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Six Questions With Andrew Brandt, NFL Business Analyst At ESPN

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The following “Six Questions” short interview with Andrew Brandt, NFL Business Analyst at ESPN, was conducted by Belmont University Law School student and aspiring sports/entertainment agent Mark J. Burns.  Connect with Andrew on Linkedin and Twitter.

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ESPN NFL Business Analyst Andrew Brandt has a wealth of experience as agent, front-office exec and professor.

1. When did you first realize you wanted to work in sports? What were some of your first internships/experiences and what lessons did you take away from those?

I grew up in Washington, DC a die-hard Redskin and Bullets fan, going to both games as often as possible.  I always thought about marrying my interest in sports and whatever avocation I chose; it happened to be law.  Fortunately for me, going to law school at Georgetown in DC allowed me to intern first for the NFLPA and then for ProServ Inc, a major sports management and marketing firm that gave me great experience.  I continued to work for ProServ — and agent David Falk — for five years following graduation from law school.

2. As a current NFL Business Analyst with ESPN, what are your day-to-day responsibilities? As a follow-up, how do you utilize social media to enhance what you do? 

ESPN contacts me when they need me, usually around deeper issues in sports such as recent topics like concussions and now the problems in Miami.   There is no set schedule; some weeks there is no use, some weeks I am used 4-5 times.  I also write a weekly column on the business of football for a new website, Peter King’s TheMMQB.com, where there is always compelling content.  And that is just my media side; I have two academic jobs: a lecturer at Wharton School of Business and Director of the Moorad Center for Sports Law at Villanova Law School.

Social media, mainly Twitter, has allowed me to find an audience with some of my differentiated nuggets of content, some from my experiences with the Packers, some from my legal background, some from my agent background, some from my academic background, etc.  It has also been a good place for me to express myself and coin phrases such as “There will be lawyers” and my many translations.

3. At one point in time, you were a sports agent. You also spent nine years in management with the Green Bay Packers. How did being a sports agent help you in your position with the Packers? 

My experience as an agent was invaluable, allowing me to know exactly what the other side was thinking and often moving past a lot of the BS and chatter that hold up negotiations.  I also understood the value of agents as buffers between the team and the player and the importance of developing and maintaining good relationships with them.

4. What are 3 to 5 essential and tangible skills necessary to work in the sports industry?

An ability to be even-keeled and calm amidst stressful times; an ability to see the situation from your counterpart’s point of view; an ability to listen — say less, listen more.

5. What is the most rewarding aspect of your position with ESPN? 

Whether ESPN, Sports Illustrated or teaching, what I enjoy most is taking potentially difficult, complex and dense topics and making them understandable to a wider audience.  I know I’m not curing cancer, but I am trying to use this part of my life to “give back” knowledge that I have learned through experience.

6. In 75 words or less, what advice would you give to aspiring sports business professionals?

Find a special skill that separates you from the pack.  Every aspiring person says they love sports and are willing to work hard; that is not enough.  Find something that makes you different and be able to communicate that differentiated skill clearly and concisely.  People are impressed by those who stand out among the crowd.

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.