Monday is a really big day for the 350 or so people taking the 2024 NFL Agent Exam. We’ve been working with a lot of people since January, and those are just first-time test-takers. For those people who’ve come up short previously, the journey has been much longer.

It got me thinking about what they would say in 2029, when they are five years into their agent career. Will they still think it was worth it? This is especially poignant for those contract advisors entering the business without the benefit of being part of a big firm. Their road is much tougher. Will they have any regrets?

To find out, I asked several members of the 2019 agent class who entered the business as independents. Are the hours, the blood/sweat/tears, the dollars invested, worth it? Maybe the surest indication of how sold-out for their careers they are is that I texted 12 agents at about midnight EST and got responses back from half of them within 10 minutes. It’s that kind of business. Sleep is certainly secondary.

At any rate, I expected them to say they had no regrets, and that’s pretty much what I got back. Here are some of their responses.

  • “Yes, I would. I feel like I am finally hitting my stride and have definitely learned more this time than during my previous certification period. I am glad I re-certified.”
  • “I’d absolutely do it again. Being in our shoes puts us in position to play a significant role in positively impacting the lives of the young men we come across, and ultimately their families. It’s a damn tough business. But there’s nothing more satisfying than seeing the joy on our guys’ and their families’ faces when they get their opportunities. . . Some people go a lifetime and never find their niche or that thing that really motivates them. Football is it for me.”
  • “Yes, I would continue to be NFLPA certified. I have several coaches, and being NFLPA-certified allows me to not only represent athletes, but also gives me the ability to speak with my coaches about the rapid rule changes from a place of authority and knowledge. Football at every level has evolved with this new landscape in the post-pandemic era. Not everyone survived, and the world of recruitment for athletes is just different; the transfer portal is now significantly relevant. . . Yes, I would still become NFLPA-certified but I would look at the landscape with a more balanced perspective understanding that athletes have more autonomy now and the game has evolved both on the field and off the field.”
  • “Yes I would do it again. It was the career I’ve always wanted to pursue and my goal since I realized playing professionally wasn’t an option!”
  • “If I were asked if I’d do it again, I’d definitely say yes. The experience of navigating the complexities of the sports industry, negotiating contracts, and advocating for my clients during the pandemic has not only sharpened my skills but also made me more resilient and strategic. The challenges I faced and overcame have made me stronger and more effective in representing and supporting my clients.”
  • “I feel like God has led me into this, so yes, I’d do it again for sure. I’ll always follow His lead.”
  • “I’d say that, while it wasn’t how I expected the last 5 years to go, I’d definitely do it all over again.”
  • “Absolutely! I would for sure do it again and I did! I was first certified in 2008 for a number of years. Got certified for a specific player and then he was injured. In 2019, I got certified for a specific player and of course he did not sign with me by the time it was done. Lesson learned — certify for a player at your own risk. If you are doing it because you love football and helping people there is nothing like it! That’s what kept me in it.” 

You better be passionate to endure in this industry, as you can see from the responses, everyone I asked still has that fire. If you’re one of Monday’s test-takers, I hope you are similarly inspired to pass a really difficult exam. I encourage you to take advantage of exam preparation materials, and we can help with that. For more information on how, make sure you read our Friday Wrap newsletter. You can register for it here.