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Want To Be An NFL Agent In 2021?

NFLPA

Are you interested in representing NFL players in their contract negotiations with NFL teams? You will first need to become certified with the NFL Players Association as a licensed Contract Advisor.

Every year, the NFLPA provides one month for interested individuals to submit their applications. That window opens today (January 13) for 2021 and will close as of midnight on February 12. The NFLPA is clear that it will accept absolutely no late filings.

As stated on the NFLPA website, applicants must submit a non-refundable fee of $2,500, authorize the performance of a background investigation, attend a two-day seminar, and successfully complete a multiple-choice, proctored examination. Historically, the seminar and examination were held in-person, in Washington D.C. This year, due to the continued effects of the coronavirus pandemic, the seminar and test will be held virtually in the Summer.

Additionally, as has been the case in the past, applicants will only be deemed qualified to serve as Contract Advisors if they have an undergraduate and postgraduate degree. The exception to that rule is when an applicant is able to demonstrate that he/she has a minimum of seven years of sufficient negotiating experience.

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.