Athletes First has hired NFL super-agent Todd France to join their team as well as France’s long-time colleagues Jennifer Thatcher and Julie Voelker, all of whom will open Athletes First Atlanta based office.
Todd France, recognized by Forbes Magazine as the most powerful agent in football, made headlines late this summer for mutually parting ways with CAA after joining the agency in 2015. France brings a strong stable of clients with him to Athletes First including Dak Prescott, Bud Dupree, Aaron Donald, and Fletcher Cox, among others. In a press release from CEO of Athletes First Brian Murphy, Murphy states “we are honored and humbled to welcome Todd, Jennifer, and Julie into the Athletes First family. Adding an industry superstar and accomplished leader like Todd to Athletes First’s senior executive team is a terrific opportunity that will allow us to raise the bar for our entire industry.”
This isn’t the first major move for France in his career. He started his own agency called FAME in 2003 and represented numerous NFL stars like Priest Holmes, Takeo Spikes, Ronnie Brown, and Carlos Rogers. Then in 2011, veteran sports agent Brian Ayrault merged his agency, Ayrault Sports, with FAME to create Five Star Athlete Management with France and Ayrault at the helm. After the merger, France and Ayrault left to join CAA’s football division.
Todd France had no shortage of potential agencies clamoring for his services, but it seems he found a home at Athletes First. “I am thrilled to join the Athletes First family for whom I have always had the utmost respect and admiration,” France states. “I recently had the opportunity to talk with all the top agencies. Athletes First is unique in being a powerhouse agency that has succeeded in prioritizing personal relationships and maintaining a family culture”.
In addition to being recognized as the most powerful agent in football, France has represented multiple first-round picks for a record breaking 13 straight years and negotiated over $1.5 billion in deals for his clients.
Joining Athletes First, France is now a part of a star-studded agent roster including David Mulugheta, Joe Panos, and Kyle McCarthy; just to name a few. As of September 2019, France represents 85 clients which will bolster Athletes First clientele; making it one of the largest single sport agencies in the world.