Carolina Link With Michael Jordan Led to NFL Legend’s $7 Billion Brand Collaboration Spanning Decades

It is not an understatement to say that Michael Jordan 's lore transcends beyond the basketball community. The Michael Jordan brand recently secured the services of Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, the overall number two pick in the 2023 draft. Back in 1999, Randy Moss signed with the brand and is still part of it. Similarly, there is another Super Bowl Champion who is still highly appreciative of His Airness' brand.

"You are, and I say are because it never leaves. You are a Jordan brand athlete." Podcast co-host and former Super Bowl Champion Roman Harper stated about Donald Andre Bly. "He was the one that brought me to the brand. When I went to Detroit my first year, he knew of me being at Carolina, me being the player I was at Chapel Hill All-American," Dre Bly was talking about the executive vice president/senior advisor of the Knicks, William 'Worldwide Wes' Wesley.

"Me being a Carolina guy, he felt like it would be best for me to be in the brand." The current defensive analyst of the Charlotte 49ers continued on the NFL Players' Second Acts Podcast . "Wes was the one that connected the dots and um it's been a marriage, a brotherhood that's irreplaceable. I've never bought kids shoes for my kids, ever since 2004, I've been a part of the Jordan brand family." The brand has seen unprecedented growth over the last few years.

For the last 5 years in revenue, they have breached the next billion mark every time. From $3.6 Billion in revenue in 2020, and now the brand stands at a whopping $7 Billion. The Michael Jordan brand was the only Nike division with a 6% sales gain from the previous reports.

"I play basketball as well me being a Carolina basketball fan. It was hard not to be a MJ fan." For his collegiate career, he chose North Carolina University and also played basketball. Hence, his love for Michael Jordan had no bounds. Bly even had PE shoes from the Jordan brand from time to time. Although his contract details are not available, he stated that they have helped him above and beyond. Adding that they sponsor not only him but also his youth basketball and football team.

Michael Jordan offered another coach a contract Recently, the Jordan brand made history when it signed the first Nike football NIL athletes . As per Nick DePaula, Zion Branch and Zachariah Branch of USC have signed a multi-year NIL deal. They made another historical move when they signed a 60-year-old coach for the sneaker deal. Yes, Sean Payton became the only NFL coach with a Jordan Brand sneaker contract.

In an interview with The Athletic, Payton detailed how a golf invite helped him with the deal. "The Super Bowl was in Miami, and I had an email about this new golf course that Michael Jordan was opening – Grove XXIII." The Denver Broncos' head coach added that Michael Jordan was already playing with a large group, but still proclaimed Payton.

"Then he said, 'I know you wear the Jordan 11 Golds. I'm going to make you my first Jordan Brand coach'. And I was like, 'That sounds good." Within three weeks, the shipment arrived at the doorstep and the HC didn't take it for granted. "I'm real appreciative." Apart from the basketball world, where they have Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum, Zion Williamson, and Paolo Banchero. Michael Jordan is keeping a keen eye on the NFL world.

"Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the "Dual Threat Show" as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger."