A Deeper look into Athlete Representation

I wanted to write and comment on an article I came across involving an interview with Sports Agents. To the outside world being a sports agent seems like a glamorous job with riches and notoriety. But the truth is to get there takes patience, resilience, and determination for the long haul.

The interview I read was with Jack Bechta who is an NFLPA certified advisor who has over 20 years of negotiating deals for NFL players. Jack is the CEO of JB Sports and has negotiated over 200 contracts. In the interview Jack stressed how client stealing is normal among NFL agents, especially when a great player is considering the free agent market. This can be challenging for smaller firms because they might not have all the resources to convince the player to stay with the firm. The NFL should have some kind of clause that would give a timetable or stipulation in the player and agent contract that would not allow them to leave suddenly.

Jack stated it took him about 5 years to become a full-time agent and you would need about $100k to get started. This alone shows that if someone is trying to get in the business they have to be in it for the long haul in order to see results. There is a lot to learn about the profession from the collective bargaining agreement, contract clauses, and effective recruiting. It takes time for one to build their client roster and build a name for your company and brand.

For anyone trying to get in the sports industry world, or any other field I would say the most important component is be passionate about what you do and believe in. You should ask yourself if I could work for free what do I see myself doing? Hopefully this posting gave a better understanding and insight on Athlete Representation.