Category Archives: Agent Exam

2026 NFL Agent Exam: Building Community

01 Friday May 2026

Posted by in Agent Exam, Agents, Getting started, NFL draft

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Houston is a pretty good football town, so it’s no big surprise that many of its residents pursue a career in player representation. For years, I’ve kicked around the idea of getting some veteran agents together with people taking the exam, just the veterans can share ideas and the aspiring agents can ask questions about the exam or just the business, generally. We finally did that last night. Here are a few thoughts after a fun time with four agents and three agents-to-be.

  • I guess it’s no surprise, but there were probably as many questions about succeeding in the business as there were about simply passing the exam. That’s natural. I did my best to help the exam-takers keep their respective eyes on the ball, but it’s an interesting profession. Why wouldn’t they be curious?
  • We brought several generations of veteran agents together, including Chiquia Roberson (certified in 2013), Everett Coleman (2021), Chris Gaddis (2019) and Teron Greene (2025). It was fascinating to hear how their test-taking experiences differed; so much has changed in the last 10-plus years.
  • Chiquia’s experience was a bit more old-school, as she was part of a class that had to travel to Washington, D.C., and sit in a big room over two days with hundreds of other people. The procedure then was a full day of lecture on Thursday, then a morning lecture and Q&A Friday morning before the exam on Friday. It’s probably better that it’s not done that way anymore. I used to hear stories of NFLPA officials rushing students through questions on Friday morning and asking to get the test going mid-lunch hour. I guess they were a little bored and hoping to get ahead of the evening’s traffic.
  • The same was true of Chris, another guy who had to go to D.C. Most of his focus was on the trickier topics and the value of time management. This is a common theme. It’s so, so easy to get wrapped up in a few questions and get behind. Three hours go quickly.
  • Everett’s was interesting because he was originally scheduled for 2020 before the Players Association pulled the plug due to the lockdowns. He made it work for him. He continually cited his 18-month run-up to the 2021 exam as a benefit, and his recall of the questions and topics of focus were surprising. It was also interesting because that year, everyone took the exam from their own homes, and as it was the first time the NFLPA did it this way, there were numerous technological issues. Everett said he spent several minutes having his study notes and test materials examined by the proctoring service over the webcam, just to make sure he was meeting regulations.
  • For Teron, who just got certified last summer, the memories focused on taking the exam at a testing center, surrounded by cameras. I could tell the surveillance there really made things awkward for him. I guess it’s the only way the NFLPA can make absolutely certain no one is cheating.

A lot of the themes were in tune with what I always hear. They raved about the study guide; most people do. They were very complimentary of Ian Greengross, our Zoom instructor, and his teaching methods. Everett was excited about a CFL client who’s near reporting for camp up north; he signed the player on a referral from the ITL community.

Anyway, it was a lot of fun, and something I wish we’d done earlier. It’s certainly not the last time the ITL team will gather before the exam, though future groupings will probably be online, in some form or fashion.

If you’re taking the exam, there’s plenty of room on the roster, and we’d love to have you. Just 80 days to go! Come with us. Start by contacting me at nstratton at insidetheleague dot com.

From NFLPA Exam Prep to First NFL Draft: Rookie Agent Reactions from Team ITL

24 Friday Apr 2026

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If you’re reading this, the NFL Draft is probably something you find exciting. Well, imagine your excitement if this was the first draft you were actually a part of.

That’s actually the case for dozens of our clients who started off with us last summer in preparation for the NFL agent exam. Given that they’ve gone from wondering what it would be like to represent NFL players to nearing making that a reality, we thought we’d reach out to some of them to get their feelings, in their own words.

Here’s what they told us.

