- David Ross, two-time World Series Champion, former Chicago Cubs manager, and New York Times bestselling author, has signed with Athletes First for Brand Partnerships and Broadcasting representation.
- Ross is fresh off signing a multi-year deal to return to ESPN as an MLB analyst for both game and studio coverage in 2026, his first stint at the network since 2019.
- He was previously represented by Sports One Athlete Management, the firm that managed him throughout his playing and managerial career.
- Athletes First continues expanding its sports roster, having recently added Claudin Cherelus and DeMarvion Overshown to the agency's growing A1 Family.
Athletes First has announced the signing of David Ross for Coaching, Broadcasting, and Marketing representation.
The full-service Laguna Hills-based agency, known for guiding elite athletes, coaches, and broadcasters since 2001, will now handle Brand Partnerships and Broadcasting for the beloved “Grandpa Rossy.”
Ross, 49, is one of baseball’s most recognizable personalities. A two-time World Series Champion, winning with the Boston Red Sox in 2013 and the Chicago Cubs in 2016. He capped his playing career with a legendary solo home run in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, his final career at-bat.
He later managed the Cubs from 2020 to 2023 before parting ways with the organization. His memoir, Teammate: My Journey in Baseball and a World Series for the Ages, became a New York Times bestseller.
On the broadcasting front, ESPN announced in March 2026 that Ross had signed a multi-year deal to return as an MLB analyst across game and studio coverage, the same network he worked for from 2017 to 2019.
Ross was previously managed by Sports One Athlete Management, the firm that represented him through his playing days and into his managerial tenure.
Athletes First has been on a signing spree, recently welcoming Claudin Cherelus and DeMarvion Overshown to the A1 Family as well.
Takeaways
This is a smart, well-timed move for both sides. Ross is entering arguably the most commercially attractive chapter of his post-playing career, he’s got a fresh multi-year ESPN deal, a bestselling book, and strong public goodwill from his Cubs legacy.
Athletes First brings serious infrastructure in broadcasting representation and brand partnerships, with EVP Gideon Cohen leading a practice built specifically for media talent at this level.
This isn’t just about landing endorsement deals, it’s about building a long-term media brand around “Grandpa Rossy” at a time when his name means something across baseball, broadcasting, and beyond.
With Ross back on ESPN and now backed by Athletes First, could he become one of the faces of the network’s MLB coverage going forward? Could Athletes First’s brand partnership team help Ross land major national sponsorships off the back of his ESPN platform?
