Create ideas for NIL pitches

The fastest 3 minutes in name, image and likeness

Author

Tariq Ahmad
April 02, 2025

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Create ideas for NIL pitches

And why this is valuable

Athlete recording content (Photo Credit: istockphoto.com)

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about athletes being proactive on their NIL deals.

Don’t worry - I won’t rehash the article.

Instead, I want to talk about another level of proactiveness that athletes should take when connecting with brands for partnerships:

Creating pitches or ideas for potential collabs.

(Also, there is a sample ideation for a hypothetical brand at the end of this newsletter!)

Why?

  • Showcases your creativity

    • By presenting brands with 1-2 ideas, this not only highlights your ability to ideate, but also removes this task from the brand.

    • Additionally, you know yourself better than the brand knows you, so put yourself in an advantageous position.

  • How you want to be featured

    • This allows the athlete to tell the brand how they want to be showcased by the brand, instead of the brand putting them in a content lane they don’t thrive in.

    • The athlete can also play to their strengths for content. (Video, photos, humor, slick editing, etc.)

Content idea: Granola bar partnership

  • Convenience: An athlete can pitch a granola bar brand saying they love their products, consume them daily, and love the health benefits the bars provide.

    • Additionally, the athlete appreciates the convenience of a healthy food item on the go that fits into their busy day, so sharing that point of view in the content can be beneficial.

  • Day in the Life: Athlete can create a DITL video featuring the granola bar partnership. (ie., Just finished practice and heading to class. I don’t have time for a sit-down breakfast, so I’m eating my '[brand] granola bar on the way to my Microeconomics class.)

  • What’s in my Bag: Athlete creates a video of what they pack into their travel bag for an away game, featuring the brand. (ie., I have my shoes, my exercise bands, my uniform, and I never forget my [brand] granola bars. They go everywhere with me!)

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