HBCU Howard University recently confirmed a 20-year deal with Michael Jordan’s Jordan Brand as they announced their partnership in a press release.
Focused on equity, the deal between the HBCU and Jordan Brand will help generate more opportunities for the athletes in the university’s sports divisions. The duo will also make an effort to impact the recruitment process as they focus on bringing positive change to both athlete and academic life to inspire future incoming students.
Overall, according to the athletic company, the new partnership aims to honor HBCU culture which they said has impacted Black culture across the country by further creating connections across the global diaspora.
As part of the 20-year deal, Jordan Brand will tailor and make available Jumpman uniforms specifically for the athletes across the university’s sports programs. Set to debut during the season on Aug. 27, the first of the uniforms will be unveiled when the Howard Bisons take on the Alabama State Hornets.
“We have always been proud of our legacy at Howard University, but we are audacious enough to believe our future could be brighter than our past,” said the president of Howard University, Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick in a statement. “Partnering with Jordan Brand is another signal of our ambitions as a university to become an even brighter beacon for Black Excellence. We are thrilled to work on that vision of greatness together.”
Howard University joins a long list of colleges that have already partnered with Jordan Brand. Since its formation, the company has formed partnerships with college teams such as the Marquette Golden Eagles, San Diego State Aztecs and Florida Gators amongst others, but no teams came from HBCUs; the new deal makes Howard University the second-ever HBCU to partner with Jordan Brand since their deal with North Carolina A &T.
In 1997, the company kicked off its launch on the college level by partnering with the HBCU, making it one of the three institutes known as “Jordan Schools” and the only HBCU to work with Jordan Brand until now.
Despite this, the brand has previously fostered connections with HBCUs. In 2021, Jordan Brand donated $1 million to Atlanta HBCU Morehouse College to support upcoming journalists and students in sports-related fields through increased funding for technology, programs and scholarships. The gift was part of the company’s Black Community Commitment, a $100 million initiative dedicated to building up Black communities in the U.S. to fight for systemic change and a more equitable future.
“Howard University and Jordan Brand share a legacy of excellence and deep commitment to the Black Community,” said the president of Jordan Brand, Craig Williams, in a statement. “As a HBCU graduate, I understand the educational impact an institution like Howard University has.We are proud to partner with Howard University and see the growth in Black talent on the field and well beyond it.”
