Amanda Gunville’s relationship with football spans over two decades. Working alongside legendary sports agent Leigh Steinberg, she lived in the world of Hall of Fame icons like Troy Aikman, Steve Young, and Patrick Mahomes. Football wasn’t just her career; it was her everyday language.
Then, life forced a total pause. During a two-and-a-half-year battle with cancer, Amanda was focused on survival, not the scoreboard. When she finally returned to watch a game last season, she experienced something profound: she felt like an outsider. The pace felt faster, the rules had shifted, and the language felt like a barrier.
“If I spent decades at the highest level of the NFL and felt lost after a break, how must millions of women feel who were never invited into the conversation in the first place?” Amanda asks. That moment of personal disorientation became the spark for Champera and its flagship program, the Football Fluency Method.
The “Couch Friend” Philosophy
Amanda describes what she’s building as a cross between Duolingo and a confidence program. She isn’t a corporate analyst; she’s your smartest, funniest friend sitting next to you on the couch, explaining the game in real-time.
“I have a close friend—a brilliant entrepreneur who built a multi-million dollar athletic apparel company,” Amanda shares. “She’s incredibly savvy and athletic, yet she admitted she watched her son play every weekend without actually knowing what was happening on the field. She felt like she was missing the story.”
This isn’t a lack of intelligence; it’s a lack of invitation. From the “immigrant mother” who stands only when the rest of the crowd stands, to the executive who stays quiet during Monday morning football talk, Amanda realized that women weren’t lacking interest—they were lacking a bridge.
Making the “Scary” Manageable
Amanda’s unique teaching style is an extension of her own journey. During her recovery, she authored Finding Hope & Joy in Cancer and launched a nonprofit to support others in that fight.
“Whether I’m helping someone navigate a scary diagnosis or a complex blitz package, my philosophy is the same: use humor, empathy, and relatable stories to make intimidating things feel manageable,” she explains. This emotional throughline—the idea that simplifying the “scary” stuff opens the door to joy—is what makes Champera a category-defining platform.
Depth Beyond the Sidelines
While her years with Leigh Steinberg gave her a masterclass in the NFL’s inner workings, Amanda’s sports roots go much deeper. Her career started in college with a bold question to a FOX Sports cameraman: “Who hires you?”
Before she was an industry staple, she co-founded her own agency, managed hospitality for the Super Bowl and Formula 1, and worked as a stage manager for FOX Sports and ESPN. She knows the game because she’s been on the floor of the stadium when the lights are brightest.
Confidence as the End Goal
With the Football Fluency Method, Amanda is teaching women to “See Players, Not Just Jerseys” and “Think Like a Coach.” By making the first module completely free, she’s stripping away the gatekeeping that has kept women on the sidelines.
“This isn’t about trivia,” Amanda explains. “It’s about belonging. When women understand the strategy and momentum of the game, they stop feeling like spectators in their own social and professional circles. They start leading the conversation.”
A Vision for the Future
As Amanda scales Champera, she is focused on aspirational growth—building partnerships with teams and media platforms to redefine fan engagement. She visions a world where sports fluency is a standard part of the female experience, fostering deeper connections with partners, children, and colleagues.
Her message to any woman feeling intimidated by the scoreboard is simple: “You are not behind. You were just never taught this way before.” Through Champera, Amanda is finally ensuring that the most exciting conversations in sports have room for everyone at the table.
