The NFL Players Association is cautioning college football players about the potential risks of signing with Pathway Sports and Entertainment.
According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, several college football players, including some from Alabama’s Crimson Tide, have signed with the company to secure representation for video game deals. In response, the NFLPA issued a notice to college football agents and contract advisors outlining the risks involved.
The notice emphasized that the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA) mandates all players sign the standard NFL Player Contract, which requires them to exclusively assign their group NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) rights to the NFLPA and its licensing affiliates. The NFLPA warned that agreeing to Pathway’s terms as written could create challenges for future NFL players, potentially preventing them from fulfilling the required rights assignment and excluding them from the NFLPA’s group licensing program, which offers opportunities beyond video games.
Reports indicate that Pathway Sports and Entertainment has signed players from Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Wisconsin, Oregon, and Texas Tech.