• Myles Garrett has been named as the newest brand ambassador for Jordan.
• The news comes as the Cleveland Browns defensive end made history with his 23rd sack.
• He joins a roster of NFL stars signed with the iconic brand, including Jalen Hurts, Puka Nacua, and Dak Prescott.

Myles Garrett has been announced as the newest brand ambassador for Jordan.

The news comes after the Cleveland Browns star made history over the weekend against the Cincinnati Bengals when he recorded his 23rd sack — the most ever in a single season.

“Fresh off of recording sack No. 23 and setting the NFL’s single-season record, Jordan Brand is proud to welcome Cleveland Browns’ Myles Garrett to the Family!” the brand said in a statement. “It’s only right, as he set the record at 23…..a number that’s synonymous with Greatness.”

The number 23 is considered one of the luckiest and most sought after numbers in sports, calling back to Michael Jordan’s signature jersey he wore during his legendary years with the Chicago Bulls.

Announcing the partnership on Instagram, Jordan Brand wrote that the defensive end’s history-making achievement was “no coincidence” and “one helluva way to join the family.”

The deal was brokered by Shey Olaoshebikan at 3Arts Sports.

Garrett’s 23rd sack surpassed New York Giants’ Michael Strahan and Pittsburgh Steelers’ T.J. Watt, who previously held the record with 22.5 sacks.

The star wore Adidas footwear throughout most of his career before signing a deal with Reebok in March 2022, though he seemingly split with the latter sometime over the last year.

As noted by the Instagram account @football.equipment, Garrett’s Jordan Brand representation began subtly in December with custom cleats and gloves.

However, he was still wearing the adidas Freak X Carbon cleats, but with the Jordan brand logo placed conspicuously on top.

Ahead of the signing, there was some speculation about whether he would continue to play as a free agent in the footwear department, before he set the new record wearing a pair of Michael Jordan’s “Legend Blue” Air Jordan 11 cleats.

The football star joins an ever-growing roster of NFL athletes signed with Jumpman, including Jalen Hurts, Puka Nacua, Dak Prescott, Maxx Crosby, and more.

Garrett has signed many brand deal partnerships throughout his sporting career, ranging from footwear and clothes to sports and hydration drinks. 

Most recently, he collabed with Netflix and Stranger Things in November ahead of the show’s fifth and final season.

The takeaways: 

The Jordan signing is a significant symbolic moment that aligns Garrett with fellow sporting-turned-cultural icons. Not only does the number 23 mark his own record-breaking moment, but the kismet achievement mirrors the brand’s very own Michael Jordan.

As Garrett continues to make history on the field, the athlete’s sporting successes make him a highly desirable partner for brands. His name holds weight as a gifted player, but it simultaneously represents a narrative that could lend itself to an authentic storytelling campaign.

Jordan Brand has long held cultural significance outside of the basketball scene it was birthed in, transcending sports and becoming a cross-generational force in the wider popular culture.

However, since securing Randy Moss as its first football signing in 1999, Jordan has been intentionally ramping up its presence in the NFL over nearly three decades. In 2018, it added seven players in one season alone.

Vice president of global brand marketing Sean Tresvant told Yahoo Sports in 2018 of the brand’s intention to “continue growing our presence and exposure on the field.”

A 2023 report found that Nike was still the most played-in American football cleats brand with a market share of almost 49%, with Adidas ranking second with 37.7%. Two years prior, Jordan was worn by just 6% of NFL starting wide receivers according to one survey.

While Nike may continue to dominate in both signing numbers and its athletes’ respective social media metrics — most of which are in the millions — Jordan has strategically placed focus on high-visibility talent aligned with its brand ideals of “greatness” and “legacy.”

Travis Kelce notably won the 2025 Super Bowl in a pair of Air Jordan 11s, with the game becoming the most-watched US TV broadcast since the 1969 Moon landing, boosting viewership due to his high-profile relationship with Taylor Swift.

With other recent signings including Maxx Crosby and Puka Nacua, Jordan has also intentionally thrown support behind breakout talent.

Could this new partnership be the start of a synonymous relationship between Garrett and the footwear brand? Does it signal the start of his breakout as a mainstream influential figure beyond the NFL? Is Jordan intent on dominating in the NFL in a way that places impact over numbers?