In the high-stakes world of NFL negotiations, there’s a specific kind of intensity that usually stays behind closed doors. You see the glitz on draft night. You see the massive numbers on the ticker. But you rarely see the guy holding the pen when the ink actually hits the paper. Brian Murphy, the co-founder and CEO of Athletes First, is that guy.
He didn't just build a successful agency. Honestly, he basically helped dismantle the old guard of sports representation to create what is now arguably the most dominant force in football. It wasn't clean. It wasn't quiet. It was a full-blown war that ended up in federal court.
The Breakup That Changed the NFL
Most people don't realize that Athletes First was born out of a massive, messy divorce. Back in the late 1990s, Murphy was a Harvard-educated lawyer working at a prestigious firm in Boston. He eventually jumped into the agent world to work for the legendary Leigh Steinberg—the man who literally inspired Jerry Maguire.
But things got ugly. Fast.
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In 2001, Murphy and fellow agent David Dunn decided they’d had enough. They left Steinberg, Moorad & Dunn to start their own shop. They took about 50 NFL clients with them. Imagine that for a second. Half a hundred professional athletes just up and left the most famous agent in the world to follow two guys into a brand-new startup. Steinberg didn't take it lying down. He sued for $40 million, claiming they "crushed" his business.
During the trial, a video deposition surfaced where Murphy admitted he told his father-in-law he wanted to "crush" Steinberg because he couldn't stand him. It was raw. It was personal. And yet, through five years of litigation, Murphy and Dunn didn't blink. They focused on one thing: putting the athlete first. That’s not just a cute name; it was a middle finger to the corporate, ego-driven model of the 90s.
Why Athletes First Actually Won
You’ve gotta wonder how they survived that. Litigation is expensive. Bad press is a killer. But while the lawyers were arguing in court, Murphy was busy reinventing how agents talk to players.
He stayed focused.
He realized that if you treat a player like a family member instead of a commission check, they don’t care about the lawsuits. Clients like Drew Bledsoe and Ryan Ramczyk stayed loyal. Later, they started landing the big fish. Patrick Mahomes? Athletes First. Deshaun Watson? Athletes First. Justin Herbert? Same thing.
The agency has consistently led the NFL in first-round draft picks. From 2020 through 2023, they actually had the most first-rounders of any agency, four years in a row. That’s not a fluke. It’s a machine.
The "Family" Business and the $2.9 Billion Flex
Murphy often talks about "the Athletes First way." Kinda sounds like corporate speak, right? But in the agent world, it basically means they’ve built a vertical where they handle everything from the contract to the player’s charity work and even their post-career transition.
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They aren't just one-man shows. Murphy has a knack for finding and keeping talent. He hired David Mulugheta as an intern, and now Mulugheta is one of the most powerful men in sports. He brought in Todd France from CAA. He built a culture where the agents actually seem to like each other, which is rare in a business where people usually stab each other in the back for a 3% cut of a rookie deal.
By early 2025, the agency was managing nearly $3 billion in active player contracts. That is a staggering amount of leverage to have over the NFL.
Controversy and the Hard Truths
It hasn't all been Super Bowl parties and record-breaking deals. Murphy has had to navigate some of the darkest moments in his clients' lives. When Aaron Hernandez died in prison, Murphy was vocal, even tweeting his disbelief that Hernandez would take his own life. More recently, in late 2025, he had to handle the tragic passing of former client Doug Martin, speaking candidly about the mental health struggles athletes face behind the scenes.
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Being an agent isn't just about the money. It's about being the guy who gets the 3:00 AM phone call when things go sideways.
What’s Next for Brian Murphy and Athletes First?
The agency isn't just a football shop anymore. They’ve expanded into coaching (representing some of the biggest names on the sidelines), and they’ve recently partnered with Sinclair’s AMP Sports to move into sports media and "fan experiences."
Murphy is looking at other sports too. He’s gone on record saying the "Athletes First way" works for any type of representation. Whether that’s baseball, basketball, or even non-sports talent remains to be seen, but with the capital from Dentsu and recent venture capital interest from firms like MASTRY Ventures, the war chest is full.
Actionable Takeaways for Navigating the Agency World
If you’re looking at how Brian Murphy built this empire, there are a few real-world lessons you can apply, whether you’re an athlete or a business owner:
- Culture Over Recruiting: Murphy doesn't just hire "closers." He hires people who are "givers." If you're building a team, look for people who prioritize the client’s success over their own ego.
- Leverage Transparency: In high-stakes negotiations, Murphy’s philosophy is to be 100% transparent. Educate the other side on why the deal makes sense for them too.
- The Power of Loyalty: When Murphy was sued, his clients could have bailed. They didn't because he had already invested in the relationship before the crisis hit.
- Diversify the Platform: Don't just do one thing. Athletes First succeeded because they moved into marketing, hospitality (like their "The Block" Super Bowl events), and coaching.
The reality is that Brian Murphy Athletes First is a case study in what happens when you decide to break the rules of an established industry. It took a Harvard lawyer with a bit of a grudge to realize that in a business built on people, the people should probably come first.