Athletes First

Athletes First is a sports agency based in Irvine, California specializing in representing NFL football players that was founded in 2001 by David Dunn, Joby Branion, and Brian Murphy. It is now a company of nearly 20 people who make up a team of agents, marketers, and client service personnel working on behalf of there clients. Aside from the aforementioned, Dunn, Murphy, and Branion, that team includes NFL Player Agents Andrew Kessler, Mark Humenik, and Justin Schulman, as well as marketing agent Ryan Williams. All three original members of Athletes First had previously been at the sports agency Steinberg, Moorad, and Dunn, and they left SMD to form Athletes First.
Early Years
The first few years of the company were marred by a legal battle between the fledgling company and SMD’s parent company Asante. Ultimately, after much litigation, all claims were settled between the two parties and Athletes First emerged as a successful and independent company in the extremely competitive field of athlete representation.
Clients
Currently the agency represents close to 100 NFL players including Pro Bowl players and alternates Ray Lewis, Reggie Wayne, Wes Welker, Carson Palmer, Shawne Merriman, Shaun Phillips, Todd Heap, Brandon Meriweather, Brandon Jacobs, Miles Austin, Aaron Rodgers, Brian Waters, Matt Schaub, Clay Matthews, Rob Bironas, and Matt Hasslebeck. As well as emerging young stars like Jamaal Charles, Mark Sanchez, Keith Rivers, Matt Cassel, Earl Thomas, Chad Henne, Sean Weatherspoon, Aaron Ross, Toby Gerhart, John Carlson, Colt McCoy, and Zach Miller. Since its inception, the agency has represented 15 1st Round Picks in the NFL Draft, including 8 in the last 3 years, 2008-2010. Athletes First has had more players selected in the NFL Draft over the past two years, 2009-2010, than any other agency. Additionally, the agency has negotiated over a billion dollars in contracts for its NFL Clients, including record breaking deals for Palmer, Drew Bledsoe, Lewis, Sanchez, and John Lynch.
Athletes First is widely considered one of the preeminent agencies in the country for NFL player representation.
Charity Work
Athletes First is also well known for its charitable work in Orange County, California. Since 2004, it has put on the Athletes First Classic, a two day event featuring a dinner and gala, as well as a golf tournament the following day. The event occurs annually in Orange County every March, and is put on in conjunction with the charitable organization Orangewood, which is a home for underprivileged and distressed children in need. The event has raised millions of dollars for Orangewood over the last several years.

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