The USA Football Board of Directors announced the addition of three new members on Tuesday: NFL Director of Football Development Matt Birk, U.S. National Team alum Brad Smithey and American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Executive Director Todd Berry.

Birk attended Cretin-Derham High School (St. Paul, Minn.) before continuing his football career at Harvard University. A talented offensive lineman, Birk played 11 seasons for his hometown Minnesota Vikings. He moved on to the Baltimore Ravens in 2009, where he helped the team win Super Bowl XLVII.

The 2011 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year award recipient, Birk exemplifies the values that football instills.

“His leadership on and off the field was outstanding. We could go to young players and say, ‘Do what Matt does, and you’ll succeed. Watch him and follow him,’”  Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said when Birk retired. “His work ethic was as good as any player we had. And then, what he did for all of us in our community is amazing.”

Smithey first joined the USA Football family in 2015, when he played for the U.S. Men’s National Team, which took home the gold medal from the IFAF Senior World Championship in Canton, Ohio.

After a productive career at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Smithey entered the coaching ranks. He currently serves as the quarterbacks coach at Brazosport High School (Freeport, Texas).

Both as a player and as a coach, Smithey’s passion for the game shines brightly:

There are people that want to be great. And then there are people that work to be great. Which one are you?

— Brad Smithey (@CoachBSmithey) October 6, 2016

Berry became the executive director of the AFCA in February, replacing Grant Teaff, who had led the organization since 1994.

A former all-state quarterback in Oklahoma, Berry’s college football career at Tulsa was cut short because of injury. After graduating, he took a job as a graduate assistant at Tennessee under legendary head coach Johnny Majors.

His 33-year coaching career featured stops at Miami, Mississippi State, East Carolina and others. Berry served as head coach at Illinois State, Army and, most recently, Louisiana-Monroe.

Like Birk and Smithey, Berry cares deeply for the sport of football and is fervent about ensuring that the game continues to flourish.

“Our game is strong and yet we will always face challenges ahead,” Berry said when he became the AFCA executive director.

USA Football CEO Scott Hallenbeck is excited for what Birk, Smithey and Berry will contribute.

“The leadership, insight and experience of our board drives our nonprofit office to establish innovative programming that underscores the benefits of the game and its inherent values,” Hallenbeck said in a release. “We are pleased to have Matt Birk, Brad Smithey and Todd Berry join our distinguished board.”

USA Football Board of Directors

• Carl Peterson, Chairman of the Board
• Bobby E. Abrams Jr., Montgomery (Ala.) Jefferson Davis H.S.
• Dawn Aponte, Miami Dolphins
• Todd Berry, American Football Coaches Association
• Matt Birk, National Football League
• Tom Cove, Sports & Fitness Industry Association
• Woodie Dixon, Pac-12 Conference
• Bob Gardner, National Federation of State H.S Associations
• Brad Garrett, Oregon School Activities Association
• Roger Goodell, National Football League
• Molly Goodwin, U.S. Women’s National Team
• Cody Hawkins, U.S. Men’s National Team
• Dr. Stanley Herring, Harborview Medical Center
• Leroy Hollins II, Louisiana Youth Football
• Oliver Luck, National Collegiate Athletic Association
• Mark Meana, Fairfax County (Va.) Youth Football League
• Mark Murphy, Green Bay Packers
• Elizabeth Okey, U.S. Women’s National Team Alum
• Brad Smithey, U.S. National Team alum
• Michael Strickland, Atlantic Coast Conference