The First Whistle: $51M in NIL

Lloyd Howell Jr. stepped down as Executive Director of the NFL Players Association due to several controversies, such as charging the union for expenses at strip clubs during trips in November and February and holding a part-time consulting job with a private equity firm pursuing NFL ownership, raising conflict of interest concerns. He also came under fire for not sharing details of an arbitration ruling with players. The ruling found no proven collusion among team owners to limit quarterback contracts but did state that league officials encouraged teams to restrict guaranteed money. Howell cited his presence as a distraction and resigned immediately.

👀 Read full CNN Sports article here

President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled “Save College Sports,” which prohibits third-party, pay-for-play payments to college athletes and directs the Secretary of Labor and National Labor Relations Board to clarify that athletes are amateurs, not employees. The order supports several NCAA priorities, including preserving and expanding scholarship opportunities and non-revenue sports, while allowing fair-market-value NIL deals. It does not address the NCAA’s request for antitrust exemption or federal preemption of state laws. The order also calls on multiple federal agencies to coordinate a plan to enforce its policies within 30 days, following the recent House v. NCAA settlement that enables direct revenue sharing and creates a new oversight body, the College Sports Commission.

📜 Read full On3 article here

Despite a disappointing season on the pitch, Real Madrid once again proved its dominance off it by posting a record-breaking €1.185 billion ($1.39B) in revenue for the 2024–25 fiscal year. That marks a 10.4% increase from last year and sets a new high for any professional sports franchise, surpassing even the Dallas Cowboys and LA Dodgers. While broadcast revenue dipped due to a shorter Champions League run, strong growth in commercial and match-day revenue more than made up for it. With EBITDA up 55% and a personnel-to-revenue ratio well below UEFA benchmarks, Real Madrid continues to lead the global sports business game, even as it eyes unfinished business on the field.

⚽️ Read full Yahoo Finance article here

At the WNBA All-Star Game, players from both Team Clark and Team Collier wore "Pay Us What You Owe Us" shirts in a unified call for improved pay and benefits as CBA negotiations remain unresolved. Kelsey Plum, WNBPA vice president, later noted Team Clark players were less involved in organizing the demonstration. The shirts followed a breakdown in contract talks last week, as players seek higher salaries, better revenue-sharing, and a less restrictive cap after a record-setting season. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert remains optimistic a “transformational” deal can be reached by the October deadline, amid growing league revenue from media rights, expansion fees, and sponsorships. She also addressed league goals around globalization, officiating improvements, and potentially extending the season.

🏀 Read full Fox Sports article here

The Friedkin Group has launched Pursuit Sports, a new company tasked with managing and growing its global portfolio of professional sports teams, including A.S. Roma, A.S. Cannes, and Everton F.C. Dave Beeston, a former Fenway Sports Group and Clearlake Capital executive, has been named CEO and will lead efforts to optimize operations and pursue new acquisition opportunities. Reporting to Friedkin Group Chairman Dan Friedkin, Beeston will oversee a strategy focused on long-term success, performance, and expansion. Pursuit Sports aims to leverage data-driven decision making and global resources to strengthen team leadership and build championship-caliber organizations.

📈 Read full article from The Friedkin Group here

Texas A&M student-athletes earned a reported $51.4 million in NIL compensation between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, according to public records obtained by The Eagle. Of that total, $49.2 million went to men’s sports—primarily football—and $2.2 million went to women’s. The figures highlight the growing financial impact of NIL in college athletics and are expected to rise as programs become more competitive and athletes more marketable. Former Aggies quarterback Johnny Manziel noted that in today’s NIL era, his NFL rookie contract would’ve been a pay cut compared to what he could have made staying in school, emphasizing how NIL now gives top players a real incentive to delay going pro.

🤑 Read full On3 article here

Former NFL linebacker Jaylon Smith is preparing for life after football by becoming a serial entrepreneur with the support of RISE Family Office, a North Texas firm that guides pro athletes in building long-term income. Smith, RISE’s first client, has launched ventures including a nonprofit investing $1.4 million in minority-owned startups, a life insurance agency, and restaurant franchises. RISE, which manages $250 million for 14 athletes, acts as a CEO for clients during their playing careers and transitions into an advisor role post-career. The firm connects athletes with business leaders through events like its annual symposium, aiming to bridge the gap between sports and entrepreneurship. Following the NCAA’s revenue-sharing settlement, RISE also anticipates more college athletes joining to learn how to manage and grow their earnings.

🏈 Read full D Magazine article here

Booster collectives, which account for over 80% of the projected $1.7 billion NIL market, are under threat as new rules from the College Sports Commission require all player deals over $600 to be approved and tied to a “valid business purpose.” Most collective deals—often used to support non-revenue athletes—don’t meet that criteria and could be disqualified. Lawyers for athletes in the recent $2.6 billion antitrust settlement argue this change undermines legitimate compensation. Some collectives are pausing deals or restructuring to comply, while others fear it could push NIL activity back into secrecy, reducing transparency and limiting athlete earnings.

💰️ Read full article from The Wall Street Journal here

⬆️ Scottie Scheffler. Scottie Scheffler claimed his fourth major title with a dominant four-shot win at The Open Championship, becoming the first player in the modern era to win each of his first four majors by at least three strokes. - Jack Bantock

⬆️ Bobby Wagner. Bobby Wagner became the first active NFL player to own equity in a WNBA team, joining the Seattle Storm's ownership group. The longtime Seahawks star and Super Bowl champion called the move an investment in legacy, empowerment, and the future of the game. – Patrick Andres

⬇️ University of Memphis. Despite the impressive $200 million offer made by The University of Memphis to join the Big 12, the league showed little interest, saying the move could dilute future TV deals. – Chris Vannini, Ralph D. Russo, Justin Williams

⬇️ Jerry Jones. Jerry Jones opened Cowboys camp with a series of pointed comments about key players, including Micah Parsons and Dak Prescott, regarding contract discussions and injury concerns. His remarks sparked public criticism from former pass rusher star J.J. Watt. – Charles Robinson