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Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie talks to his most trusted adviser, general manager Howie Roseman.
Love him or hate him, Howie Roseman has traditionally earned praise from his NFL peers. The Philadelphia Eagles general manager is seen as the ultimate power broker, a guy who comes to the negotiating table with all his ducks in a row.
Roseman received pats on the back for his masterful navigation of the 2022 draft. Pass to Jordan Davis. Trade for AJ Brown. Added Haason Reddick, Kyzir White, James Bradberry in free agency. The Eagles are loaded on paper.
None of this is accidental, says legendary NFL agent Leigh Steinberg. He has long been a fan of Roseman’s work and has never had a problem negotiating a deal with the Eagles.
“Really positive with Howie Roseman and positive with Jeffrey Lurie,” Steinberg told Heavy. “Howie is really well-connected, he’s aware of an incredible amount of information, he makes sense. They’re forward-looking. And in terms of approach, they have a holistic approach. So the fact that Jeffrey has owned the team for so long and Howie is there, gives them continuity and stability that is critically important.
Steinberg, of course, is a living legend in the world of sports agencies. He has done so for 48 years while representing Steve Young, Troy Aikman, Warren Moon, Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas and Ben Roethlisberger. Jerry Maguire was based on Steinberg’s career. He knows football. He knows contracts.
“You make strategic suggestions, it’s ultimately the choice of the player, but he’s looking for advice,” Steinberg said of negotiating quarterback contracts. “You use your best judgment when it comes to timing. If you have the right timing and the player starts to reach the point where you can sign a new contract, then you do. If you’re missing something, then that’s a problem.
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Steinberg tackles NFL concussion problem
Concussions are arguably the biggest problem in professional football. There were 187 concussions in the 2021 season, compared to technically 172 in 2020 – although there were no pre-season games in 2020 due to COVID-19. The NFL says the “concussion rate has gone down overall” without those three games on the schedule.
Things are looking up, especially with the groundbreaking research now available to analyze head injuries. Preventing them is impossible but curing them is and Steinberg is the diviner. His homework on healing modalities — things like stem cells, hyperbaric oxygen, LED therapy, brain boosting and rTMS sessions — have the potential to be a game-changer.
“I’ve been like Anthony Bourdain exploring the best foods, only it’s an exploration of new breakthroughs and new protocols,” Steinberg said. “If you thought athletes can’t get bigger or stronger, they can. If you thought a wound could never be healed, it can…and faster.
Steinberg threw himself into the work. Literally, completely immersed. The 73-year-old NFL agent underwent 150 mild stem therapies and 150 hyperbaric sessions, while detonating 150 stem cells in his brain. The result? He feels good: bad knees healed; slightly improved sciatica, brain works better.
“I think I’m bionic now,” Steinberg said. “[Stem cells] injected into my brain through the spinal cord, I think my cognitive functioning is reasonable. I had pain in my knees, I had pain in my knees, but this pain disappeared. I know that cognitively you have to leave it to others, it has had a dynamic effect for me and I know it can help athletes and more of the population.
Baby boomers are part of this larger population. For now, Steinberg’s target audience is professional sports franchises (NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB) as well as college programs and some high schools. His own clients are already exposed to his “nine modalities” and the goal is to have them available in locker rooms across the country within a year and a half.
Steinberg said: “Also, the goal is to expose professional teams, leagues, player associations to this and see, will they buy the equipment? Will they send their players to places of healing? Some of them are [costly] but some of them are quite manageable.
Remember, this could be the difference between winning and losing. Improved genetics in athletes, particularly in cognitive brain function, can lead to longer careers and more clutch performance. More Super Bowl MVPs, fewer vet minimums.
“If you can speed up the healing process, that makes a big difference,” Steinberg said. “Is there a way to speed up performance in critical situations? At the end of a game? Can you find a way to build stamina? Productivity? High performance? Mental focus? There are. That’s why I started to explore these different modalities.
“At the cutting edge of technology” Jeffrey Lurie, Andy Reid Memories
Steinberg runs Steinberg Sports & Entertainment, a full-service agency that has represented 12 Hall of Famers over the years. Patrick Mahomes is the most high-profile client on their current roster, so Steinberg has had many interactions with Andy Reid.
He couldn’t remember a funny story about the former Eagles coach, but he shared the following: “My God, that’s the quarterback whisperer. And a great head coach, and Patrick feels blessed to have him.
Steinberg also has a soft spot for Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie. It has been at the forefront of green energy and environmental protection since 2010.
“Among other things, I’m most proud of Jeffrey because it’s being the greenest team around,” Steinberg said. “He was at the forefront of greening their facilities and everything else.”