“I think at this point it’s kind of hard to put into words because there is still a lot of uncertainty of what to expect and how the process actually will play out. Certainly a lot of emotions which probably won’t fully be realized until the weekend is over and hopefully all my players have at least (rookie mini-camp) invites. I am also trying to separate the draft which I have watched on television for years and the process I am participating in this weekend because of the likelihood that my players do not get drafted. I took a somewhat conservative approach this cycle as I am co-repping four players but only the lead agent on one. . . although there is a feeling of uncertainty, there is also a feeling of excitement and hope and I am optimistic that all four of my guys will at least get an opportunity.” — Lane Macaluso, Macaluso Law

“Definitely a surreal feeling going from watching the draft as a fan my whole life to now experiencing it as an agent – it’s a completely different perspective. With two prospects who are potential Day 3 picks or priority free agents, I’m locked in on every pick and tracking who the interested teams are taking. The last few months have been a whirlwind, but I feel great going into the weekend. I’ve learned a ton since getting licensed and (Inside the League) has been a huge help along the way.” — Will Scott, A&P Sports

“This being my first draft I have the feelings of nervous excitement and strong confidence… (Inside the League) has directly helped me forge powerful relationships and opportunities that have rapidly advanced my career… I will never forget this draft because I feel like I’m in it!” — James Tortorelli, Reliant Athletic Management

“First draft… excited, nervous, but feeling as prepared as I can be. Honestly, having (Inside the League) and the Stratic team in my corner has been a game-changer. Incredible group of people who have really helped show me the ropes.” — Blaise Rosati, NXT ERA

“Being at my first NFL Draft with a client is honestly surreal. I’ve watched the draft every year for as long as I can remember and used to make mock drafts just for fun, so to now be part of this process on the professional side is both nerve-wracking and incredibly exciting. I’m fortunate to represent a client who has late-round draft potential (Virginia Tech DT Kody Huisman), and the possibility of seeing him hear his name called is a feeling I never imagined I’d experience when I was just watching from home as a fan. What makes this experience so different is that I’m no longer focused only on my favorite team’s picks—I’m watching every selection and every team need to understand how each decision could impact my client’s opportunities. In many ways, it feels like I’m in my own war room, which makes the entire experience even more exciting. I’ve also never been more aware of my phone notifications in my life (haha).” — James Winn, First Winn Sports & Entertainment

“I’m excited every draft as a fan, but it feels particularly special being a part of this process as an agent. The anticipation of your favorite team’s draft selections is nothing compared to when it’s your client’s future on the line. If I hadn’t connected with (Inside the League) and (the ITL) community (the other agents, Stratic, etc.), I probably wouldn’t have a client this draft but, if I did, I know I wouldn’t feel nearly as prepared for the next steps. In short… I feel excited, hopeful, and as prepared as I could be without having been here before.” — Gabriel Opatken, 8180 Sports

“It feels great. I’ve been excited all week and waiting for this day like a kid waiting for the toy store to open. It’s just so rewarding to know that all the work I’ve put in since recruiting and through the pre-draft process culminates to this and having the chance to hear my client’s name called. Days 1 and 2 will still feel the same for me as a fan of the game. But I’m looking forward to Day 3 where that day will matter most for my clients, and I’ll be involved more as an agent and not a fan.” — Alex Nguyen, McRae Sports Group

“Of course, it feels good! Feeling all of the feelings – nerves, excitement, etc. I think with my guys being more on the radar (Friday) and Saturday, it will start to feel more real then. But all of the work it took to get to this point between graduate degree, test prep, passing the test, recruiting, pre-draft, etc., it feels like a dream come true and we’re only getting started.” — Evan Pobuta, Vienna Talent Group

If you’re taking the exam this summer, don’t risk not being able to have these same feelings this time next year. As the most established NFL agent prep program in the business, and the one with the most active NFL agents (by a long shot), we love helping people achieve their dreams. It’s not too late to get going. Start here.

For more thoughts from first-year agents experiencing their first draft, make sure to check out today’s Friday Wrap. Register here.

Why Do NFL Agents Fail? Here Are My Thoughts

16 Thursday Apr 2026

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Tonight, we’ll have our third Zoom session for aspiring NFL agents, covering several key concepts that could be part of July’s exam. With less than 100 days until the test, things are ramping up.

Simultaneously, we’re hearing from agents who are facing their third draft class and, without having signed anyone who made it to an NFL roster so far, they’re facing professional mortality. Basically, they have five months to get someone on a roster, and if next weekend goes poorly for them, they’re in a real bind.

So how does this happen? How do so many talented people — many of them accomplished attorneys, all of them having achieved a postgraduate degree — come into the business every year but find themselves ousted from the business three years later? More generally, why do people hoping to represent NFL players fail? Here are the top reasons.

