Elton Patterson has faced some of the toughest men on earth as a former defensive end in the National Football League. The 6’2, 270 pound University of Central Florida alum played for the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Cincinnati Bengals.  Now, he is faces a new challenge in the cut-throat business end of the sport as one of the few black agents. 

As the owner of Franchise Sports Agency in Tallahassee, FL, much of Patterson's time consists of traveling across the country to meet with league executives and NFL owners on behalf of his clients to handle contract negotiations and secure the best possible deals. He also spends time advising players on their finances, playing motivator to keep them ahead of their competition and even psychologist, counseling them through hard times. Patterson works with players like Tevin Floyd of the Arizona Cardinals and the Atlanta Falcons' Reggie Davis, among others.

“I am a man of many roles and responsibilities,” he says.

In the NFL, where 70 percent of players are black, one might think his presence is sorely needed, considering the virtually non-existent minority representation in executive and ownership positions. Most players do not have many agents who look like them. However, Patterson believes most players are not even aware that black agents are a viable option, and the ones that do are accustomed to the age-old pattern of signing with white ones.

“I am one of the few black agents in the league, and not only that, I played,” Patterson said. “I know this system. Still, I literally have to fight tooth and nail at times for players to sign with me because they are so used to how things have always been.”

With the continued spread of protests throughout the league and the disturbing comments by Houston Texans owner Robert McNair, talk about unity and access for blacks on the business side of the NFL is frequent. With many players speaking out, taking knees and raising fists, Patterson thinks there is one missing piece — a common goal. He believes the protests would be more efficient if everyone was on one accord.  

“I know these guys are passionate and truly care about their cause, but I am not sure they are all on the same page with regards to what they want out of the situation. It has many layers," he said. “It is extremely important to understand the system and how things are set up in the NFL. This system was designed many years ago,  mainly for the purpose of making a profit off of the players. Until black people have ownership interests and a seat at the table, nothing will change. These players have tremendous power, power they don't event realize. If they can come together on a united front, they can really shake things up."

He made an important point by saying, “Just observe, and you will notice the majority of black athletes are currently represented by white agents. Many of these agents have different agendas than the players and are advising them to remain quiet about some of the issues that matter most to them for fear of losing an endorsement and so on. Perhaps this is where players can come together and say, hey, there are black agents who are equally capable and who understand our background and where we stand on certain issues."

Numbers show that for every 10 athletes that black agents get to work with, there are hundreds more that they can’t even get access to.

“With all of the things Colin Kaepernick has been through because of his fight against social injustice, does he have a black agent? I think that is something to think about."

Moving forward, Patterson is invested in encouraging the black athletes he represents to think beyond the field and towards positions of leadership and ownership after their playing days are over. Without more black faces as the decision-makers, the push for equality in America's favorite sport will fall short of the mark.