Marcus Mariota's Portfolio Continues To Grow As He Signs With First Hawaiian Bank

First Hawaiian Bank on Friday announced that it has "signed a partnership" with Titans draft pick QB Marcus Mariota, according to Dave Segal of the HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER. First Hawaiian plans to feature the QB "in print, television and online advertisements as part of the bank's 'It All Starts With Yes' branding campaign." The TV commercial was filmed last week by MVNP, Honolulu, and is "scheduled to air in mid-May along with online advertisements." The bank said that the print ad campaign "started Friday." The bank is the "first company in the state to sign Mariota to endorse its brand," though he already had national deals with Nike, Subway and Beats by Dre. Mariota also "has an autograph deal with GT Sports Marketing of Hawaii" (HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER, 5/1). First Hawaiian Bank Chair, President & CEO Robert Harrison said that the bank "thought it would be a good partnership with Mariota, whose story matched well with the branding the bank was going for" (PACIFIC BUSINESS NEWS, 5/1 issue).

HIDING IN MY HEADPHONES: In N.Y. Ken Belson noted Mariota on Thursday "put on white Beats by Dre earbuds" just before he was selected, which, for Beats, was "marketing gold because its chief rival, Bose, is an official NFL sponsor." It is "unclear whether he could be penalized for being shown wearing something produced by a company that is not a league sponsor," as players are "prohibited from wearing clothing or accessories made by companies that are not NFL sponsors." The NFL "would have asked Mariota to remove his Beats earbuds if he had tried to wear them at the draft in Chicago." NFL VP/Communications Brian McCarthy said that Bose "had already signed deals with 20 top prospects." But Beats by Dre also "signed deals" with Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston, the top overall pick, and Raiders first-round pick Amari Cooper. Winston, Mariota and Cooper "were not in Chicago" for the draft, making it "easier for them to wear their Beats by Dre gear" (N.Y. TIMES, 5/2).