Joseph M. "Joe" Linta made history as an NFL agent when he negotiated the largest contract ever for an NFL player. But Joe also spends the slow months of the agent business as the head coach of Hamden Hall high school in Hamden, Connecticut. His ability to serve clients and guide young football players makes Joe Linta an outstanding addition to the Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame.

Joe was born December 1, 1959, in New Brighton. He attended Freedom High School, where he lettered twice in basketball and twice in track and field. Joe was a three-year letterman in football and made All-Conference in football in 1976 and on his 11-1 1977 team.

Joe graduated as valedictorian from Freedom High School in 1978. Joe then attended Yale University from 1978 to 1983, where he played defensive tackle on the varsity football team for four years, including Yale's Ivy League championship teams in 1979, 1980, and 1981.

After graduating from Yale with a double major in political science and administrative science, Joe served as defensive line coach for the University of New Haven in 1983 and 1984. He then returned to Yale, where he served as the freshman team's defensive coordinator and a varsity assistant from 1985 to 1992, including Yale's 1989 Ivy League Championship team.

In 2011, Joe accepted the head coach position at Hamden Hall, where his sons Nick and T.J. played. Nick made the All-Conference team as a wide receiver, and T.J. is a three-star recruit and 25th-rated quarterback in the nation according to ESPN. In 2013, Joe's Hamden Hall team won the Fairchester League Championship.

Joe is an accomplished athlete and coach, but Joe is better known as a sports agent. Joe has been an NFLPA Licensed Agent since 1990, and since then has been the owner of JL Sports NFL Player Agency. Joe currently represents over 55 NFL players and coaches, including Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer, Packers tackle and Blackhawk native Don Barclay, Ravens center and Pittsburgh native Gino Gradkowski, and Jets guard Willie Colon.

Joe achieved special prominence as an NFL agent in 2013 when he negotiated the largest NFL contract in history – $120.6 million – for Baltimore Ravens quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco. In the whirlwind after the Ravens' 2013 Super Bowl victory, Joe accompanied Flacco to Disney World and the Late Show with David Letterman.

Joe has raised over $1,000,000 for the United Way with his NFL Players weekend, now in its 21st year. Joe has made several appearances in the national media, including guest appearances on SportsCenter, ESPN Radio, and the Drew Carey Show, where he played an assistant coach in an episode of the show.

Joe's wife, Kathleen, is the President of Thornton Medical Communications. Joe and his family live in Branford, Connecticut.