They can’t pass the exam. In our decade-plus working with aspiring agents, we’ve seen our share of people who failed the test twice. It sounds ridiculous, but it’s not at all uncommon. It’s a very complicated exam, and if you don’t use prep services like ours, that’s doubly true. You’re talking about a 700-page CBA with lots of complicated topics, and the NFLPA does you few favors. It’s open-book, yes, but that doesn’t mean it’s a walk in the park. And given the responsibilities an agent has, the test should be challenging.

They don’t make the right relationships. Every year, there are dozens of people who sit for the exam because they’ve been asked to get certified, either by someone in the league or someone who’s draft-eligible. They then find out, to their surprise, that those players were less serious about signing with the agent than previously believed. Often, the agent doesn’t find this out until October or November, at which point he’s left trying to find someone else to recruit. Make the wrong recruiting decisions and you’ll never make other key contacts (scouts, college GMs, trainers). It’s a vicious cycle.

They trust the wrong people. From the players they sign to the trainers they hire to the draft analysts that solicit them, there are countless people who enter a new agent’s orbit. Some know more about the game than others. When you’re new to an industry, you don’t know where to place your trust, but you’re desperately seeking people worthy of it.

They run out of money. This is the most common one. So many people enter the game thinking their first $2500 (just to take the exam) and second $2500 (for fees and malpractice insurance) are a considerable barrier, but once they get past both, they’re home free. You haven’t even begun to spend money at that point. We’ve discussed this ad nauseam. Here’s one example.

They run out of time. As mentioned earlier, the new agent gets thrown into the fire rather quickly, and Year 1 is over almost before it starts. As an independent agent, if you don’t get a player on a roster in that first year — and only about 20 percent of independent agents pull that off — you now have two years to get it done. Maybe you make a contact here or there in scouting, get a decent referral or two in Years 2 and 3, but neither actually hit. You’ve finally built a network and kinda learned what you need to know . . . just in time for the clock to run out.

Ego, pure and simple. It sounds ridiculous, but there are still people who try to get into the industry because they want to be big shots. They want to have cool jobs that make their friends jealous. You see it all the time in their LinkedIn pages, their Instagram accounts, the pictures in their social media bios. When you enter the business with this kind of attitude, you don’t realize that there’s stuff you don’t know, and it is absolutely crucial to enter this business with humility.

2026 NFL Agent Exam: The Cost and the Risk

23 Friday Jan 2026

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Today, I found out that an ACC running back was added to the East-West Shrine Bowl roster and it almost made me laugh out loud. Here’s why.

In September, we started pitching members of the 2025 NFL agent class on the idea of working with veteran contract advisors as mentors during the 2026 draft cycle. The pitch was easy: pitch in a significant part of training fees, and in return, you’d not only be placed on the player’s SRA, but you’d also be counseled through the all-star process, on pro day, and most importantly, on Day 3 of the draft. It was a chance for the kind of growth and professional enhancement that almost no independent rookie agents ever get to experience. It looked like a win all around, and the initial response from new agents was impressive. Again, this was in September. We had about 30 who expressed interest.

By October/November, when I asked again, we were down to about 20-25.

By the time we got to December, and the time to actually write the check, the number had fallen even more. We actually wound up with less than half the original number who actually proceeded with the program. The reason I laughed is because the running back I mentioned earlier was presented as a potential fit with 2-3 agents who all passed on him for various reasons. Too risky. Well, that guy is in the No. 2 all-star game and is almost a lock for an NFL roster this summer.

The lesson here is that risk is part of the job. If it’s January, and you haven’t spent more money than you’re comfortable spending on a player who you feel confident will make an NFL roster — but who you are far from certain will make it in the league — than you’re probably not really an agent. That risk, that uncertainty, are just part of the game. That feeling in the pit of your stomach is what tells you you’re actually in the game. If you don’t feel it, it’s either because you have so little money and/or time invested that you have nothing to lose, or it’s because you don’t have a good enough handle on the business to know the odds you face.

You may be considering registering for the agent exam this summer. You may have already done it. Either way, please accept this unsolicited advice: you’re going to have to make a significant financial investment (probably $15,000 minimum), and you’re going to have to take a risk on a player who’s anything but a sure bet. That’s just part of the game. I take no joy in telling you this, but I still think it bears saying.

