Welcome to XL Sports Group!

Trusted representation. Intentional relationships.

XL Sports Group is a full-service athlete representation and advisory firm built by experienced professionals across the NFL, NIL, legal, and financial landscape. Our team brings decades of league experience, trusted relationships, and a shared commitment to protecting athletes and their futures.

Every role within XL Sports exists to serve the athlete—providing clarity, advocacy, and guidance through the most important decisions of their careers, on and off the field.

Quality over quantity. Always.

XL Sports Group is intentionally selective. We work with a limited roster of athletes so we can provide focused attention, prioritized advocacy, and hands-on support that goes beyond traditional representation.

XL Sports Powered By Vanguard Team

XL Sports President Marco Marciano Partner | NIL & NFL

MARCO MARCIANO
Partner | NIL & NFL | XL Sports Group

Marco Marciano is a veteran sports marketing and athlete representation executive with more than two decades of experience in professional and collegiate sports. As a Partner at XL Sports Group, Marco specializes in Name, Image & Likeness (NIL) representation, athlete marketing, brand development, contract negotiations, public relations, and strategic business partnerships. Throughout his career, he has worked alongside elite athletes, major brands, and professional sports organizations, helping clients maximize opportunities both on and off the field.

Known for his relationship-driven approach, Marco has built a reputation as a trusted advisor who prioritizes long-term athlete success, personal development, and brand growth. His expertise spans athlete endorsements, sponsorship activation, community engagement initiatives, media relations, and charitable programming. In addition to his work in athlete representation, Marco serves as Board Chair of Athletes For Causes Foundation (A4C), a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering youth through education, mentorship, sports, and community outreach.

In 2026, Marco helped establish a strategic partnership between XL Sports Group and Joby Branion, founder of Vanguard Sports Group. The alliance provides XL Sports athletes with direct access to one of the most respected NFL representation platforms in professional football. Under Branion’s leadership, Vanguard has negotiated more than $2.5 billion in athlete contracts, represented dozens of first-round NFL Draft selections, and advised some of the game’s premier players, including Von Miller, Keenan Allen, and Amon-Ra St. Brown. Through this partnership, XL Sports combines elite NIL strategy, athlete marketing, and collegiate representation with Vanguard’s proven expertise in NFL contract negotiation, draft preparation, career management, and long-term player development.

Marco’s mission remains simple: to advocate for athletes, create meaningful opportunities, and build lasting relationships that help clients achieve success throughout every stage of their careers.

Vanguard President & NFL Agent Joby Branion

About Joby Branion:

Joby Branion Co-founded Athletes First (2001, built it into the #1 sports agency in the NFL) In 2010 he launched his own Vanguard Sports Group and is one of the most respected agents in football today. With over two decades of experience, Branion has represented elite talent, negotiating high-value contracts and guiding athletes through every stage of their careers—from draft preparation to long-term financial and brand development. Known for his integrity, strategic approach, and deep relationships across the league, he has built a reputation for maximizing player value both on and off the field. Branion’s expertise in contract negotiation, player marketing, and career management has made Vanguard Sports Group a trusted name in Player representation, delivering results for some of the game’s top athletes.

“Vanguard President Joby Branion has negotiated elite contracts, including Keenan Allen’s $80M extension, and represented top-tier talent such as Amon-Ra St. Brown and Von Miller—bringing over 25 years of proven success at the highest” Branion Veteran power broker with 25+ years experience and $1B+ in negotiated deals

“Vanguard Sports Group delivers elite representation at every stage—from draft entry to $100M+ veteran contracts—led by one of the most experienced agents Joby Branion.”

Dana Kaufman Partner Attorney | NIL Advisor | Financial Planning

Dana Kaufman is a Partner at XL Sports Group and serves as the firm’s lead Attorney, NIL Negotiator, and Financial Planning expert. He heads XL Sports’ NIL Negotiation and Financial Team, bringing a rare combination of legal, accounting, and valuation expertise to athlete representation.

Dana earned his Master of Accounting from the University of Arizona Graduate School of Business and his Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law, where he was a member of the Entertainment and Sports Law Journal. He is a Certified Public Accountant (Florida), a Certified Valuation Analyst, and a Certified Fraud Examiner, and is licensed to practice law as a member of the Florida Bar.

With decades of experience and elite credentials, Dana plays a critical role in structuring, negotiating, and protecting NIL and professional contracts, while helping athletes build sound financial foundations for long-term success on and off the field.

Dr. Rios | Athlete Senior Advisor

Dr. Rios serves as Athlete Senior Advisor for Health, Wellness, and Mental Performance at XL Sports Group. With a holistic, athlete-first approach, Dr. Rios supports players in optimizing physical health, mental well-being, recovery, and performance longevity. As a trusted resource to XL Sports athletes, Dr. Rios helps ensure each client is prepared to perform at their highest level while maintaining balance, resilience, and long-term wellness on and off the field.