Congratulations to Leigh Steinberg. After struggling with alcoholism, the former agent for Troy Aikman, Steve Young, Warren Moon, Ben Roethlisberger and many other prominent quarterbacks in the NFL (along with premier professionals in other sports) is three-years sober. He is an adjunct professor of Sports Law at Chapman University, a contributing writer to Yahoo!, FORBES and The Huffington Post, and the author of an autobiography due to be published in 2014.
Steinberg is also once again a sports agent. He passed the 2013 NFLPA Contract Advisor examination and just recently announced the launching of his new sports and entertainment company, Steinberg Sports and Entertainment.
It is hard not to feel happy for Steinberg. His story is one of tremendous highs, troubling lows and yet again the chance to achieve personal success. If you ask Steinberg, he would probably tell you that he is already there — the fact that he defeated alcoholism is a win. Then again, he cares too much about his clients and potential clients to be content. We are talking about the agent who crusaded against the NFL’s concussion policy long before any lawsuits were filed and potential multi-million dollar settlements reached.
Steinberg wants to once again represent NFL, NBA and MLB players and coaches. At sixty-four years of age, he is not going to let anyone tell him he cannot do it. And the little reported story is that others (with money) believe in him.
According to the Houston Chronicle, three Houston-based businessmen are financially backing Steinberg as he gets ready to start recruiting new clientele. In fact, Steinberg eventually plans to open up an office in Houston, Texas. The businessmen are Scott Irwin (owner of Apex Steel Pipe & Piling Inc.), Andy Priest (CEO at TRE Financial Services) and William Dore Jr.
Steinberg hopes that the financial assistance will help him secure the resources needed to effectively compete with a new breed of agents.
“Our goal with this organization is to change the world again,” said Steinberg. “We have done it before, and it’s still the core of our mission – to be agents of change to improve people’s lives and use the power of sports, branding and media to make the world a better place.” At least the Houston-based businessmen believe in him and feel it is worth whatever risk there may be to bet on football agent Leigh Steinberg.
