The Real 'Jerry Maguire' How a Legendary Sports Agent Made a Sober Comeback with Leigh Steinberg

Many know Leigh Steinberg as one of the most prolific sports agents, having represented more than 300 professional athletes in his 40+ year career, and as the real-life inspiration for Jerry Maguire. Steinberg’s clients include former San Francisco 49ers QB Steve Young, former Dallas Cowboys QB Troy Aikman and current QB for the Kansas City Chiefs Patrick Mahomes.

Leigh’s reputation stemming from his decades of success precedes him, but what many may not know is that he endured a public battle with addiction to alcohol. For nearly 10 years, Steinberg struggled with alcohol, which was spurred by financial issues.

Now, with more than 13 years in recovery, Steinberg is continuing his success in the sports industry. Steinberg Sports and Entertainment recently negotiated the largest deal in NFL history and will be expanding beyond its football roots; professional athletes from the MLB, NBA and BMX are all on the agency’s roster.