This is incredible!
Edy Lawson-Jackson began her career as a sports attorney in the late ‘80s, Essence reports. A Maryland native, she focused on representing athletes, making a name for herself as an advocate for opportunities for women and people of color in the sports sector. In 2010, Lawson-Jackson expanded her offerings, becoming a certified NFL agent by the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), and becoming one of the first Black women to represent pro football players as an agent.
While the road was not without its fair share of challenges, Lawson-Jackson persisted and blazed a trail in an industry that is heavily male-dominated. And no one was more tuned into her journey than her daughter, Samira Jackson. A corporate finance professional, Jackson eventually used her law degree to follow in her mother’s footsteps, earning her NFLPA certification as a sports agent in 2022. The two have now made history as the first mother-daughter agent duo to represent NFL athletes.
According to recent data, of the almost 1,000 certified NFL agents, only 88 are women, and an even smaller portion are Black women. Their accomplishment is historic and well-earned, with both women having to go through rigorous criteria, pass a comprehensive exam, and fulfill continuing education requirements to prove their knowledge of NFL regulations. Now, the two spend their days negotiating all types of contracts for NFL athletes, securing contracts, marketing deals, and overseeing numerous professional ventures. For Lawson-Jackson, being able to do this work alongside her daughter is what she calls “a dream come true.”
“It’s been a long road, but to be able to do this work with my daughter is a dream come true. It’s so important for us to show that Black women belong in this space and that we can make a significant impact,” Lawson-Jackson told reporters.
Together, through their firm, Affiliated Sports Advisors (ASA), the duo hopes to champion diversity and inclusion in the sports industry and create a path for other black women to follow. Follow the firm on social media @The_ASA_Sports to keep up with their work.
Cover photo: Meet the First Mother-Daughter Duo to Be Certified Sports Agents by NFLPA/Photo credit: ABC News