Best of luck, and I hope we get to work together. But whether we do or not, investment and risk will be part of your experience. Make sure that’s something you’ve accepted, and that you can handle.

2026 NFL Agent Exam: A Few First Thoughts

09 Friday Jan 2026

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In the last few days, we’ve been contacted by several people who’ve registered to take this summer’s agent exam. I tweeted about it earlier today, but sometimes a tweet just isn’t enough. Here are a few more thoughts about achieving your dreams if you aspire to represent pro football players.

Our program starts in February: As always, we’ll have monthly Zoom sessions as we systematically cover each segment of the CBA. I’d argue that no one knows the CBA better than our instructor, Chicago-based Ian Greengross. Ian has led our program for several years now and dozens of successful test-takers got good results because of Ian.

Actually, we don’t really have a program: There are services out there charging close to $2,000 for bunch of classes. If you take all our classes, i.e., our Zoom sessions, which cover the CBA comprehensively, you spend $250. Stick around for our final review and our stress test, and you’re still under $400. We even tell you in advance what topics we cover in each session, so if you already have a handle on the topics in one session, keep your money. You’re not obligated to attend. Again, no obligations.

We have a special deal for you if this is your second try: Our partners at Stratic, Shane Costa and Christian Kranz of Generation Sports Group, offer a sensational alternative program, especially if you only have one last shot. It’s a little more intensive and a little more directed. It’s a bit more of a financial commitment, but it’s worth it. Especially if it’s fourth down, figuratively speaking, but even if you’ve never taken the exam before. Contact us and we’ll get you all the details. You won’t be sorry if you choose this option.

We’re improving our popular practice exams: We’re working on converting our two practice exams, maybe our most popular pre-exam feature, into one exam that changes questions each time you take it. It will be like taking a new practice exam every time. Our goal was to get this done last year, but we got a late start. We hope to have this completed at least by May, well before the final push.

You don’t have to wait until February to order our study guide: Our first Zoom session is about six weeks off and we won’t update our practice exams for a few months. However, if you’re registered now and eager to get going on things, you can order our study guide today. It’s pricey ($400 plus tax) but probably worth double that. In fact, if you only get one thing in preparation for the exam, get our study guide. It’s a 70-page PDF. Order it and we’ll have it in your inbox within an hour.

We will work with half-to-two thirds of the rising agent class, but if you’re one of our people, you’ll find we’re devoted to helping you pass. I hope we can work together. Let’s make it happen. If you have more questions, make sure to contact us at @Insidetheleague. DMs are always open.

What To Do If You Failed the Agent Exam Twice

09 Tuesday Sep 2025

Posted by in Agent Exam, Agents, Getting started, NIL

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The day that the NFL Agent Exam results come out — in this case, last Thursday — is a very exciting one. It’s an awesome feeling to see some of the hundreds of people we work with during the pre-exam phase realize they are going to get to live their dreams, and I get to share that celebration with them.

On the other hand, for those who get bad news, there’s pretty much nothing to say to minimize the pain. That’s especially true of those who fail for a second time and who are staring at a five-year wait (and another $2500) just to try again.

Today, I’ve given a lot of thought to what to tell those people. Here’s what I came up with.

Don’t let this defeat you. Let’s start here. If you are even qualified to take the exam, you have a secondary degree and a clean record financially and criminally. This means there are a lot of things you can do in life. We estimate that about a quarter of test-takers pass on the first try and about half pass on the second try. This is easily the toughest agent exam of the four majors. If you come up short, you are far from alone, and you shouldn’t let this define you.

Consider an appeal. The testing service the NFLPA uses is far from perfect, and I’ve heard of at least one new agent who passed despite long delays (including two complete computer shutdowns in the last hour of taking the exam). I also heard about odd experiences at the testing center in July (like site officials disallowing materials the NFLPA clearly allows). If this was you, don’t be a martyr. I think you have 30 days to appeal the results. Don’t mess around. Hire an attorney if needed.

Really decide if you want to stay on this journey. There is no shame in turning around. This business eats people alive. You have talent. Decide if you want to use it on people who, in many cases, will not appreciate you. I’m just trying to be honest.

