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- A 58 year old college football player just signed an NIL deal
A 58 year old college football player just signed an NIL deal
Yes, as in nearly 40 years older than his teammates.
Tariq Ahmad
October 01, 2025
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Tom Cillo Aspercreme partnership. (Photo Credit: Aspercreme on Facebook)
Lycoming College 58-year-old freshman Tom Cillo became the oldest football player to sign an NIL deal when he entered an agreement with Aspercreme.
Yes. 58 years old.
“A longtime fan of the pain relief product, the Division III freshman will receive a four-year supply of Aspercreme as part of the partnership — enough to carry him through every snap, sprint, and sore muscle until graduation,” the news release added.
“I’m living proof that you are never too old to chase your dream. At 58, I’m still lacing up, competing, and showing that passion doesn’t age. I may have more aches and pains than I used to, but then I just roll on some Aspercreme and show the younger guys that grit beats pain every time,” Cillo stated.
For additional context: Cillo is four years older than his head coach, and his three children are all older than his next oldest teammate.
Breaking it down
Regular user
The biggest thing here is that Cillo has been using Aspercreme for many years. And while he regularly competes in strength-related competitions, football will bring another level of pain to his body.
This is important for all NIL deals: Athletes who are regular users of products and services are more likely to score partnerships with those brands than athletes who don’t align with the company’s mission and/or are just looking for a quick payday.
NIL for All
This partnerships shows two things: 1) You can score NIL deals regardless of age, and 2) you can secure partnerships even at the Division III level.
Additional (age-appropriate) partnerships
Given that Cillo is using a product to help with his aches and pains at an older age, this can most certainly open the door for partnerships aimed at a mature audience.
Financial institutions focusing on retirement and savings, hair loss, mature apparel, etc. are all fair game. However, he should be careful on any products related to testosterone, growth hormone, etc. as it could trigger a positive drug test.
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