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NFL Players Retirement Sports Agents

Take The Vow

Playing high school football, college football, and then in the NFL will definitely take a toll on your body. The most pain may be felt after retirement, however.

The “glamor” of being a Sports Agent is felt by few, and the few who ever become the top of the trade, often experience the feeling in short bursts. The reason is that most likely, your stable (big or small) of clients will be composed of the 99% of players who do not make the national papers every day. This is a thankless industry, and if you truly want to succeed (I said succeed…not make money), you will spend a lot of time helping your clients survive during their playing days, and once their initial careers are over.

It is too well known that many players bank on their abilities on the field to make money and do not prepare themselves for life after football. It is our job as agents, to change this trend.

If your client is lucky enough to make an NFL roster, he is likely to play under four years of professional football. Is that enough for him to live the rest of his life on? Here is an interesting figure: 78% of all NFL players are divorced, bankrupt or unemployed two years after leaving the game, according to Ken Ruettgers, a current advocate for NFL players transitioning from professional sports [Life after the NFL: Typically a struggle].

I want all of us future, progressive agents to take a vow. Promise that you will never give up on your clients, even the ones who turn out to be busts by the media’s standards. There is more to life than playing for a couple of years. There are families that need to be cared for. If you do not personally have the time to help your clients with their retirement planning, outsource the job to a company like GamesOver.org, which is run by Ken Ruettgers. Just promise to do everything in your power to give your clients the happiest life possible.

-Darren Heitner

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.

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