Tom Brady Signs Marquee Athletes to Apparel Brand NIL Deal
Tom Brady signed marquee athletes from across multiple sports and schools around the country to his newly launched Brady Brand, the apparel company announced on Thursday. The seven-time Superbowl Champion granted 10 athletes from across the country with deals, including Michigan QB Cade McNamara and Jackson State QB Shedeur Sanders.
Megan Rapinoe Unveils New Line with Nike
Megan Rapinoe is not only one of the best soccer players in America, her style is unparalleled. The USWNT star announced on Wednesday that she was launching a new line with Nike that will feature its own signature logo, which adds a psychedelic V – for Victory Redefined – to the brand’s signature swoosh. In the launch, Rapinoe expressed her commitment to diversity and cited the opportunity as a chance for her to evolve with the legacy brand.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Pairs Up with JBL for Signature Line
The NBA MVP added to his long list of sponsors on Wednesday when he announced that he is teaming up with JBL for a signature headphones line. As part of the Freak Edition collaboration, JBL has released two pairs which nod to Antetokounmpo’s Greek heritage. As part of the unveiling, they will jointly release a “Greek Out” media campaign.
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NBA Africa and Rise Launch Leadership Program
NBA Africa and Rise have launched a campaign to encourage youth from across Africa and around the world to apply for the Rise Challenge. The program is part of a $1 billion commitment from Eric and Wendy Schmidt, and is a global initiative of Schmidt Futures and the Rhodes Trust. Rise will select 100 global winners from thousands of applications around the world to participate in the selected 2022 class. Each of the winners will receive mentorship, career services, leadership development programming, and higher education scholarships.
Stephen Curry, Under Armour Prep to Take Their Talents to the Metaverse
Stephen Curry is having himself a week. On Tuesday night, the two-time MVP broke the NBA’s all-time record for made 3-pointers at Madison Square Garden. And now, Curry and No. 1 brand partner Under Armour are making it clear that merely conquering the physical world is not enough. According to a trademark application filed by Under Armour on Dec. 10, the Curry Brand is headed to the metaverse, as noted by attorney Josh Gerben of Gerben Intellectual Property. Under Armour seeks to use Steph’s “SC3” logo for virtual goods, an online retail store, and entertainment services.
Travis Hunter Commits to Coach Prime, Jackson State, NIL Confusion Follows
In a wild turn of events, top high school recruit Travis Hunter announced on Wednesday that he had rescinded his commitment to Florida State. Instead, he will attend Jackson State University and have a chance to play for Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders. In the wake of the announcement various outlets widely reported that Hunter had secured a deal with Barstool Sports, which was later debunked. Sanders led his team to a SWAC Championship in his first year and is a major supporter of orchestrating NIL partnerships for his players.
Michael Jordan, Jeffrey Jordan Launch HEIR, Inc.
Michael Jordan and his son, Jeffrey Jordan, announced HEIR, Inc, a new venture launching in 2022 that marries technology and entertainment with the commitment to excellence associated with the family name. The organization will foster brands committed to compelling narratives and a sincere, grounded sense of community, all while harnessing emerging technologies that allow them to connect with consumers in creative ways. The platform recently raised $10 million in seed money led by Thrive Capital and joined by Solana Ventures, Alexis Ohanian, Lonzo Ball, and William “World Wide Wes” Wesley.
Mitchell & Ness, Bathing Ape Team Up for NFL Uniform Collab
Five NFL Teams are about to get a vintage makeover. Mitchell & Ness and Bathing Ape announced that they will release a signature line of jerseys for the Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, and New England Patriots. For the drop, the BAPE signature camo is applied to NFL’s throwback uniforms, bringing current times and nostalgia together.
Bose Announces Inaugural Class of Athletes Signed to NIL Deals
The NFL‘s official headphone sponsor announced Wednesday that it is entering the NCAA NIL landscape in a significant way. Team Bose released its inaugural list of six athletes: Michigan defensive end and Heisman Trophy finalist Aidan Hutchinson, Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder, Memphis basketball center Jalen Duren, Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams, Ohio State quarterback and Heisman finalist CJ Stroud, and Oregon quarterback Anthony Brown.
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