NIL Contract Review: Protect Your Money and Your Future
If you’re being told to “just sign it,” slow down. Or if you’re focusing entirely on the dollar figure, drop the pen. NIL contract review can be the difference between a great opportunity and a long-term problem. NIL deals are real contracts, and the fine print is often where athletes lose leverage, money, and options.
The pressure is real: a brand (or collective) wants an answer today, your season is moving fast, and everyone says the paperwork is “standard.” But fine print can quietly change the value of the deal: how you get paid, what you must deliver, and what happens if you get injured, benched, or your role changes. NIL contracts don’t automatically pause when your season changes, and some terms are written to shift risk onto the athlete.
Most athletes believe an NIL agreement is simple: post content, show up, get paid. In reality, many NIL deals operate more like employment-style contracts: ongoing duties, strict timelines, broad rights to your name/image, and exit terms that can matter more than the headline dollar amount. That’s why “I’ll read it later” can turn into “I can’t get out of it.”
We’ve seen too often over the last year, and particularly in the fall transfer portal, that athletes have signed agreements without fully understanding what is in them. It’s not only costing them money, but their eligibility and the ability to transfer.
Red flags in NIL agreements
Watch for:
Exclusivity terms that block future deals (sometimes broader than you think).
Perpetual usage rights (your content/likeness can be used forever).
Vague “marketability” language that allows payments to stop if your “marketability is impaired.”
Performance or morality clauses that can be triggered after an injury or recovery period.
Off-campus injury “escape hatches” that reduce or reclaim money for injuries outside team activities.
One-sided termination (they can walk; you can’t).
Repayment/clawbacks if they claim you didn’t meet requirements.
Confidentiality/non-disparagement clauses that silence you during a dispute.
Forced arbitration or a far-away venue.
Unrealistic deliverables (too many posts/appearances, vague approvals, short deadlines).
What a NIL contract lawyer does before you sign
A NIL contract lawyer can provide NIL contract review that protects you by:
Narrowing scope: deliverables, approvals, timelines, travel, and use of your content.
Locking in payment: schedule, timing, late-payment remedies, and what triggers payment.
Fixing termination: clear definitions, notice/cure windows, and fair exit options.
Limiting IP/NIL usage: where, how long, and for what purpose your likeness can be used.
Improving disputes: practical venue, fee terms, and leverage if something goes wrong.
Flagging eligibility/compliance risk exposure tied to how the deal is structured.
Now is not the time to navigate NIL contracts alone. Christine Brown & Partners can guide you through the process to ensure that you understand everything you’re committing to, and the short- and long-term implications of them.