Take a sales job somewhere. For new agents, the job is not really about negotiation (popular misconception). It’s about sales. You’re selling yourself. If there’s one reason why most agents fail, it’s because they are not comfortable with the vagaries of talking to others, listening to them, figuring out their hopes and fears, and addressing them . . . which is pretty much what sales is. You won’t be able to succeed in this industry without sales talent. Oh, and one other thing.

Save your money. The other main reason people fail in this industry is lack of resources. You’re looking at $10,000, minimum, to get one player ready for the draft these days (or at least one who’s worth representing). Believe me, people try to do it without money, but the overwhelming majority fail. Go out and try to save $20,000-$30,000 in the next five years, and then come back ready for war.

Embrace life as an NIL agent. If you want to really see what this business looks like, go out and try to represent high school and college players seeking to make money in the portal or otherwise. We are in a truly unique time when there’s a chance to make lots of money representing players in a largely unregulated environment with almost no start-up costs. Success is about seizing opportunities, and there’s lots of opportunity on the NIL front. You might even realize you’re good at it and decide you don’t need to work on the NFL side. Really. That might happen.

If you’re in this difficult but select group, I hope you found this helpful and maybe even a little encouraging. I have some idea of what you went through to get here, and can only imagine the frustration. But you can still make something great happen. Just give yourself a chance.

2025 NFL Agent Exam: Hope For Those Who Didn’t Pass

05 Friday Sep 2025

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It took a little longer than expected, but after 45 days of waiting since the NFL Agent Exam on July 21, test-takers got their results today. For many, it was good news, and it’s always so much fun to join in their celebration, but for others, it wasn’t. It’s a crushing blow after so many aspiring agents pour their blood, sweat and tears into getting past that hurdle.

However, the good news (if you’ve only taken it once) is that you get another shot. I know that’s cold comfort, but it’s still true. At the same time, it’s hard to wait another year. For those people, I reached out to a few of our test-takers who got good news this year after bad news last year. Here’s what they told us about the year “off” and how to make sure the second try is better than the first.

  • “Failing the first time was tough, but it gave me the chance to reset. I took the rest of that year to relax my brain and not stress over it. Knowing I could take the test again eased that ‘waiting’ pressure which made a huge difference. By January I was ready to dive back in with a clear head. Staying engaged with ITL and Having all the resources from last year ITL test prep, plus building on them with new material and Neil’s/ ITL support, was a game-changer allowing me to pass.”
  • “I took the NFLPA exam last year and unfortunately did not pass after completing one review course. Later, I learned about the ITL Review Course, and Neil was confident that if I committed to the program and put in the work, I would succeed. I decided to trust him—and I’m so glad I did. The monthly Zoom calls and practice tests were absolutely key to my success. Neil and the ITL team were patient, encouraging, and went above and beyond—even holding Zoom calls right up to the day before the exam.”
  • “The CBA is a complex system of rules that becomes easier to understand after you appreciate the high level framework. Understanding the nuances and complexities only comes after you have a firm, high-level understanding of what the system of rules is trying to accomplish. Unfortunately, I didn’t start to view the CBA this way until after I failed the first exam and took a step back to analyze what I may have missed in my initial preparation. After failing the exam, I studied every ITL video in my archives to understand the system at a high level. With knowledge of what it feels like to take the exam, I adjusted my preparation. . . On exam day, the execution was second nature and I was successful. There comes a point where you realize the CBA is your friend and organization is paramount.”
  • “Stay organized early. Take notes by hand and review everyday. I put in two hours per day starting in May. Have a table of contents, but more importantly, understand the material and scenarios.”
  • “By not passing on the first attempt, it brought me to an extreme low but I eventually gathered myself and repeatedly envisioned passing the exam. On my second review, I was able to really focus on the areas that I needed to improve on. Since my schedule was extremely busy by running a full-time solo law practice and being a father of a 4-year-old, 3-year-old, and 10-month old, I wasn’t able to dedicate myself to a full-time review over several months. In the month leading to the exam, I used Inside the League’s resources and paid close attention to Ian’s Zoom lectures. I also took much better notes during the NFLPA Seminar. Those changes made the difference in me passing.”
  • “ITL’s study guide, practice tests, and prep sessions, along with the source materials, are all you need to pass — but do not underestimate the exam. I failed my first attempt, but did not lose hope, as I knew if I reserved enough time to prepare with the ITL materials provided, I had all of the tools necessary to pass. Sure enough, I passed on the second attempt — in large part due to ITL. Honestly, there is so much to digest when preparing for the exam, without ITL I wouldn’t have known where to begin. The guys were helpful in troubleshooting where I went wrong the first time and instrumental in my success.”

