Roosevelt Barnes

Roosevelt Barnes is a former NFL linebacker and veteran sports executive who serves as President of Football at Independent Sports & Entertainment (ISE), one of the long-established athlete representation agencies in the United States. He has been certified by the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) since the late 1980s and has spent more than three decades working in NFL contract negotiation and player representation. Barnes played professional football as a linebacker for the Detroit Lions and Indianapolis Colts after a collegiate career at Purdue University, where he was also a multi-sport athlete. Following his playing career, he transitioned into sports management and became a partner and contract advisor, eventually helping build and lead major NFL representation divisions. As a sports agent, Barnes has been widely recognized for his long-term role in representing elite NFL talent. Over his career, he has negotiated contracts for numerous high-profile players, including Pro Bowl and All-Pro athletes, and has been involved in major free agency and draft negotiations across multiple decades. His client portfolio has included players such as Walter Jones, Ray Lewis, Ndamukong Suh, and others.