What does it really take to be a sports agent in the modern era of NIL, the transfer portal, revenue sharing, and constantly changing college football?
On this episode of The Gametime Guru, Shane Larson sits down with longtime professional sports agent Brian Levy, Founder and CEO of Goal Line Football.
Brian has been an NFLPA-certified agent since 1990 and has spent more than three decades representing players and coaches while watching the business of football completely transform.
From NFL contracts and coaching negotiations to NIL agreements involving athletes who are still in high school, Brian provides an inside look at what athlete representation really looks like in 2026.
We discuss how Brian unexpectedly became a football agent after a chance encounter at a sneaker store, why relationships became the foundation of his entire career, and why honesty and loyalty still matter in an increasingly transactional sports industry.
We also dive deep into the modern college football landscape, including:
- How NIL has changed the role of a sports agent
- The impact of the transfer portal and revenue sharing
- What high school athletes should consider before choosing a college
- Why young athletes need to understand taxes, LLCs, saving, and investing
- How parents can prepare themselves for NIL negotiations and recruiting
- The dangers of inexperienced people negotiating deals for athletes
- Why Brian believes the obsession with building an athlete's "personal brand" is often overhyped
- What actually creates a valuable brand for an athlete
- Why NFL organizations continue to make mistakes when hiring head coaches
- Why being a great coordinator doesn't automatically make someone a great head coach
- The story behind Mike Tomlin getting his opportunity with the Pittsburgh Steelers
- Why relationships, trust, honesty, and loyalty have defined Brian's career
Brian also shares some powerful perspective from more than 35 years in the sports business, including why he doesn't measure success simply by money or the number of clients he represents.
For Brian, success is about the relationships he has built and the impact people have had on one another along the way.
If you're a high school athlete, college athlete, parent, coach, sports agent, athletic administrator, sports business professional, or college football fan, this conversation provides a fascinating look behind the curtain at the rapidly changing business of football.
Learn more about Brian Levy and Goal Line Football:
www.goallinefootball.com
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Special thanks to Nation's Best Football for their continued support of The Gametime Guru.
Nation's Best Football is dedicated to showcasing football talent across every level of the game, from youth and high school football to college and professional athletes, while helping athletes gain exposure and understand opportunities surrounding their personal brand and NIL.
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The Gametime Guru with Shane Larson
Helping you see sports through a different lens.
