
From Harrisburg to the NFL: Widener Law Commonwealth Alum Kevin Gold Built a Career Representing the Game’s Most Precise Players
When Kevin Gold graduated from Widener Law Commonwealth in 1993, he never imagined he’d one day be the subject of a chapter in a book—or that chapter would simply be titled “Kevin Gold.”
But nearly 35 years into a legal career built at the intersection of law, passion, and precision, that’s exactly where he’s found himself.
Gold has represented almost 30 NFL players over the years—most of them long snappers, a group of specialists known for their unrelenting focus and accuracy. His career has included draft-day celebrations, Pro Bowl appearances, Super Bowl wins, and heartfelt retirement speeches.
“I always loved sports,” Gold said. “But I learned pretty quickly I wasn’t going to play anything beyond high school. I was told law school was the best path if I wanted to represent players—and Widener helped make that happen.”
Gold credits the law school for providing the academic foundation and the inspiration that steered him toward sports law. “Having a professor like Mike Cozzillio teaching sports law made a huge impact,” he said. “I hadn’t seen him in decades, but we ran into each other last summer—and he remembered the conversations we had during class back in 1992!”
After graduation, Gold worked for a U.S. Congressman and later at a large Harrisburg firm. All the while, he tried to build a side practice representing athletes. One of his first clients to make an NFL roster just happened to be a long snapper—and that was the beginning of a niche that would define his legal identity.
“I fell in love with the perfectionist nature of the position,” Gold said. “They do one thing, and they have to do it perfectly every time. That really resonated with me.”
It wasn’t always easy breaking into the field. And the reality of the job doesn’t always match what people expect.
“People think being a sports agent is all about contract negotiations, but that’s actually a very small part of what we do,” he explained. “You’re really the CEO of someone’s career—helping with everything off the field so they can succeed on it.”
Gold says one of his most rewarding moments came when longtime client John Kuhn retired from the NFL – after playing for the Saints, Packers and Steelers – and publicly thanked him during his speech.
“It meant a lot,” he said. “That kind of recognition—knowing I played even a small role in someone’s success—is what makes this career meaningful.”
For aspiring sports or entertainment lawyers, Gold is honest about what it takes.
“There are no shortcuts. It takes hard work, true passion, and some luck,” he said. “You really have to be in it for the right reasons—because you want to help players achieve their dreams.”
Even with all the media attention—features in national outlets and his own chapter in the book “Upside down football: An inside look at long snapping in the NFL” —Gold keeps a grounded perspective.
“If a younger version of me could see this, he’d be shocked,” he said. “Representing just one NFL player was a wild dream back then. To have done this for so long—it’s been more than I ever imagined.”
Looking back, the Widener Law experience still echoes in his day-to-day practice.
“Widener taught me how to think like a lawyer,” he said. “That skill—analyzing problems and coming up with smart, strategic solutions—has helped me in sports law and in my work with employment and IP clients, too.”
As for what makes a strong advocate—whether negotiating an NFL contract or a corporate deal—Gold keeps it simple: “Know your client. Know the market. Be flexible. And have as much leverage as you can.”