American Football: Domination

Football is unequivocally America's number one sport, its commercial value and market share towering over all competitors. Consider the Super Bowl, a consistent ratings juggernaut, or even the annual NFL Draft—

The live broadcast of just the first day of the draft routinely surpasses the NBA Finals and MLB World Series in viewership.

In 2016, out of the top 50 most-watched TV programs in the U.S., football accounted for a staggering 47 spots.

Its dominance is unchallenged.

Yet, when it comes to player earnings, the situation for NFL athletes is almost embarrassing in comparison.

Even the league's top stars earn annual salaries of only $30 million—an amount that's merely average in the NBA.

Nike's highest endorsement deals for NFL players max out at $2.5 million per year, a figure shared by stars like Peyton Manning and a handful of others.

While impressive, this pales next to LeBron James' billion-dollar lifetime contract with Nike.

Why?

How can football, America's most popular sport by far, with leagues, teams, and broadcasting deals generating massive revenues, fall so short in player compensation?

The answer lies in the sheer number of players.

A basketball team fields only five players at a time, with a maximum roster of 15. In contrast, NFL rosters carry 53 players, with at least 25 starting players and over 40 seeing the field during games.

With 53 players dividing the commercial pie, football can't compete with basketball's 15-man rosters.

From a marketing perspective, individual NFL players have less leverage. In sports like basketball, tennis, and golf—where individual athletes shine—brands can justify massive endorsement deals for players. But football's larger team structures dilute individual star power.

There's also the matter of footwear.

Football cleats, like soccer cleats, are highly specialized. They lack the versatility of basketball shoes, which double as fashion staples in everyday life. Thanks to Michael Jordan's "Air Jordan" series, basketball shoes became a cultural phenomenon, transcending sports.

Jordan's collaboration with Nike not only defined sneaker culture but also paved the way for astronomical endorsement deals in basketball. Jordan himself reportedly earns over $100 million annually in Nike royalties—just a small slice of the brand's immense revenue from his line.

By comparison, football endorsement contracts, even for NFL stars, are limited by cleats' narrow appeal.

Beyond endorsements, NFL salaries also lag behind the NBA due to the leagues' respective salary cap structures. The NBA has a soft cap with numerous exceptions, while the NFL's hard cap leaves no room for flexibility.

Back to sponsorships.

Nike is the NFL's official sponsor, outfitting all teams with uniforms and equipment. However, players have the freedom to secure individual sponsorships for gear like gloves, cleats, base layers, and off-field training apparel.

Under Armour, founded by a former football player, also holds a major NFL partnership, focusing on non-game-day apparel. Meanwhile, brands like Adidas and Puma compete fiercely for player endorsements, vying for a piece of football's enormous audience.

Now, all eyes are on Lance.

As the first Asian player ever drafted in the first round of the NFL, Lance has been a hot topic since entering the league. But two weeks into the regular season, Lance still hasn't signed a single endorsement deal.

It's not due to a lack of offers. In fact, Donald, Lance's agent, has been intentionally biding his time.

From the moment Lance declared for the draft, brands began reaching out. Yet, most offers lacked sincerity, merely seeking to capitalize on his novelty as an Asian prospect.

The skepticism was understandable:

Lance is a rookie. A player with no established career poses a high risk for brands. What if he flops or gets benched?He's a running back. In a league where quarterbacks and wide receivers dominate the spotlight, running backs are seen as less marketable and more injury-prone.

Rather than accept low-ball offers, Donald chose to wait.

Even after Lance's stellar Week 1 performance, Donald declined premature deals.

Then came Week 2.

After Lance delivered another game-changing performance, Donald's phone didn't stop ringing.

Nike. Adidas. Under Armour.

The "Big Three" of football sponsorships all came knocking, ready to compete for Lance's signature.

Despite the overwhelming interest, Donald remained composed.

He knew what set Lance apart wasn't just his talent—it was his heritage.

With NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell eager to expand into Asian markets, Lance represented a golden opportunity. Official league backing guaranteed exposure, making Lance's potential value sky-high.

Donald wasn't about to let that go to waste.

Step one was creating buzz.

LeBron James' involvement provided the perfect springboard. While LeBron had his own agenda, Donald saw a chance to elevate Lance's visibility and leverage it into a lucrative deal.

Now came the crucial decision.

"Do you have a personal preference?" Donald asked over the phone.

"If there's a brand you particularly like, we can prioritize them in negotiations."

----------

Powerstones?

For 20 advance chapters: patreon.com/michaeltranslates