There’s plenty more to discuss when it comes to the NFL Agent Exam. If it’s something you’ve taken before, something you hope to take someday, or something you passed long ago (but that still intrigues you), read about all the particulars related to this year’s exam in today’s Friday Wrap, which comes out this evening. It’s free, and all the NFL insiders read it. Register for it here.

Getting NFLPA-Certified? Don’t Make These Three Mistakes

22 Friday Aug 2025

Posted by in Agent Exam, Agents, Getting started, NFL draft

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We’re expecting results of the 2025 NFL Agent Exam a week from today, next Friday. That would make 38 days from exam to answers, right on track with last year’s term of 39 days. If you took the exam, you’re probably getting antsy, but before you find out if you passed or not, there are a few strategic errors you need to not make.

After sifting through how every agent did (draftees, UDFAs, tryouts and signees that didn’t achieve anything), both in the 2023 and 2024 agent classes (sorry, pay links), here are a few major mistakes that were made.

Signing no one in Year 1: It seems crazy, but 49 of the 140 contract advisors certified last year didn’t sign a single player for the 2025 draft. These people waited all their lives to get certified, passed a difficult test, then got nothing out of their rookie years. Still, that’s nothing compared to the 2023 class, in which 79 of the 164 first-year agents (close to half the class) skipped out on signing anyone. But here’s the kicker — 45 of those 79 from 2023 didn’t sign a single person in their second year! Now they’re staring at a do-or-die 2026 draft. If they can’t get at least one player on a 90-man roster in 2026, they’re out of the league practically before they got started.

Signing too many players in Year 1: One member of the 2024 agent class signed 17 players and not one made it into camp this summer (just one of them even got a tryout, which seems impossible). One signed eight players and not even one of them got a tryout, much less a UDFA contract. I get it — there’s a temptation to play the numbers game, but if you sign the wrong players, you have a monumental problem because now all those players (and their parents and coaches and girlfriends) are now calling you all summer wondering when they’re gonna get signed (and they aren’t). In my estimation, 2-3 clients is the sweet spot in Year 1 (no more than four). Basically, plan on spending money on training for all your clients. Usually, the agents who sign dozens of players aren’t training them. They’re trying to beat the system, to outsmart everyone. You can’t do that.

Signing small-schoolers: This is a big mistake for two reasons. No. 1, usually a sub-FBS player won’t have a pro day, which means you’re desperately calling around, trying to find a school that will take your player. Usually, you hit a brick wall. No. 2, and more importantly, a growing number of NFL scouts aren’t spending their time poring over FCS and lower prospects, reasoning that if they had ability, they’d take the NIL money and run to a bigger school. That’s the reality in the modern era.

We’ll talk more about the agent business, the success stories and the mistakes that are made in the Friday Wrap, as always, which comes out at 7:30 p.m. later today. Want in? It’s free. Register here.

2025 NFLPA Exam: Wrapping Things Up

25 Friday Jul 2025

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As we turn the page on five months of getting hundreds of people ready for the 2025 NFL Agent Exam, we wanted to tie up a few loose ends. Here are a few last thoughts, whether you took the exam, want to take it, or have taken it.

The NFLPA’s online sessions got mixed reviews: The Players Association’s first run-through since Agent Relations chief Mark Levin retired was always going to be a little bumpy, but all in all, the feedback received was not a lot different from what we’ve heard the last 10+ years. Bottom line, if your strategy is to let the NFLPA serve as your exam prep program, you’re in deep trouble. There’s just too much content to present in a two-day period.

Don’t like math, but want to be an agent? You’re in luck: If the last two agent exams are any indication, you don’t have to be able to work simple algebra to obtain certification. Though we aggressively taught all the concepts for figuring workman’s comp offsets, injury settlements, termination pay and forfeitable salary, questions have focused more on the theoretical than on determining hard numbers of late.

