Michael Hoffman, an NFL agent who counts Super Bowl XLVIII MVP Malcolm Smith among his clients, has launched his own agency, Sports Law And Management.
Hoffman formed SLAM, which is based in Beverly Hills, Calif., after working for 15 years for Premier Sports & Entertainment, a Santa Monica, Calif.-based firm owned by veteran NFL agent Gary Uberstine.
Agent partings are not always happy and can sometimes result in disputes, including grievances and lawsuits, but such is not the case here, according to Hoffman and Uberstine.
“Michael’s contract ended last year, and we parted amicably but are still jointly representing the players he recruited during his time here,” Uberstine said in an email. Uberstine added that he may hire new agents or possibly acquire a sports agency.
Hoffman said starting his own firm was a natural progression in his career. “I wanted to start my own agency, and the contract I had with Premier came up and it was great timing,” he said.
Hoffman recently negotiated a two-year, $7 million deal for linebacker Smith to join the Oakland Raiders. He represents about 10 NFL players, including Pro Bowl Detroit Lions safety Glover Quin and Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Billy Turner. Hoffman and SLAM also are representing Arizona State defensive tackle Marcus Hardison, who is projected by CBS Sports as a third-round selection this year.
Hoffman, an attorney, was first certified to represent NFL players in contract talks in 1999, when he joined Premier. Both Hoffman and Uberstine formerly worked for Leonard Armato, who represented athletes including Shaquille O’Neal.
There has been a lot of movement in the NFL agent business in the last year or so, with agents splitting to form their own agencies or joining larger firms.
Hoffman said it is his intention to build his own boutique agency to represent NFL players, but he would “never say never” about selling his company in the future.
