Interview With The Agent: Nate Haber

I take a lot of pleasure in seeing young professionals have success in their respective trades.  As a young sports agent, myself, I especially admire others who have made it their goal to represent professional athletes, and have actually acted on their dreams.  Nate Haber fits into that category.  He is a part of a rising agency titled, PlayersRep, a firm that had five draft picks in 2009, including 3 of the top 42 seniors in the country (or 3 in the top 66 overall).  I first came across Nate on Twitter, and when I asked him about being interviewed on SportsAgentBlog.com, he was more than happy to oblige.  The result is below.

Darren Heitner: You are 28-years old, right? At that age, you’re not supposed to be NFLPA certified with clients on active rosters! Tell us a little bit about your story of trying to become an agent and how you ended up with PlayersRep.

Nate Haber: Several years ago, after finishing my first year of law school, I was introduced to Andy Simms, the founder of PlayersRep. I began working with him on in-house things for his clients. Over time, the workload increased. I began recruiting players as well, and ultimately turned it into a full-time job once I received my law degree. I am very passionate about my craft and very confident in what I do.

Darren Heitner: What is your position in the company? What does that position entail?

Nate Haber: I am an agent at PlayersRep. I handle contract negotiations for our players. I also am responsible, as are the other agents at our firm, for managing the lives of our players off the field. Procuring endorsement deals, offering legal advice and research, and finding unique opportunities to gain exposure for our clients are just a few of the many things we do for our guys.

Darren Heitner: What’s your normal day consist of?

Nate Haber: In this business, I’m not sure there’s a “normal” day. That’s what I love about it though. Every day is unique in that every player’s needs are different. Some days can be filled with marketing meetings, while others might consist of sitting behind the desk and working on closing deals. Some days we are out on the road, while others are spent with our clients. The important thing about this job is that you need to find time to see your clients. The more you learn about them, the more you get to know them, the more successful you and your clients will be.

Darren Heitner: You are one of the few NFLPA certified advisors that has embraced Twitter. How do you see the social media platform as a beneficial tool for your clients’ and your own growth?

Nate Haber: I’m just trying to keep up with the times. With technology has come increased opportunities to communicate your message to the public. Twitter provides another channel to help us promote our clients. It allows the public to take a closer look at the happenings of our players and our business. I’m not sure how long it will last, but for the time being, it appears to be an incredibly efficient way to share information.

Darren Heitner: Do you have any clients on Twitter or Facebook? Do you help them manage their profiles?

Nate Haber: Londen Fryar and Usama Young each manage their own profiles on Twitter.

Darren Heitner: How has a law degree helped you or hurt you in selling your services to players and then actually represent them?

Nate Haber: Having a law degree has been a big help. It allows me to have a better understanding of the intricacies of contracts and negotiations. It is not a necessity to becoming an agent though. Of the five registered advisors with our firm, only two of us, Andy Simms and myself, have law degrees. The others come from diverse business, financial, and marketing backgrounds.

Darren Heitner: What kind of year can we expect out of PlayersRep client, Chris Henry?

Nate Haber: I think what you’ll see this year is a renewed sense of urgency on Chris’s part. He knows that this is his opportunity to show the Bengals and the rest of the league the type of player he can be. He has put in a ton of work in the off-season and has vowed to make other changes off the field. If he continues on this new path, he will be a stud player worth a lot of money one day.

Darren Heitner: Anything else you would like to add?

Nate Haber: When players and their families get the chance to meet Andy, myself, and the other agents at PlayersRep (Dave Lee, Wesley Spencer, and Matt Brei), it is apparent to them why many great players continue to choose us as their representation. We are aggressive businessmen who look to see that our clients succeed. While this is a business first, we also pride ourselves on developing strong relationships with our clients, being there for them whenever they need us. Hard work, honesty, and genuine respect for each and every one of our clients is our recipe for success.