A: "One of my favorite memories from a gameday was the last play of the Week 17 game against the Chicago Bears. I can vividly remember where I was on the field and watching the stadium and bench erupt with cheers is something I'll never forget."
Q: What was the most valuable lesson you learned during your internship with the 49ers?
A: "Say yes to every opportunity that comes your way. You never know who you will meet or what experience you will gain from it. Collaborating with other departments helps you learn more about the organization and how your role contributes to the bigger picture of the operation."
Malik Shumpert - Marketing: Graphic Design
Q: What was your favorite part about working with the 49ers organization?
A: "My favorite part about working for the organization was definitely the environment within the entire marketing team. The entire department felt like one big family. From the beginning, I was comfortable to pop by someone's desk, have conversations with coworkers in passing, and crack jokes with people. Even during the busy periods of the season, work never felt tedious, but rather enjoyable because of the people I got to spend time with every day."
Q: What is your favorite memory from a 49ers gameday?
A: "I forget which game it was, but my favorite memory was seeing a graphic of mine printed out by a fan pregame. It really emphasized the fact that the work we do extends further than the screen."
Q: If your internship experience was a football play, what would it be called?
A: "Skyy Bang Reverse Pass!"
Ines Diaz - Digital Marketing
Q: Can you share a memorable project or moment that had a significant impact on you?
A: "Throughout the season, I had the opportunity to collaborate with the international marketing team on some really fun projects. I created weekly newsletters for fans in the UK and Mexico, built a dedicated page for all of our Spanish content in the 49ers app, and supported the promotion of the 'International Fan of the Year' campaign. As an international fan myself, it was incredibly meaningful to work on initiatives that connected with fans around the world while learning so much from our team."
Q: What is your favorite memory from a 49ers gameday?
A: "My favorite 49ers gameday memory was our overtime Thursday night win against the Rams in Los Angeles. I traveled to SoCal and worked the game from the press box at SoFi Stadium, and it was such an unforgettable experience. Being part of such an exciting game and feeling the energy of a Faithful-filled crowd away from Levi's® Stadium made it even more special."
Q: How has this internship helped you grow professionally and personally?
A: "Professionally, working in digital helped me strengthen my skills across the various platforms and software we use for SMS, email marketing, and developing the app. I also grew as a communicator and learned to collaborate and work closely with different teams, and I was very lucky to have great mentors who guided and supported me throughout the internship. Personally, I had the best time experiencing this season with the rest of our intern class and made friendships that I'll carry with me long after this experience!"
Cassidy McGuire – Live Events Production
Q: Can you share a memorable project or moment that had a significant impact on you?
A: "For every home game this season, I was tasked with creating a new hype video which played on the video boards after player intros. The video I made for the Week 7 game against the Falcons (the first home primetime game of the year) is one I'm especially proud of. I was asked to make the video longer a few days before the game, which was an exciting challenge and I received a lot of great feedback from people in the organization."
Q: What was your favorite part about working with the 49ers organization?
A: "My favorite part about working for the 49ers was collaborating with my incredibly talented team week after week. The game presentation team took on a lot of amazing projects this year and it was so much fun being involved in the behind the scenes process and seeing everything come to life at Levi's® Stadium."
Q: What was the most valuable lesson you learned during your internship with the 49ers?
A: "The most valuable lesson I learned during my internship was to believe in myself and my abilities. I've always struggled with self-doubt, which would sometimes lead to me not trying new things out of fear of failure. Being surrounded by people who trusted and encouraged me allowed me to push myself to keep going and use my creativity more than ever before. It's still an ongoing process, but I feel much more confident now than I did on my first day."
Kailyn Cover – Brand Marketing & Fan Engagement
Q: What's one unexpected thing you learned while interning with the 49ers?
A: "From my very first day, it was very clear to me that the people in this organization all have one common goal – making an impact on and off the field. Everyone you meet will always have your best interest in mind and truly care about not only their craft, but yours too. Making meaningful connections is one thing, but I can confidently say that I've made friends that will last me a lifetime. This intern class was special, my fan engagement team was top tier (one of a kind, if you will), and this organization is life changing. Working in the big leagues was a dream come true, but the people made it even sweeter."
Q: What advice would you give to future 49ers interns?
A: "Take advantage of your network and make meaningful connections across every team in each department, say yes to everything even if you don't feel ready, don't ask to take on more work just do it, and lastly – be where your feet are. This is an opportunity of a lifetime, you're there for a reason. Use your platform and show the world what you're capable of!"
Q: What is your favorite memory from a 49ers gameday?
A: "The 12/28 Chicago Bears game. I was fortunate enough to be able to take my mother and twin brother to their first NFL game ever. As a first-generation Latina college graduate and now working professional, I dreamed of the day where I officially worked for the team I've been a lifelong fan of and had the opportunity to physically show my family that their sacrifices led me here. I was able to surprise them with field passes, where I told my mom that this is a product of her endless support through the challenges and struggles we faced. The energy in the stadium was unlike anything I've ever experienced, and finishing the game with a huge win made that day perfect. Proud to say that I successfully made two new fans for life!"
