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The Role of Agents in Their Clients’ Off Field Lives and Post Playing Careers

The following guest post is by Travis Bell, NBPA certified agent and Founder & CEO of The Seven Bridges Group.

Junior Seau 1969-2012

That right there is enough to leave anyone with two brain cells to rub together in a state of shock.

Look, right off the top, spare me the holier than thou, sanctimonious & judgmental soliloquies from atop your soapbox. I see the comments mentioning the words ‘selfish’, ‘coward’, ‘he took the easy way out’.

None of you Monday Morning Psychologists have a clue about what this young man was going thru.

You (or I) don’t know about his condition, medically or mentally. All we know is this man is gone, way too soon and that’s ALL we need to know.

However, this is a call to arms –  not to the NFL, the NFLPA, doctors, or other professionals involved in the sport of professional football. This is a call to my peers in the Sports Management business.

Now before you get yourselves wrapped around the axle, I’m a nobody in this business, hell I’m a nobody in general. But as a relative newcomer (7 years), I think I know enough to say we have to do a better job for our clients, not only during their playing careers but AFTER their playing careers have ended.

I get that we can’t save the world.  I’m far from being a left-wing extremist and I damn sure am not right wing either. But what I am is a human being. In this day and age of technology, social media, 24 hour news, weather and sports, where do we find the time to be what we are at our very core – a human being?

We spent the past 18 months preparing for the just completed NFL draft. On average, we spent about $12,000 preparing our clients for their respective Pro Days and the NFL Combine.

We go thru great lengths to provide the best we can for our clients during their playing careers, we now need to step up our efforts and be there for them after the final horn sounds or out is recorded.

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.

One reply on “The Role of Agents in Their Clients’ Off Field Lives and Post Playing Careers”

Hey Travis,

I’m so glad someone else feels the same I’ve been saying this for years. As you I’m fairly new but have seen enough and worked at agencies that prescribed to just thst, which why I started my own firm. I recall my time in California and I was impressed with one of my mentors Dr. Harry Edward’s and he told me to pit myself in the players show first before I make any decision or advise. My job is to advocate and assist without compromisong my values and morals even if I lose a star client. Well said Travis.

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