Neil's brief primer: Alexa grew up of the daughter of NFL great Kenny Stabler, and without really any choice, she gained a perspective on what it means to be a professional football player, both good and bad. She never grew up with the ambition to work in sports, but ended up in law school at Alabama after getting her undergrad there in '09. After practicing law for five years, her father passed away in '15. This created "an energy shift in (her) life," making her want to do something to make him proud. She decided to become an advocate for players, and to give the agent business a try, taking and passing the NFLPA exam last summer.

 

Active NFL clients: Alabama punter J.K. Scott was drafted 5/172 by the Packers, while Troy OH Jordan Chunn signed with the Cowboys and Jacksonville St. OH Roc Thomas signed with the Vikings as undrafted free agents.

 

Why did she become an agent?: "Over the course of my life I saw a lot of people coming into my dad's life, and some had good intentions and some did not, but he was a very open, kind-hearted person and I saw him make decisions I would have made differently. I think athletes are ripe for being taken advantage of. I don't mind being the 'no' person. I like to be that barrier between the athletes and the rest of the world."  

 

Day job: Alexa co-owns a trademark law practice in Mobile, AdamsIP, with her husband, Hunter Adams.

 

Her take on the NFLPA exam: "It was difficult. I passed two bar exams and law school is no joke, and I thought that test was tough. I tried to treat it almost like the bar exam. I didn't want to have to do it again. It's doable if you knuckle down and devote some hours, but a lot of people go in and say, 'I've passed bar exam,' and really underestimate it. I don't think that's wise."

 

Hardest part of being an agent: "Developing relationships with clients. They often come to me skeptical, and I think that's healthy and good, and they're surprised there's not that 'gotcha' moment. I genuinely want to help them. To get them to open up is really tough, and so I try to really hammer it home that you have to be honest with me so I can protect your interests."

 

She felt like she'd had a successful first year as a contract advisor when . . .: "I don't know if I can answer that. I desperately want all my guys to make rosters. I'll have an answer for that in late August."

 

Lesson she learned that she wished she'd known before she got certified: "That this is a business that requires a thick skin and an ability to keep going. You're gonna get burned sometimes, but it's super-rewarding. The way I define success is helping other people achieve their version of success. Doing something I know my dad would be proud of has been really fulfilling."