New York Giants wide receiver Russell Shepard is only 29 years old, but he’s already busy preparing for life after football.
In Indianapolis this week at the 2020 NFL Combine, Shepard was working on his future, and the future of how agents handle the business.
Shepard, who wants to be an agent when he retires from the NFL, was at the NFL Combine laying the groundwork for his second career. Over the past two off-seasons, Shepard interned with the league and spent two weeks before the Combine in Washington, D.C. learning how the salary cap works. It’s all part of a plan.
“I don’t want to be the agent of old times,” Shepard told NJ Advance Media. “I want to be a modern-day agent, and that’s a life coach, a mentor on and off the field, that’s a guy that can help you maximize your brand. I think I can help these guys step into that role. The NFL and NFLPA want more former players as agents, and I’m here learning everything I can.”
In order to be certified by the NFL, an agent must have a graduate or law degree or have played seven seasons. Shepard just completed his seventh NFL season.
Shepard began his playing career with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2013 as an undrafted free agent and then played four seasons in Tampa Bay before signing with the Carolina Panthers in 2017. In 2018, Shepard was inked to a one-year deal with the Giants. He was re-signed last year but placed on IR in late September with a foot sprain.
If his playing days are over, that would be fine with Shepard. He’s ready for the challenge of assisting fellow players with their careers, something he’s already been doing for years now. He plans on breaking new ground as an agent who can personally relate to the plight of players.
“Agents are typically the failing lawyer who doesn’t want to practice law anymore and sees another opportunity,” Shepard said. “You don’t even need to be a lawyer to be an agent, which I don’t think a lot of guys understand. I think the game needs more player-agents.”
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