The Montag Group has signed recently retired NFL running back DeMarco Murray and is in talks about broadcasting jobs for him, hopefully for this upcoming season.
“We are already in discussions with multiple networks about DeMarco and we feel comfortable that we will be able to find him something,” said Sandy Montag, TMG CEO. Montag is representing Murray in the talks with Gideon Cohen, TMG senior vice president, talent.
Murray retired from the NFL on July 13 after playing seven seasons in the league with the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans. Drafted out of Oklahoma by the Cowboys in 2011, he was a three-time Pro Bowler and was the 2014 Offensive Player of the Year.
Murray could be a game or studio analyst for either college or pro football, but TMG was mainly focused on NFL jobs, Montag said. Generally speaking, the auditioning and hiring season for NFL broadcasting jobs runs from April through June, Montag said.
“But there are always exceptions,” he added. “We have done deals right up to the end of August for some people. When there is a superstar who decides out of training camp, ‘You know what, I am not going to do it this year, I want to be a broadcaster,’ they [network executives] are going to find room.”
TMG signed Murray as part of an alliance it formed with sports marketing firm Rubicon Talent in February 2017. Under the joint venture, Rubicon helps TMG’s clients, who include several top sports broadcasters, get marketing deals, while TMG works with Rubicon clients to develop content and broadcasting opportunities.
“It’s exactly why we formed our partnership with The Montag Group,” Dave Maryles, Rubicon partner and founder, said of TMG representing Murray in broadcasting work. Maryles has represented Murray since he graduated from Oklahoma in 2011 with a degree in communications. Murray has been interested in a career in broadcasting for a long time and has been working with a broadcasting coach for the past few months.
Murray was represented on the field by SportsTrust Advisors.
■ WME SIGNS THOMAS: WME has signed recently retired Cleveland Browns left tackle Joe Thomas for broadcasting and other off-the-field work.
Jordan Bazant, who counts former quarterback-turned-broadcaster Troy
Aikman among his clients, is leading the team representing Thomas. WME agents Josh Levy, Braden Currier and Kate Urquhart are also on the team representing him. He was represented on the field by Authentic Athletix.
Taken with the No. 3 overall pick out of Wisconsin by the Browns in the 2007 NFL draft, Thomas played his entire 11-year career in Cleveland. During that time he was a 10-time Pro Bowler and seven-time first-team All-Pro selection and is seen by many as a lock for the hall of fame.
Liz Mullen can be reached at lmullen@sportsbusinessjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @SBJLizMullen.
