What Brand Football Does the NFL Use?

The NFL has a contract with Nike for their official game balls, but there are other brands that are popular among players. Find out what some of the most popular brands are and why they’re preferred.

Introduction

The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league consisting of 32 teams, divided equally between the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC). The NFL is one of the four major North American professional sports leagues, the highest professional level of American football in the world, the richest professional sport league by revenue, and the sport league with the most valuable teams. The regular season runs from September to December, with each team playing 16 games and having one bye week.

So what brand football does the NFL use? The answer may surprise you. While you may think that such a major organization would have a contract with a specific company, that is not the case. In actuality, the NFL has an open bidding process for companies that want to supply footballs for use during games.

Official Football of the NFL

The National Football League (NFL) has a contract with Nike that began with the 2012 season. They supply all teams with game balls, as well as practice and training balls. The game ball is called the “The Duke” and is named after Wellington Mara, who was the longtime owner of the New York Giants.

Nike also makes all of the uniforms for NFL teams. Previously, Reebok had the contract from 2001-2011.

Why the NFL Chose This Brand

The National Football League has a long-standing relationship with Wilson Sporting Goods, and the company has been the official provider of game balls for the NFL since 1941.

In a 2017 interview with Forbes, Wilson’s director of brand identity and sports marketing, Ryan Moloney, discussed why the NFL chose to partner with Wilson.

“The NFL is the highest level of competition in our sport,” said Moloney. “So when you have the best players in the world playing on Sundays, they’re going to want to use the best equipment. That’s where we come in.”

Moloney went on to say that Wilson working closely with NFL teams to ensure that the balls meet their specific requirements is another key reason why the partnership has been so successful.

“We’re constantly working with them [NFL teams] to make sure that our balls meet their specific needs and wants,” he said. “Whether it’s adjusting air pressure or working on new designs, we’re always looking for ways to help them perform at their highest level.”

Other Popular Football Brands

Wilson is the official football of the NFL, but that doesn’t mean that other brands aren’t popular among players and fans. Here are some other brands of footballs that you might see on the field or in the stands.

Nike
Nike is one of the most popular brands in the NFL. The company has a contract to supply game balls for Thursday Night Football and Monday Night Football. Nike also has a contract to supply balls for all playoff games, including the Super Bowl.

Under Armour
Under Armour is another popular brand in the NFL. The company has a contract to supply game balls for Sunday Night Football. Under Armour also supplies balls for all playoff games, except for the Super Bowl.

Adidas
Adidas is also a popular brand in the NFL. The company has a contract to supply game balls for Monday Night Football and Sunday Night Football. Adidas also supplies balls for all playoff games, except for the Super Bowl.

What to Look for When Buying a Football

Whether you’re a diehard football fan or just getting into the sport, you’ve probably wondered what brand of football the NFL use. All 32 NFL teams use Wilson footballs, which have been the official game ball of the league since 1941.

The Wilson company has been making footballs since they were founded in 1913, and they are now the only official provider of game balls for the NFL, as well as for major colleges and high schools across the country.

When you’re looking to buy a football, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, whether you’re looking for an official NFL ball or not. If you are, then you need to make sure that it bears the Wilson logo.

Second, consider what size ball you need. Official NFL balls are size seven, which is recommended for ages 12 and up. If you’re looking for a ball for younger players, sizes five and six are available.

Third, think about what kind of material you want your ball to be made from. Leather is the traditional choice and offers a great grip, but synthetic materials like microfiber are becoming more popular because they’re more durable and easier to clean.

Finally, consider any extra features that might be important to you, such as inflation needles or a storage bag. Once you know what you’re looking for, buying a football can be a fun and easy process.

Conclusion

After doing some research, we have come to the conclusion that the NFL uses Wilson footballs. We could not find a definitive answer, but all of the evidence seems to point to Wilson.