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Don’t Get Burned In (Insurance) Coverage

If you are looking to represent a 1st-3rd rounder for the 2010 NFL Draft, you have most likely already talked to that player about his insurance options leading up to this very important season. The last thing a top player may be thinking about is a season ending injury, let alone a career ending injury. Yet, as someone looking out for his long term financial interests, it shows that you are on top of your game if you are already pestering him about hedging his risks. And while Tim Tebow and other top players know that career ending injuries are rare in college football, he and others realize the importance of protecting yourself just in case.

brennan marionLast year, I remember sitting on an airplane watching Brennan Marion tear his ACL on the very last play of the Conference USA Championship game. Brennan was a guy that we loved and had high expectations for; many at the time had said he could be picked as high as the 2nd round. While this was not a career ending injury (he was signed after the draft by the Miami Dolphins), it did kill his draft stock. What if it would have killed his chance at ever playing professional football? Strong insurance policies are important for highly touted prospects. A disability insurance policy, like those offered by Breeze Disability Insurance, could be a lifeline to those who become injured and are no longer able to perform in their job. There are also insurance companies that can give a little extra to those who apply for their coverage. For instance, NDIS can provide home visits, mental health assessments and a NDIS registered psychologist can assist in renewal of NDIS funding – click here to learn more.

There are two options for college players:

  1. Take out a policy with the NCAA’s Exceptional Student-Athlete Disability Insurance Program ($5 million maximum policy).
  2. Use a private agent (suggested for those with a lot to lose).

Very few players take out a policy before their senior year; however, someone like a Tim Tebow could have easily done so before last season. And while it is important to talk to those high on your list for the 2010 draft right now about protection, if they are Day 1 guys, they most likely already have coverage. It is still good to show that you are concerned.

Here is an excellent hypothetical time-line for an all-star athlete looking for guidance on when and how to obtain disability insurance in college.

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.