After five decades dedicated to championing athletes at the highest level, Leigh Steinberg remains a vital force in sports management and philanthropy. His career, marked by representing countless elite players—including 64 first-round NFL Draft picks within his initial eight years—demonstrates an enduring commitment to both strategic negotiation and genuine athlete welfare.
Steinberg’s philosophy is deeply intertwined with the spirit of “Jerry Maguire,” inspiring athletes not only to pursue excellence but also to cultivate a connection with their fans through charitable endeavors. As Steinberg himself noted, “Whether it’s setting up a charitable fund at their high school, a similar thing at their colleges, charitable foundations at the professional level where they take some issue they’d like to address and set up a foundation,” he emphasizes the importance of athletes as role models.
A compelling example is Patrick Mahomes and his 15 and the Mahomies Foundation. Established in 2019, this organization is focused on improving the lives of at-risk and underserved youths. Recent updates show the foundation expanding scholarships in childhood education and reporting a remarkable contribution of $2.6 million in volunteer service hours by young people in 2024.
Steinberg has long advocated for redefining the role of an agent. He believes it extends beyond contract negotiations to encompass athlete wellbeing, stating, “I’ve been very involved with restating what an agent’s responsibility is,” adding, “I think part of it is to care for a player’s health.”
Beyond his work representing individual athletes, Steinberg dedicates significant time as the chair of the Leigh Steinberg Foundation. The foundation focuses on:
- Educating and raising awareness regarding the risks associated with athletic concussions.
- Funding proactive treatment and healing for those affected by concussions.
“In a sport like football, which is a traffic accident in every play and concussion is an ugly specter, I’ve tried to be proactive over the years,” Steinberg explained. He recalled early concerns about player safety, leading him to organize concussion conferences as early as 1994.
Through collaborations with treatment clinics IQMIND and NESTRE, the foundation has identified promising advancements in concussion care utilizing neuroplasticity principles: transcranial magnetic stimulation and neurofeedback.
Steinberg’s commitment extends to underserved communities. “We also try to provide treatment for underserved communities that don’t necessarily have a way to deal with brain health,” he said. A recent fundraising effort secured $500,000, earmarked for seminars and educational outreach aimed at parents of young athletes.
The foundation’s message is amplified by prominent voices in the sports world, including former NFL quarterback Warren Moon, legendary defensive end Bruce Smith, and retired linebacker Ray Lewis. Steinberg hopes to incorporate female soccer players into this group of advocates.
As Steinberg concluded, “There’s hope out there and people need to know they can get treatment.”
