• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, October 22, 2025

American Football Coaches Association Taps Federal Lobbyists

Disclosure forms noted lobbyists would be working in Congress on the AFCA’s behalf for “improving the NIL program.”

Head coach Ryan Day fires up the crowd during the Ohio State Buckeyes College Football Playoff National Championship celebration at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Jan. 26, 2025.
Imagn Images

The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) has hired two different federal lobbying organizations to work with the group in 2025, according to federal lobbying disclosures reviewed by Front Office Sports. 

The AFCA, which has 11,000 members, including both high school and college coaches, has enlisted the support of the lobbying firms Chet Culver Group and Capitol Counsel. Lobbying disclosures were submitted Jan. 17, and no other disclosures are listed for the AFCA, suggesting this is the first time the group has hired lobbyists in at least two decades. (The news that the AFCA hired Capitol Counsel was first reported by Politico Influence.

Federal lobbying disclosures typically don’t go into specifics about the issues organizations are advocating for—but the forms noted that lobbyists would be working in Congress on the AFCA’s behalf for “improving the NIL [name, image, and likeness] program.” The disclosures did not say how much the group was paying these two organizations. 

Former Iowa governor Chet Culver’s namesake firm bills itself as a “renewable energy and infrastructure consultancy” and is based in Des Moines. Culver himself played football at Virginia Tech, and coached high school football and basketball before being elected governor in 2007. The two lobbying firms are working together, as Culver’s lobbying registration says his client is “Capitol Counsel, LLC on behalf of the AFCA.” Capitol Counsel has more than a dozen lobbyists on its payroll, and it works on a variety of issues, including appropriations, health care, and energy. It counts heavy hitters in the sports arena, including Nike and NFL, as its clients.

The decision to invest in lobbying comes amid a major push for Congress to pass a law to regulate college athlete compensation rules. 

Since 2019, the NCAA and Power 5 conferences have been engaged in a multimillion-dollar campaign to preserve amateurism, including regulating the NIL landscape and ensuring that athletes are not classified as employees. The NCAA is currently asking lawmakers to codify a settlement proposal that would allow college athletes to share revenue with their athletic departments. 

While the NCAA and power conferences were the only major college sports groups lobbying on these issues for several years, the space has become much more crowded as of late. Last fall, a group of Olympic sports coaches’ organizations hired FCS Global to help them preserve the future of Olympic college sports. The Collective Association, which represents the interests of NIL collectives, also works with a lobbying firm. 

FOS has reached out to the AFCA, as well as representatives from the two lobbying firms, for further comment.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

draftkings
exclusive

DraftKings Is Paying Up to $250M for Prediction-Market Railbird

The deal was announced Tuesday, but financials weren’t disclosed.
Texas Tech tortillas

Texas Tech Is Attempting a Tortilla Crackdown 

Rebellious students are known to smuggle the tortillas in their underwear.

NFL’s Goodell Stands by Bad Bunny: ‘It’s Going to Be a Great..

The commissioner is undeterred by political criticism of the halftime show choice.

Featured Today

Christie's

Lou Gehrig’s $4M Jersey and the Exploding Sports Memorabilia Market

An ultra-rare sports collection is about to hit the auction block.
@chef__tezz/Instagram
October 19, 2025

Inside the NFL’s Private Chef Network

Private chefs are the unsung architects of player performance.
October 18, 2025

How Vanderbilt Went From SEC Doormat to Dark Horse CFP Candidate

After beating LSU, Clark Lea said: “Internally, we expect to win.”
May 27, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) shoots a three point basket over New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) during the third quarter of game four of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
October 18, 2025

NBA Stars Swap Wine With League Friends and Foes

A wine-exchange tradition emerged from the bubble season’s close quarters.
Tony Vitello

Tony Vitello’s Stunning MLB Jump Comes With $3M Tennessee Buyout

Vitello heads to San Francisco after winning a national championship in 2024.
October 22, 2025

Big 12’s Yormark Defends Slow NIL Go Approvals: ‘That’s Not a Glitch’

Collectives have been starting to pay players without approvals.
Tom Izzo
October 22, 2025

Tom Izzo Rips ‘Ridiculous’ NCAA Move Allowing Former G Leaguers

Michigan State didn’t know an eligibility change had been made, he said.
Sponsored

Michelle Wie West: Women’s Sports Doesn’t Need Charity

The LPGA legend on redefining women’s sports and the future of golf.
BYU
October 20, 2025

BYU Lost Its Star QB This Summer. Now It’s One of the..

The Cougars are thriving with a true freshman at quarterback.
Indiana
October 20, 2025

Indiana Is the Center of the Sports World—Again

After successful NBA and WNBA seasons, Indiana’s football teams are thriving.
October 19, 2025

Beyond Ohio State, It’s Another Massive Shake-Up in the CFB Top 25

Nine of the top 10 teams changed positions in Week 9.
October 19, 2025

Florida, Colorado State Firings Push CFB Buyouts Past $100M

Nine FBS head coaches have been fired since the season started.