Garoppolo said he and agent Don Yee began weighing various off-field opportunities in the springgetty images
49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo is "one of the newest members of Jordan Brand," signing a deal with the company "over the summer," according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com. An official announcement about the addition of Garoppolo and other newly signed Jordan Brand athletes is "expected next week." Garoppolo said, "Since I got in the league, it was one of my dreams to be with Jordan and it came true, so I'm pretty excited about it." Garoppolo's dream is "tied to his Chicago-area roots." Garoppolo said since he was a kid, Michael Jordan was his "favorite athlete, so it's pretty cool to be part of his brand now." Garoppolo added that he and his agent Don Yee began "weighing various opportunities presented by Under Armour, Adidas, Nike and Nike subsidiary Jordan in the spring." Around that time, Garoppolo "gave the shoes a test drive after the company sent over a pair of the Jordan 11s in cleat form." Jordan Brand has a number of NFL players "under its umbrella," including Seahawks S Earl Thomas and Jaguars CB Jalen Ramsey. Garoppolo is the "only known starting quarterback signed to the brand," though Packers backup QB DeShone Kizer is "also part of the Jordan team." More NFL players are "expected to be announced along with Garoppolo next week." In addition to his new deal with Jordan, Garoppolo also has "endorsements with New Era and Bose" (ESPN.com, 8/30).
WHY NOT GET MORE? ESPN's Jason Fitz said of Garoppolo's deal with Jordan Brand, "If I want to sign up for a brand, I want as much swag as humanly possible. I want hats, gloves, scarves, all of it. And Nike gives me more of that than the Jordan Brand. I want all of it. I want to know that I can go get underwear if I want that day and know it will be free. Nike gives me the most opportunity" ("Golic & Wingo," ESPN Radio, 8/31).
HOOP DEAL: ESPN.com's Nick DePaula cited sources as saying that Grizzlies F Jaren Jackson Jr. "signed a multiyear footwear and apparel endorsement with Nike." The deal comes after Jackson was "wearing both Adidas and Nike sneakers for the Grizzlies' summer squad in Las Vegas" (ESPN.com, 8/30).
