Of the top 10 current highest-paid CFB coaches, five of them have the same agent. Interestingly, Jimmy Sexton’s influence doesn’t just stop with college football. From Matthew Stafford and CeeDee Lamb to A.J. Brown, Sam Darnold, and Ryan Kelly, Sexton’s client list reads like a Pro Bowl roster. The reported total amount for contract negotiations stands at north of $3 billion. Now that we know about the super agent, let’s deep dive into his career, as he will complete 4 decades in 2027.

Who is Jimmy Sexton, and how did he build his sports agency powerhouse?

Jimmy Sexton, co-head of CAA’s football division, runs deals at one of the world’s top sports agencies. But it started in a very unexpected way. After graduating from Tennessee in 1986, Sexton signed his first client. It was his roommate and future Hall of Famer, Reggie White. Although law school was the plan, an opportunity at a sports agency changed everything. Still, the tag of a super agent is not what he wants.

I don’t really understand it,” Sexton said. “I don’t try to be influential. I just try to build good relationships. In this business, it’s all about the relationships you have with your clients and the people who are hiring them.” Over time, he has built strong connections with CFB programs’ ADs and GMs. Interestingly, those connections might become the solution for many future coaching vacancies, as everyone knows about Sexton’s massive client list. From former Alabama legend Nick Saban to Georgia’s current head coach Kirby Smart, his influence reaches nearly every top program.

Who are the biggest names on Jimmy Sexton’s college football roster?

His client roster includes names like Kalen DeBoer, Steve Sarkisian, Mike Norvell, Lane Kiffin, James Franklin, Smart, and even Saban. Now, while his clients’ success keeps him at the center of every conversation about the coaching business, this past Saturday, his name trended online amid rumors of Sarkisian.

Although the Texas coach didn’t hold back after The Athletic reported that Sarkisian’s reps had signaled his interest in NFL HC openings. But Sexton and CAA swiftly stepped in to squash the chatter, confirming that Sarkisian remains fully committed to the Longhorns. “Any reports regarding communications on coaching opportunities with NFL teams are patently false and wildly inaccurate,” said Sexton and Ed Marynowitz of CAA. “Sark is solely focused on coaching the University of Texas football team.” Even Saban had to clarify his future and wanted to stay retired despite his super agent’s influence.

“I do not want (Jimmy Sexton) anywhere near Miss Terry. Because when she hears some of these numbers, she gets interested. And I’m not interested.” This clearly states that behind the scenes, other programs are reaching out to Jimmy Sexton. Saban couldn’t resist joking about his reach.

How Jimmy Sexton shapes college football contracts and coaching trends

Jimmy Sexton isn’t just an agent. Safe to say, he’s a game-changer in college football. Take Nick Saban’s case, for example. LSU’s SEC championship hero of 2001 and the coach everyone wants, the Tigers are chasing him after firing Brian Kelly. Analysts like Joel Klatt and Clay Travis are already urging LSU to call Sexton, hoping to lure Saban back, even if it means a jaw-dropping $25–100 million deal. It proves Sexton’s network and negotiation prowess make him the unseen force behind these high-stakes moves.

While Forbes estimated his commissions at $31 million in 2020 and around $23.1 million in 2023, all from negotiating approx $613M in deals, his influence reaches the sport’s elite.

Is Jimmy Sexton too powerful in college football?

Mark Schlabach of ESPN once called Jimmy Sexton one of the most powerful agents in CFB. Besides, Sexton represents around 14 SEC HCs and several NFL leaders, cementing his spot on Forbes’ “World’s Most Powerful Sports Agents” list twice. While his deals drive coaching salaries sky-high, forcing programs to spend more to stay competitive, critics argue it’s “collusion against the universities.”

Moreover, representing multiple top coaches sometimes put him in tricky spots in CFB. However, then Ole Miss’ HC Hugh Freeze explained it once perfectly, stating, “If a job came open and another one of Jimmy’s guys was up for it, I don’t think he has the power to tell an athletics director, ‘Here’s your guy.’ He would push both equally.” Following that, a perfect example came in Florida in 2014.

Jimmy Sexton represented both Will Muschamp and Jim McElwain during the coaching shuffle, helping negotiate McElwain’s $7M buyout while landing Muschamp a $1.6M assistant coaching deal at Auburn. Due to that, Florida AD Jeremy Foley said, “Obviously, Jimmy was Will’s agent and he’s Mac’s agent, but he didn’t push Jim McElwain on us… In my dealings with Jimmy, the bottom line is I find him trustable. He’s been a straight shooter and I respect him for that.”

While Sexton navigated the chaos of coaching changes with skill, proving why he’s both feared and respected in CFB, we’ll see how he continues to shape the present.