There were a few repeat questions from last year’s exam: Last year, dozens of test-takers expressed surprise at a question that involved a scenario where a player pushes a coach, then punches him, during a game. Well, that question made a surprise reappearance this year.

The study guide remains a big hit: We got lots of unsolicited (positive) feedback on our study guide, which remains the best resource on the market for passing the exam. “The study guide was really helpful as a quick reference!,” said one prospective agent. Said another: “I would have been lost without your study guide and practice exam.” One more: “The study guides and practice tests have been worth their weight in gold.” On second thought, the practice exams have been pretty popular, as well. We’ll have more feedback from this year’s test-takers on our exam prep materials in the Friday Wrap (register for it here).

Extreme measures: Judging from the experiences of a couple of this year’s test-takers, some of the staffers at testing facilities have a background at TSA. At least two people showed up for the exam and had to prove they had nothing in their socks. Jackets, shoes and all manner of pockets were not off-limits.

Results are about six weeks away: So how long will it take for results to come back? Last year’s results arrived Sept. 6, a Friday. The two previous years, they came in the second Friday of September. Generally speaking, the Players Association likes to give successful test-takers about a month to round up the necessary funds to pay for liability insurance and dues (about another $2,500).

We’ll go into greater detail on our service the people we serve in today’s Friday Wrap. Register for it here.

Your One-Week Cram Strategy for the NFL Agent Exam

15 Tuesday Jul 2025

Posted by in Agent Exam, Agents, Getting started

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We preach 60 days, minimum, to prepare for the NFL agent exam. It’s a very challenging test with a very high failure rate. Of course, we still have lots of people who, for whatever reason, get a much later start. Those people need an expedited plan, obviously. We thought we’d put one together this year.

If you’re a big-time procrastinator, or you’ve been studying but suddenly realize you need some help, here’s the strategy we recommend. Disclaimer: It’s going to involve plenty of our products and services. Sorry if that sounds self-serving, but you’re going to have to come out of pocket to do this.

Here goes.

Buy our study guide. It all starts there. No study guide, you seriously impact your chances of passing. That’s why we sell lots and lots of them every year. “The study guide explains everything very simple which is great,” said one client this month. “I’m able to catch on to it quickly. Said another, also this month: “The study guide has been amazing.” We get these comments every year.

Or . . . buy our videos: Maybe you’re more of a visual learner. We have six one-hour videos for sale (February, March, April, May, June and July) that cover all the important topics in the CBA. They are $50 each, plus tax. If you prefer to watch our CBA guru, Ian Greengross, teach all the topics, order them all here. Theoretically, you could watch all six over the course of a day as a kind of self-taught CBA course. Each video lists the topics covered.

Either way, you need to spend 10-20 hours studying the guide or the videos. To me, that’s the minimum for covering the topics like split contracts, injury grievance, reading the signals report, drug policy, benefits and the like. You’re talking about a detailed 700-page document and, technically, everything in them is game for the exam. You’re probably talking about taking one or two days off from work this week. I’d also say 10-20 hours is the floor. It might take you longer to really grasp the concepts.

Listen intently to the NFLPA virtual seminars Wednesday and Thursday. This is still a legitimate way to learn the material, and NFLPA officials tend to give hints on what’s going to be tested. The problem is, they go at a breathtaking pace, so it’s hard to keep up (especially if you don’t have our study guide, which gives an excellent overview of all the key topics). You also tend to get really boneheaded questions, and the officials try to take them all seriously. This takes away from the time on task and the flow of teaching.

Take our practice exam on Friday. We actually have two, but you have to buy them in sequence, so start with Exam 1. I’d try to take it Friday morning. Don’t expect to ace it, but you’ll get a good handle on your weaknesses. Register for it here. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to get them both (Exam 2 registration is here), but at least get one of them.

This is the bare minimum that I would recommend. I’d also think you should join us for our two-hour exam review and Q&A on Saturday night at 7 p.m. (details in the Friday Wrap, which you can register for here), but I think this at least gets you to some level of competence before Monday’s exam.

Best of luck. I fear you’re going to need it.