How Leigh Steinberg Created the Model for Modern Agents

The fans remember the highlights but the franchises remember the technology, data, and inventions that powered their season. Host Tyler Kern sits down with the innovators, leaders and founders that are taking sports into the future.

 

The agent is a central part of the modern professional sports ecosystem. However, that wasn’t always the case. Leigh Steinberg was one of the first sports agents and defined this role to become what it is today. Salary Capped host Tyler Kern spoke with Steinberg, Chairman of the Board of Steinberg Sports and Entertainment, about the industry’s evolution and more.

Steinberg was in law school at Berkeley when Steve Bartkowski asked him to be his representative. He went on to be the number one pick in the NFL draft, and that was the start. “There wasn’t an organized agent model. Athletes wouldn’t deal with agents.”

With a successful career spanning four decades, Steinberg said the key was listening. “Put your heart and mind into someone else’s heart and mind. See the world the way they do,” he added.

In representing athletes, it’s much more than the finances. “We prepared plans for that but also want them to be role models and get involved with charities and the community. It’s athletes changing lives or messaging,” Steinberg said.

Steinberg has personally been philanthropic in his life, working on causes from land mines to climate to eradicating hate groups.

One of the new developments in the agent world is college athletes now being able to profit before they do pro. “The NCAA has guidelines that now they can have agents to build a brand and seek out endorsements,” Steinberg explained.

Build a personal brand is something Steinberg encourages with players. They get to control their own image now with social media. “Social media changed the game. Now they are creating their own content.”

Article by Tyler Kern.

Listen to Previous Episodes of Salary Capped Right Here!

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – @MarketScale
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

How Hotels Bounce Back From the Unexpected
How Hotels Bounce Back From the Unexpected
September 4, 2025

In this episode of Inside Restoration & Recovery, host Martha Lewis sits down with Josh Creznic, Director of Hospitality Services at BMS CAT, to unpack the unique challenges and critical priorities in hotel restoration. With over two decades of experience in hospitality—spanning major brands like Marriott and Wyndham—Josh brings deep insight into how restoration…

Read More
Built from the Dirt Up: Dillan Dumont’s Journey from Bricklayer to Industry Disruptor
September 4, 2025

With all types of infrastructure across America aging, there has never been more of a need for smarter, less disruptive solutions than now. From trenchless pipe repair to utility innovation, the construction world is shifting and young leaders like Dillan Dumont are stepping into the spotlight. Cities like New York and Chicago are facing…

Read More
mission-led
Calm First. Chaos Later: Sustaining Well-Being and Mission-Led Impact With Boundaries, Reflection, and Advocacy
September 3, 2025

Conversations about well-being are evolving beyond individual health to include the culture, values, and impact of the brands we support. Today’s connected world exposes young people to bullying across more channels than ever before. In 2024, the CDC reported that 40% of high schoolers experienced persistent sadness or hopelessness, while StopBullying.gov noted that 19.2%…

Read More
Goldey-Beacom College
Workforce Success and Innovation-Driven Growth with President Keith of Goldey-Beacom College
September 3, 2025

As higher education institutions face declining enrollments and increasing pressure from employers for skills-based learning, small colleges are rethinking their missions. A whopping 70% of U.S. employers say they struggle to find workers with the right skills, and credential-based programs are gaining traction as a solution. At the intersection of tradition and transformation, Goldey-Beacom College…

Read More