Nate Stovak - Business Strategy & Analytics
Q: What was your favorite part about working with the 49ers organization?
A: "My favorite part about working with the 49ers organization was the extracurricular activities that brought everyone together outside of work. In my role as a business analyst, I interacted with many different departments, but mostly in a professional capacity. Through sports and other activities during the week, I was able to build more personal connections. with the SBL sales and ticketing teams on Wednesdays and Fridays, joining the design and studios team for volleyball on Wednesdays, or running with the live events team on Tuesdays, those moments made the experience especially meaningful."
Q: What advice would you give to future 49ers interns?
A: "To always say yes to opportunities and actively seek out mentors. I learned so much by putting myself in situations I normally wouldn't have stepped into—whether that was volunteering for a project or reaching out for a coffee chat. By pushing myself in those moments, I was able to absorb far more knowledge and gain experiences I otherwise would have missed."
Q: What skills or knowledge did you gain that you'll take with you in your career?
A: "The most important thing I learned was how to communicate. In school, I was taught plenty of equations and rules for arriving at the right output, but not how to clearly convey it. Whether through a presentation, casual conversation, or an email, explaining topics and ideas in a way that truly makes sense to others didn't come naturally to me. This internship, however, has helped me make tremendous progress in developing that skill."
Elyse Martinez - 49ers Foundation
Q: If your internship had a slogan, what would it be?
A: "'Just roll with it!' - In this industry, projects and priorities can shift from day to day - and occasionally even hour to hour. My manager and I often joke that "just roll with it" is the best mindset to have. You never know when something on your task list will spark a new idea or turn into an unexpected side adventure. Flexibility is essential, and that adaptability is what keeps the work exciting and full of opportunity."
Q: What is your favorite memory from a 49ers gameday?
A: "As a Bay Area native and the child of a die-hard 49er fan, working for this team was a dream come true - especially because I got to share my experience with my family and friends. I was able to get them tickets to preseason games and, for almost all of them, it was their very first 49ers game. Being able to show them what I do at work made the games really special. I wouldn't be here without their support as I pursue this career path, and I will take any opportunity to show my gratitude."
Q: How has this experience shaped your future career goals?
A: "This internship solidified my passion for building a career in the nonprofit side of the sports industry. The charitable branches of professional sports teams are in a unique position to create meaningful impact, with the platform and reach to support communities across a wide range of focus areas and even extend their work into international markets."
Eli Makaron - Business Strategy & Analytics
Q: What's one unexpected thing you learned while interning with the 49ers?
A: "It was surprising and impressive to learn that an NFL franchise is run by 200-300 people. I would have expected an organization of this caliber to have many more employees. However, it feels more like a small business. This small business mindset lets the organization push boundaries and give a lot of responsibility to each employee. Even at an intern level, you can feel your impact at an incredibly rewarding rate."
Q: What advice would you give to future 49ers interns?
A: "I would encourage future interns to be hand raisers and proactive right from the start. It is important to appreciate the role that you are in, but more so take advantage of the nine months you have in it. All around the organization, people are enthusiastic about helping each other out, especially when it comes to interns. Whether it is executives or people right out of college, people are more than willing to connect. The 49ers have the resources to give you what you are looking for, and people are rooting for your success. However, you have to be vocal about what you want to accomplish rather than expecting experiences to be put in your lap. I feel grateful for all the people I have met and projects I have had exposure to. Go outside your comfort zone, build connections, ask to be on projects that you think might be unrealistic, and good things will come."
Q: What is your favorite memory from a 49ers gameday?
A: "The 49ers thrilling win over the Bears in Week 17. I watched the 42-38 Brock Purdy Masterclass with my dad who traveled from the East Coast for the game. Like many across the organization, I have wanted to work in sports for most of my life. To share a moment with family was truly full circle - from all the days we would passionately cheer from the couch growing up to being in the stadium for a game like that."
Pedro Penaloza - Technology
Q: Can you share a memorable project or moment that had a significant impact on you?
A: "The most memorable project I had the opportunity to work on was implementing the OneCourt devices for the Super Bowl. This initiative introduced a new way for individuals who are hearing- and visually-impaired to experience a major sporting event. Seeing the effort come together on game day—and later featured on the NFL's Instagram—was both exciting and rewarding to be part of."
Q: What was your favorite part about working with the 49ers organization?
A: "My favorite part about working with the 49ers organization has been seeing the happiness we bring to everyone who attends our events, whether it's a game or a live music performance. Watching fans smile and truly enjoy their time at Levi's® Stadium is incredibly rewarding. I was once in their shoes, experiencing the excitement of attending a game or concert at Levi's® Stadium and leaving with memories that last a lifetime, so being part of the team that helps create those moments means a lot to me."
Q: How has this experience shaped your future career goals?
A: "This experience has reinforced my passion for being part of the sports industry. Waking up every day and getting to do work that I genuinely enjoy is something I want to continue pursuing in my career. My time with the 49ers has helped shape my future goals by inspiring me to become a well-rounded technology professional and continue developing my expertise. I plan to pursue additional technology certifications and further strengthen my skills so I can continue growing and making an impact in the industry."
