BRIAN MURPHY
OWNER
ATHLETES FIRST
WHY: Started Laguna Hills-based football agency with partner David Dunn in 2001. The two notable agents established the firm after stepping away from the former Steinberg Moorad & Dunn. Firm counts 100+ clients, including Minnesota Vikings’ Harrison Smith and New Orleans Saints’ Ryan Ramczyk. Specializes in marketing and negotiations. The company is also actively involved in charity. Has satellite offices in New York City, Gainesville, Florida, Austin and Atlanta.
IN THE NEWS: Tory Dandy, one of football’s most respected and successful agents, became an equity partner in the summer. He joins agents who have secured numerous record-setting contracts at Athletes First, including David Mulugheta, Todd France, Kyle McCarthy, Justin Schulman, Ryan Williams and Joe Panos. In August, Athletes First announced a collaboration with Sinclair, combining the agency’s marquee events and talent with Sinclair’s expansive sports media platforms. As part of the deal, Sinclair will serve as the exclusive media partner for Athletes First’s signature events, The Block and the Tailgate Tour.
NOTABLE: Athletes First represented four players who were picked in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft: Taliese Fuaga (14th pick), Dallas Turner (17th pick), Brian Thomas Jr. (23rd pick) and Tyler Guyton (29th pick). Other clients include NFL players Dak Prescott, Derwin James, Justin Herbert and Micah Parsons.
QUOTABLE: “Dreams are not achieved instantaneously. If you believe in your vision, keep incrementally getting better and then all of sudden a dream partner like Sinclair’s AMP Sports enters the picture, thereby surpassing all those dreams.
