Brian Murphy

Brian Murphy is the Co-Founder, CEO, and President of Athletes First, one of the most prominent NFL player representation agencies in the United States, based in Laguna Hills, California. He co-founded Athletes First in 2001 alongside David Dunn and Joby Branion after leaving the Steinberg, Moorad & Dunn agency. Murphy is a Harvard Law School graduate and initially worked in corporate law before transitioning into sports representation. At Athletes First, Murphy oversees overall agency operations and strategy while the firm represents hundreds of clients, including NFL players, coaches, and front-office executives. The agency is widely known for negotiating major NFL contracts and representing elite talent such as Aaron Rodgers, Dak Prescott, Justin Herbert, Derwin James, and Micah Parsons. Under his leadership, Athletes First has become one of the NFL’s top agencies, with a reputation for securing record-setting contracts and maintaining a strong presence in both rookie and veteran negotiations. The firm has also expanded into marketing, media, and business ventures for athletes, including partnerships and equity opportunities designed to extend athlete brands beyond football.