Former National Football League player Hardy Nickerson, and his wife, Amy, today announced the establishment of a specialized company that provides real estate services to professional athletes, entertainers and corporate executives.

Nickerson Realty Group, located in the Charlotte region, offers relocation services, real estate investment consulting and traditional real estate agency services that address the unique needs of high-profile individuals, with an initial focus on
athletes.

"Because of trades, free agent status, injuries, and other issues, the life of a professional athlete can change from minute to minute," said Hardy, co-founder, president and CEO of NRG. "That sort of instability has definite consequences for real estate decisions and the types of services that athletes need in order to address their unique personal and professional situations."

Hardy recently retired from the NFL after a 16-year career during which he played linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers (1987-92), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1993-99), Jacksonville Jaguars (2000-01) and Green Bay Packers (2002). He played in five Pro Bowls and was named to the NFL's All-Decade team for the 1990s.

Nickerson attended the Mingle School of Real Estate where he obtained his real estate and broker licenses. In addition, in the spring of 2005, he participated in an executive education program at the Wharton School sponsored by the NFL and NFLPA. The Wharton Program provides business education to current and former NFL players to help them prepare for their post-NFL careers.

During his NFL career, Hardy and Amy moved 29 times totaling more than 66,000 miles in moves between cities. They also purchased and sold almost a dozen homes in that time span.