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.
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5 replies on “There’s a New Sheriff In Town”
First of all, I think it’s very telling that both the Titans and the Bengals said they supported Commissioner Goodell’s decision. I don’t think this is just Goodell exerting his authority. I think the other players in the league are tired of just a few players bringing down the reputation of the league. It’ll be interesting to see how the NFLPA handles any kind of appeal
To answer your question, I suppose it all depends upon your philosophy of what it means to be a sports agent. Does being an agent mean doing whatever it takes to ensure your client’s financial future? If so, all you have to do is make sure your client doesn’t get caught breaking the law or do whatever it takes to make sure that the charges don’t stick. That way, he can continue playing ball and cashing the checks.
Or does being an agent mean advising and guiding your client in an effort to ensure his success both on and off the field? If this is the case, then you probably would want to build a relationship with your client so that you can try to prevent any off the field incidents before they occur. At the very least, you would definitely want to advise your client of the danger of putting himself in situations that could potentially be damaging to his career.
Granted, some players are not going to want to hear any of that because they think your job is simply to get them the best contracts out there or get them out of any jams that they may find themselve in. But I think that if your philosophy of what it means to be an agent doesn’t match with the player’s expectations, that player probably isn’t going to sign with you anyway.
I think over time, certain agents tend to attract certain kinds of clients, and vice versa. Over time, these things tend to work themselves out on their own.
From an interview with Gil Brandt – former head of scouting operations for the Cowboys:
Q: Can teams like the Jaguars do more to solve the [off-field] problem[s]?
It shows no matter how much checking and preparation you do. Bad things can happen. A lot of it goes back to who their agent is. Sometimes, an agent tells them what they want to hear instead of what they’re supposed to hear. I don’t know how many [agents] make the hard decisions. There’s a lot of competition out there to represent players, so the agents don’t police them like they should.
–http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/041107/jag_9175476.shtml
For people like Pacman and Henry, whose futures look bright if they stay out of trouble, I wish them the best of luck and hope that they change this around. I might add that Pacman may not be suspended for the entire NFL season, as he can apply for reinstatement after the Titan’s week ten game.
Hey Darren,
You found my site earlier today so I wanted to check out yours
I love your site, excellent job by the way!
About Pacman and Henry. In my opinion, everyone handled the situation well. They both know they were in the wrong, and both accepted it (which is already the first step to coming back). It was his first big decision as “The Commish” and I think he did a pretty decent job.
I hope those guys get their act together and get back into the league. Both are amazing talents and it’s a shame to see their life go wrong because of off-field issues.
I guess the next case will be Ricky Williams and if he gets reinstated.