Jalen Hurts’ five-year, $255 million extension with the Philadelphia Eagles made headlines in April 2023. Nicole Lynn, his agent, had negotiated $179.3 million in guarantees and the first no-trade clause in Eagles history.
That clause gave Hurts a say in where he could be sent. The guarantees set out how much of the deal he could count on, and when. Those terms help explain the work an agent does.
Hurts’ contract is one of many behind a figure reported in a 2025 study by Diverse Representation and Wasserman: Black women sports agents have negotiated more than $1 billion in professional athlete contracts. The figure refers to the reported value of the deals and includes work across several sports and firms.
The study also found that Black women make up 2.3% of NFL Players Association-certified agents and 2% of agents certified by the National Basketball Players Association. More than 87% run their own firms.
The Deal Is more than Its Headline
Hurts did not receive $255 million when he signed. The money is spread across five years, and the guarantees have their own terms. Of the $179.3 million described as guaranteed, $110 million was guaranteed at signing. Another $16.5 million was scheduled to become fully guaranteed the following March.
The no-trade clause added another kind of protection. An agent works through details like these alongside the total value, because the language of a contract shapes what a player can expect.
Lynn has represented players at different stages of their careers. Quinnen Williams was selected third overall by the New York Jets in 2019 and signed a four-year, $96 million extension with them in 2023. In 2025, Lynn negotiated a four-year, $160 million extension for Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett.
Somebody has to be their advocate. — Nicole Lynn
Before becoming an agent, Lynn studied business, worked as a financial analyst, earned a law degree, interned at the NFL Players Association and practiced litigation. She joined PlayersRep in 2015, later moved to Young Money APAA Sports, then took her clients to Klutch Sports Group in 2021. Klutch named her president of football operations in 2023.
Her connection with Hurts started with a message on Instagram after his final college game. Lynn had attended the University of Oklahoma and lived in Houston, where Hurts grew up. She also represented Alabama players, including Williams. Those connections helped get a meeting.
For NFL contract negotiations, the players’ association caps an agent’s fee at 3% of the compensation the player receives. The agent and player can agree to less. The fee is based on their agreement and the compensation paid over time; it is not simply 3% of the deal’s headline value upfront. Endorsement work is separate.
Athletes may earn money from brand partnerships as well as playing contracts.
A Different Route Into Representation
Shetellia Riley Irving spent 13 years in entertainment and media before becoming Kyrie Irving’s agent. She was BET’s vice president of ad sales when Kyrie asked her to represent him in 2022. She earned NBPA certification and became the only Black woman then representing an active NBA player.
BET really gave me a compass for understanding the art of negotiation. — Shetellia Riley Irving
In July 2023, Riley Irving negotiated Kyrie’s return to the Dallas Mavericks on a three-year deal reported at $126 million. He had been traded from Brooklyn to Dallas during the season. When free agency came around, he decided against meeting with other teams after Dallas made its offer.
Riley Irving is CEO of A11Even Sports, a boutique representation agency. The job involves more than negotiations: firms manage contracts and maintain relationships with teams and brands as a player’s career changes.
Building a Firm of Their Own
More than 87% of Black women agents run their own firms, according to the 2025 study. It also describes limited advancement opportunities at mid-to-large agencies. Starting a firm gives an agent more say in how it operates. The founder then has to build the staff, relationships and support the business needs.
CREED Sports & Entertainment was founded in 2021 by Tamika Hrobowski, Tabetha Plummer and Tracey Carney, who had connected through professional work. Plummer had experience as an NBPA-certified agent. CREED later represented eight football players, including safety Gabriel Taylor.
Hrobowski had seen what it was like to work without the standing she wanted. Andscape reported that she was introduced at events as staff from an office rather than as a partner, and that she was sometimes left out of information about clients. She said the experience helped lead her to start CREED with two other Black women.
Running an independent agency has its own pressures. A small roster can make it easier to stay in close contact with clients, but a small firm may have fewer people and less money for recruiting, travel, legal coordination and marketing. The business still has to serve clients through injuries, team changes and stretches between contracts.
That is the context around the billion-dollar figure. Black women agents have negotiated contracts with substantial reported value while remaining a small share of certified agents in the NFL and NBA. Many have built firms of their own. The study measures the deals; it leaves open how those firms will grow and how much of the business they help create they can retain.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the $1 billion figure measure?
It is the reported value of professional athlete contracts negotiated by Black women sports agents, according to a 2025 study by Diverse Representation and Wasserman. It does not measure agents’ commissions or personal income.
How much does an NFL agent earn from a player contract?
NFLPA rules cap an agent’s fee for negotiating a player contract at 3% of compensation received. The agent and player can agree to a lower fee. The amount earned depends on their agreement and the compensation paid.
Which deals show the scale of this work?
Nicole Lynn negotiated Jalen Hurts’ five-year, $255 million Eagles extension and Myles Garrett’s four-year, $160 million Browns extension. Shetellia Riley Irving negotiated Kyrie Irving’s reported three-year, $126 million return to Dallas.
Do Black women agents work only in football?
No. The 2025 study includes agents across MLB, the NFL, NBA and WNBA. The examples here include NFL representation and an NBA contract negotiated by Shetellia Riley Irving.
Why do many Black women agents start independent firms?
More than 87% operate their own firms, according to the study. Agents cited limited advancement opportunities at mid-to-large agencies. An independent firm gives its founder more control and responsibility for building the business.
Are contract totals the same as player earnings?
No. A contract’s headline value is paid over time and may include guarantees and incentives. It doesn’t say what a player receives at signing or keeps after fees, taxes and expenses.
