Speaker Profile

Senior VP of Business Affairs and General Counsel, NFL Mr. Gertzog joined the NFL in 1994 as Vice President and General Counsel of NFL Properties, Inc. Over the years, his role at the NFL has expanded to include overall legal and business affairs responsibility for the NFL's commercial operations including media (television, radio, internet, wireless, etc. ), marketing, consumer product licensing, corporate sponsorships, events and intellectual property. Mr. Gertzog has played a major role in a wide variety of complex commercial arrangements including those involving new business models and deal structures, including the NFL Master Agreement (which allocates intellectual property rights between the NFL and Member Clubs), the NFL's unique sponsorship and internet agreements with NFL Players Association/Players Inc and industry setting deals for apparel, video game, credit card, beverage and telecommunication products and services. He has also led the NFL's efforts in important litigation matters including the protection of the intellectual property rights of the NFL and Member Clubs. During his career, Mr. Gertzog has served as a key NFL senior executive with responsibility for active and retired player business programs including the Pro Football Hall of Fame, NFL Alumni, NFL Player Association/Players, Inc. and the NFL Quarterback Club. Prior to joining the NFL, Mr. Gertzog was a partner at the New York law firm of Townley & Updike where he specialized in intellectual property and sports-marketing work. Mr. Gertzog is a 1983 graduate of George Washington University Law School where he was a member of the Law Review. He obtained his bachelor's degree Industrial & Labor Relations from Cornell University in 1980.