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Sports Law

Want to be an NFL agent?

The NFLPA - best players association?...most say yes.
To become an NFL Sports Agent, the NFLPA (players association) requires you to go through a longer process than the other 2 main American sports.

The current specifications are as follows:

  • A non-refundable application fee of $1,650.00
  • Undergraduate AND post graduate degree (Master’s or Law) from an accredited college/university.
  • Mandatory attendance at a 2006 (if you were to apply this year) two (2) day seminar in Washington, DC. (will be occurring in late July…no definite date set)
  • Successful completion of a written proctored examination
  • You MUST file your application between January 1 and January 31st, or you must wait until the next year to apply to become a certified NFLPA Sports Agent

    • If you are interested in becoming certified for this year, this is the time to do it! Here is a link to register on-line if you are interested. Remember that it comes at a high cost and includes many other requirements that must first be looked over to see if you apply.

    You are required to pass the written exam given on the 2nd day of the Wash D.C. seminar in Late July before you actively recruit or represent any football players.

    I will look into what must be done on your part after you gain registration to keep your NFLPA Agent license in a future post and will continue to discuss these types of issues that are extremely relevant and mostly unknown to aspiring agents.

    This may be a lot of new information for many aspiring NFL Sports Agents, but it is good to know this early, while you can still shape your future. To go over some key points…if you want to be an NFL Sports Agent: get a Master’s or Law Degree (new rule since 2005), secure enough money to pay the application fee, and do not forget that you may only apply between January 1 – January 31 of every year.

    [tags]NFL, nflpa, sports agent, law degree[/tags]

    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.

    19 replies on “Want to be an NFL agent?”

    So the only way to become a sports agent is to have a master degree or law degree. Is that for every sport, or just the NFL rule ?

    There is one more way to become an NFLPA advisor. You can have “sufficient negotiating experience”, which obviously is a very subjective standard. You are taking a risk, though. Because you have to pay the registration fee, and if you are deemed to not have that sufficient experience, you lose that fee and do not gain admission to the club. This is purely an NFL rule.

    follow @Darren_Heitner on twitter

    By Post Author

    Darren, First of all i would love to commend you on your website…its very informative…I have a quick question…How do you feel about “WOMEN” being sports agents in the NFL? Be honest!! lol

    I’m always honest! I think that this is an area that will see tremendous growth in the near future. There is a huge shortage of women agents. Not only can a woman agent be just as good negotiating contracts, finding deals, etc for her clients as a male agent, but she also may be able to relate better to an athlete and his wife/parents. I don’t think you run a huge risk of GMs and Player Personnel entities not taking women as seriously, but some bias may exist to an extent.

    By Post Author

    Hall of Fame: Thanks Darren!!! Be on the lookout!!! im coming!!

    Comment: Darren are there any books that you can recommend on Women working the Sports Industry.. “Football” preferably….

    I am an aspiring sports agent who is look for advice on how to start a promotions company. Im a Marketing Major in college. I feel if I start a Promotions company as a undergraduate in college I will have some basic understanding of Marketing, Advertising, Contracts Etc. I have Emailed several other Agents but none have responded to my Emails. If there is any advice you can give me on starting a promotions company, and how to begin networking with agents I would really appreciate it.

    That's very interesting. I owned a promotions company as an undergrad,
    but never thought of it as something that would further my
    understanding of the sports agent business. Work for another
    promotions company to gain experience and connections and then maybe
    start up your own.

    By Post Author

    Have the requirements changed since the last post for becoming an NFL agent? Where will the seminar be held for 2011? Where/what is the best/easiest source to obtain information for this endeavor?

    I’m interested in becoming an NFL agent and I’m a little confused on the degree qualifications. I will be pursuing a 4 year degree in Sports Management. Will I then have to get a Masters in Sports Management or would I have to attend law school? How long would law school be? Which would be the best choice?

    I have a question about the salary. Do agents get hired by agencies and have a set annual salary, or is their income solely based on a percentage of their players’ contracts? And would being an agent greatly affect the the time I spend with my family?

    I have a question about the salary. Do agents get hired by agencies and have a set annual salary, or is their income solely based on a percentage of their players’ contracts? And would being an agent greatly affect the the time I spend with my family?

    Comments are closed.