TAMPA, FL - Whitney Holtzman loves watching her favorite football team in her favorite stadium; but it’s more than taking in a game. When the Bucs run on the field Whitney isn’t just cheering on players. She’s cheering on clients.

Whitney is an NFL agent.

One of only a few dozen women to hold that title. What makes her unique is her approach to the business.

“I always say to my clients that instead of looking at football, or sports, as their purpose, I want them to look at football as their platform to their purpose,” said Holtzman.

What pushed Whitney to become an agent was her passion to help athletes grow their brand beyond the game. One of her clients is former Bucs linebacker Cameron Lynch who has dubbed Whitney his corporate mom.

“The motherly advice, the love, the care,” said Lynch, who is working on a number of post-career opportunities in broadcasting and business. “That is what you will get with Whitney and I think it’s different than anyone else, any other agent that I’ve been around. It’s just different.”

What also separates Whitney is her devotion to her clients every day needs. Like the time she picked up a new dog at the airport for Bucs defensive tackle Steve McClendon.

“Steve was at practice when she arrived in Tampa with the puppy nanny,” Holtzman explained.

Whitney believes that type of attention sets her apart from a typical agent.   

“My clients become like family to me and that means anyone or any pet that is important to them is also just as important to me,” said Holtzman.

Relationships are everything to a sports agent. Whitney built hers with McClendon while he was still with the New York Jets. When he was traded to Tampa last season, it was a natural fit to team up with Whitney.

“Steve gave me a signed jersey,” said Holtzman. “It says ‘much love, thank you for everything – Super Bowl champion!’ And then the part that gets me every time ‘thank you for being amazing to me!’”

In giving to her clients, she expects them to give back to their community. Over the holidays she helped organize a shopping spree for Boys and Girls club members in Tampa.

“It’s important for me to vouch for Tampa on a national stage so I want the guys I work with to see what a special city this is,” said Holtzman, who helped Bucs players Justin Watson and Kevin Minter organize a holiday event at Target where each child got a $300 shopping spree.

The pride Whitney has for Tampa runs deep. That’s why she spends her Sundays in the fall and winter at Ray Jay. Along with her dad; long time Tampa attorney and Bucs fan, Steve Holtzman.

“Coming to the Bucs game is something that we can share together and she is definitely a bit of my legacy,” said Dad.

Whitney watches the game differently than a regular fan. Those players are much more than a stat line or final score.

“From the moment they run onto the field and you’re like ‘oh my goodness everyone is looking at them, like a celebrity,” said Holtzman. “This person hired me, he trusts me, I have been able to make things happen for him, someone at the highest level and it never gets old.”

Whitney Holtzman believes in the person under the uniform. She hopes that her philosophy and values will attract more clients. Whitney’s goal for her athletes isn’t to just score on the field, but succeed in everything the want to do for the rest of their lives.