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Nike. Reebok. Under Armour.
These are the names most agents and NFL players think about when it comes to potential sports apparel endorsements.
Unfortunately, this is a mistake that absolutely kills an agent’s abilities to land endorsement deals for athletes, because there are usually smaller companies in the same industries that could very well be good partners for the player and their brand.
Arian Foster Foster finished the 2010 season by winning the rushing title with 1,616 Rushing yards. (Image – ICON)
Related: Branding Athletes 101 – It’s Not as Hard as You May Think
Think about it. Who do you think might be more hungry to add a professional athlete to their marketing scheme?
Reebok or Nike, who has countless other athletes, or Joe Schmo’s Sports, who just launched last year?
Related: Athlete Endorsement Tips – What it Takes to Land an Endorsement as a Pro Athlete
It’s wise for player’s and their agents to search for these types of companies, and then send endorsement proposals about how the player could be a good fit image-wise for these companies.
It doesn’t hurt to try.
Besides, why just sit and wait for someone from Nike to call? Your pro football career is short. You need to get as much money as you can, as soon as you can.
Related: Broke Pro Athletes – How to Avoid Being Another Statistic – Part One
Arian Foster and Boombah
In 2010, Arian Foster, the 2011 Pro Bowl running back for the Houston Texans, signed a deal with little-known Boombah, a sporting apparel company out of Illinois.
Now since Boombah doesn’t have a deal with the NFL, Arian has to cover-up the company’s logo on his shoes in games, but it’s an endorsement deal nonetheless.
Related: 4 things Every Future NFL Player Should Know About Endorsements – Part One
Now don’t get me wrong, to get an athletic apparel endorsement, you still have to produce on the field and be a stand-out player.
By no means am I implying that this concept opens the door for lower-level players to get deals with sports apparel companies.
Arian won the 2010 rushing title and went to the 2011 Pro Bowl, so he’s the cream of the crop right now.
I think he’s definitely the caliber of player that a Nike, Reebok, or Under Armour would go-after, they just never did for whatever reason.
Maybe they did, I’m not his agent so I wouldn’t know.
So shake that old mindset of only thinking about the big boys.
Sports apparel endorsement deals for athletes are indeed rare, but if you’re a high-performing player, consider doing a little Google searching for some start-up sports apparel companies that just might be happy you called.
What do you think is key to landing an endorsement deal? Leave a comment!
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Hi, alvin please drop me a mail, i have a world champion client i need a new endorsment. Hope to hear from you soon.
Percy
You can reach me by sending me a message using the contact me page. Thanks!
This to me is all about relevance. Setting your sights too high or too low is the problem. The athlete and agent that can properly gauge the market and focus in on the areas where there is a value fit are going to be the most successful in the long run.
What exactly do you mean, when you say “its all about relevance?”
I disagree with you when you say some set their sights too low. Most NFL players have huge egos, and most don’t understand that only 5% or so of the players get significant endorsement opportunities.
Yes. Too many younger athletes, even the very good ones, see the dollar signs way too early. If they understood the real odds against them ever making a living in their chosen sport, much less landing an endorsement deal, they’d be better off. Parents should take the lead. But your point about the deals themselves is well taken.
You’re right. The odds of landing an opportunity to play in the NFL is VERY small. And once you’re there, the odds are even smaller that you’ll get ANY endorsement. The same small percentage that make the big bucks in the NFL are the same small percentage that get endorsements.
Where does your son play?
Your post is exactly the same point that I states to my family every time they discuss about my son’s sports career. I will ask my son to read this post so that he doesn’t feel dishearten and start looking for some other companies.