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NFL Agent Todd France And CAA Mutually Part Ways

NFL agent Todd France and Creative Artists Agency (CAA) have mutually agreed to part ways. What is next for France is not yet known, but he is sure to try to keep the many talented NFL players who have signed Standard Representation Agreements (SRAs) with him.

As of the latest count of NFL Players Association rolls, France is ranked number three out of all NFL Contract Advisors when it comes to number of active players signed to SRAs. The only agents ahead of France (with sixty active players as clients) are Drew Rosenhaus (ninety-one) and CAA’s Jimmy Sexton (sixty-nine). Behind France is Joel Segal at fifty-three and Jared Fox at forty-four active players represented. That said, CAA commonly requires multiple agents to be listed on every player SRA, which is why Sexton (who also represents many prominent coaches) ranks so high on the list, as he is understood to be a favorite for the company when it comes to adding Contract Advisors to SRAs for security purposes (See: Ben Dogra).

France represents the likes of Dak Prescott, Kenny Golladay, Brian Burns, Javon Kinlaw and Justin Jefferson. Many of the players who France has signed to SRAs also list agents Brian Ayrault and Ben Renzin. There is currently nothing conclusive concerning whether any NFL agents will be departing after the parting of ways between France and CAA, which I understand to be completely separate from any potentially forthcoming agent moves.

This is not the first major business move for France. Early in his career, he owned a company called France Athlete Management Enterprises Inc. (FAME). Even prior to that, he got his start at Career Sports Entertainment, which was known as Career Sports Management when he was first hired by the firm in 1994. He worked his way up to senior vice president of the company prior to creating FAME in 2003.

France started his own agency in Atlanta, Georgia at 31-years-old and never looked back. He is known as being somewhat behind-the-scenes and has never taken an active role on social media. Meanwhile, he has represented numerous prominent players throughout his career such as Priest Holmes, Takeo Spikes, Nate Clements, Ronnie Brown, Carlos Rogers, Thomas Davis, Ernie Simms and is even named on the Joe Burrows SRA; however, the lead agent for Burrows is Brian Ayrault who currently remains at CAA.

It will be interesting to see what if anything changes for Ayrault, who moved from Charlotte, North Carolina to Atlanta in 2012 to work with France. In 2011, France’s company was called AllPro Athlete Management when Ayrault came knocking with an offer France could not refuse. Ayrault’s friend, billionaire businessman Terry Pegula, wanted to fuze Ayrault Sports with France’s company and provide significant capital backing. Five Star Athlete Management was born with France and Ayrault leading the company through a few years of strong success. But Pegula would be required to remove himself from the agency when he purchased the Buffalo Bills in 2014. One year later, France, Ayrault and five other employees of Five Star Athlete Management left to join CAA.

When France shifted his business to CAA, Ayrault came right along with him. Along with Burrows, the duo co-represent Joey and Nick Bosa among other NFL players. However, for now, France is leaving CAA on his own accord and without Ayrault in tow.

Sports Agent Blog will report on any further updates as they come in.

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.