Smarter about Sports: My Life Navigating Athletes, Agents, Media, and the Business of the NFL

A thoughtful, clear-eyed exploration of a sports industry driven by three essential forces: leverage, money, and relationships.

"You make us all smarter." That's what ESPN's Mike Tirico once told Andrew Brandt--and it's the foundation of this illuminating, behind-the-scenes memoir from one of the most trusted voices in sports business.

For more than two decades, Andrew Brandt has lived at the intersection of money, law, and sports--first as a player agent, then as vice president of the Green Bay Packers during the franchise's most iconic quarterback transition, and now as a widely respected educator and analyst for ESPN and Sports Illustrated.

In this new book, Brandt pulls back the curtain on the modern sports industry, revealing what really happens behind the deals, decisions, and drama. With sharp insight and rare access, he explores the true dynamics between players, agents, general managers, and owners, as well as the often-invisible legal and financial forces shaping every major move in sports today. From negotiating with Brett Favre and drafting Aaron Rodgers to navigating Ricky Williams' roller-coaster career to helping launch the NFL's European expansion, Brandt's journey offers a masterclass in how sports really work.

For die-hard NFL fans and curious spectators, this essential read illuminates the game behind the games we love.

Andrew Brandt is a nationally recognized thought leader in sports business, law and policy. A former sports agent and executive--having worked with top athletes such as Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, and Boomer Esiason before serving as vice president of the Green Bay Packers for nine years--Brandt has brought his unparalleled credibility and unique perspective to academic and media since 2009.

Brandt is professor of practice and the executive director of the Moorad Center for the Study of Sports Law at Villanova University's Charles Widger School of Law. He is the author of a weekly newsletter, the Sunday Seven, and hosts the podcast The Business of Sports with Andrew Brandt. He has also been a regular contributor to ESPN and Sports Illustrated throughout his career and has consulted with the Philadelphia Eagles, Vayner Sports, the University of Louisville Athletics, and several other professional and collegiate sports entities.

Brandt and his wife, Lisa, live outside of Philadelphia and have two sons.