Priority Sports is one of the largest independently owned sports agencies in the US.[1] It was founded in 1985 by Mark Bartelstein, a former investment banker at Morgan Stanley.[2]
In 2013, Priority Sports & Entertainment was named on Forbes' list of the 10 World's Most Valuable Sports Agencies and the 8 Most Valuable NFL Agencies.[3] In 2014, Priority was recognized as #7 among the World's Most Valuable Sports Agencies by Forbes, with $560 million in contract value under management.[4] In 2015, Forbes ranked Priority #20 on the list, with $947.52 million in contract value under management and $33.2 million in commissions.[5]
Priority Sports & Entertainment, fueled by its heavily sought-after client Gordon Hayward, was the big winner in 2017's NBA free agency, leading all agencies in the total dollars negotiated so far.[when?] Priority led the pack with $354.6 million negotiated for nine players.[6]
Priority Sports finished #2 among all agencies in the 2017 NFL "free agency" signing period, negotiating over $243 million in contracts (QB Kirk Cousins, WR Mike Evans, C Ryan Jensen, OG Zach Fulton, QB Josh McCown, OT Jack Mewhort, QB Jake Rudock, TE Josiah Price, FB Zach Line, LB Mike Mauti, and QB Drew Stanton), and finished #1 among all agencies worldwide for the highest percentage guarantees in their contracts.[7]
Since founding Priority Sports, Bartelstein has been rated as one of the most influential sports agents by Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal.[8] He first gained acclaim after negotiating the contract for NBA star John "Hot Rod" Williams,[2] because it made him the highest paid player in the history of team sports at the time.[9]
The company has represented more than 24 first round NBA draft picks. In the 2010 NBA draft, Priority Sports represented four athletes who were drafted in the first round, more than any other agency.[10] In the 2015 NBA draft, Priority Sports represented four first-round picks.[11] "Priority has represented 20 players, or 9.5 percent, of the first-round selections in the NBA draft over the past seven years. This year Priority represented No. 18 pick Sam Dekker, No. 22 pick Bobby Portis, No. 27 pick Larry Nance Jr. and No. 28 R.J. Hunter. Bartelstein and Priority agents Reggie Brown, Joel Cornette, Zach Kurtin, Kieran Piller and Andy Shiffman represent the players."[12][clarification needed]
Gordon Hayward (Boston Celtics) was the 9th overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft. He signed a $11,000,000 contract over four years with the Utah Jazz,[15] and remained with the team until signing a four-year, $128 million deal with the Celtics in the 2017 offseason.[16]
Priority Sports has worked with NFL athletes for over twenty years. In addition to Bartelstein, partner Rick Smith (President of Coaches, Front Office & Broadcasters), partner Mike McCartney, Kyle Dolan (Director of Football Operations), Dominique Price and partner Kenny Zuckerman (President/Athlete Representation) are agents at the company.[18][19]
Priority Sports represents the following NFL athletes:
Kirk Cousins (Minnesota Vikings) signed the largest fully guaranteed contract in NFL history, worth $84 million for three years.[20]
Mike Evans (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) became the NFL's second highest-paid receiver, with a five-year, $82.5 million contract extension.[21]
Ryan Jensen (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) is a former Ravens center who became one of the highest-paid interior linemen in football. The Buccaneers signed him to a four-year, $42 million deal, with $22 million guaranteed.[22]
Levi Jones (Cincinnati Bengals), a 2002 first-round pick, signed a six-year contract extension worth $40 million, including over $16 million guaranteed.[26]
Kurt Warner (Arizona Cardinals; retired) was the 1999 and 2001 NFL MVP, and Super Bowl XXXIV winner and MVP. He signed a two-year contract worth $24 million with $19 million guaranteed.[27]
Jake Delhomme (Cleveland Browns), a 2005 Pro Bowl quarterback, was released by the Carolina Panthers in 2010, then signed a two-year deal worth $12.5 million with the Browns during free agency. Because of contract language that was in his deal with Carolina, the Panthers still had to pay him $12,7 million in guaranteed money, bringing his 2010 salary to a total of $19,7 million.[29]
Haloti Ngata (Detroit Lions), the 12th pick in the 2006 NFL draft, signed a five-year contract worth $14 million with over $9 million guaranteed.[30] His present contract is a four-year deal worth $48.5 million, which includes a $25 million signing bonus.[31]
Olin Kreutz (Chicago Bears), a perennial Pro Bowler, signed a three-year contract extension for $25 million with a $9 million signing bonus.[32]
^MacMahon, Tim (March 2, 2018). "Average Joe Ingles is anything but for the Utah Jazz". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 2, 2018. Every mention of Ingles' free agency last summer seemingly included a reference to him being Gordon Hayward's best friend in the NBA, as well as the fact they shared an agent, Mark Bartelstein.
