Chase Claypool Signs with Nike’s Jordan Brand
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool has signed an endorsement deal with Nike’s Jordan brand, the company announced Tuesday.
After sporting multiple different brands throughout his rookie season, Claypool seemed to settle on Jordan at the very end. Now it appears that extended audition has culminated in a partnership.
Claypool joins an exclusive group of elite NFL players to wear Jordan on-field that includes Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams, Kansas City Chiefs running back Le’Veon Bell and his Steelers teammate Joe Haden.
Claypool consulted with Haden during the decision-making process, which he says helped sway him in the end.
“Joe (Haden) told me that they really take care of you at Jordan Brand,” Claypool said in a post on the company’s website announcing his signing, “They look out for the guys, and it really is a family environment. You can always reach out if you need anything. They look out for charitable organizations and help players with them, too. The more I talked to Joe, the easier it was to make the decision.”
"I always want to be different in a good way. I wanted to be someone people could look up to."
— Jordan (@Jumpman23) January 12, 2021
Learn more about star rookie @ChaseClaypool’s journey to Jordan Brand, and how he uses his platform to spread mental health awareness.
Claypool also cited the Packers’ Adams, as well as New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson and Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Dončić of the NBA, as fellow Jordan athletes across sports he is a fan of. The rookie wideout also spoke about his affinity for the City of Pittsburgh, the Steeler and their fans in the interview.
“I was super lucky to be drafted by Pittsburgh, especially with the fan base and the history of the organization,” he said. “They made the transition pretty easy, especially by being around all these veterans. Coach (Mike) Tomlin is one of the most decorated coaches in the league, in terms of producing good players, good receivers and putting together all of these winning seasons. All I have to do is work hard and let my game do the talking.”
Lastly, Claypool discussed his growing social media following and the importance of telling his own story off the field.
“I think that developing your brand outside of the football field is important, because people don’t get to see what you look like underneath the helmet,” Claypool said. “Some of the headlines don’t tell the true story of who you are. Putting out content like that helps you gain a fanbase outside of football, one that likes your personality and not just who you are as a player. You can have a bad game and still have people supporting you.”
Claypool had an outstanding first season, earning the Joe Greene Great Performance Award as the Steelers’ top rookie.
The Notre Dame product caught 62 passes for 873 yards and nine touchdowns. He also rushed for a pair of scores, tying Louis Lipps for the most touchdowns scored by a Steelers rookie with 11 total.
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