College track star Steve Prefontaine was the first athlete to endorse the Nike brand.

Sports Illustrated Ranking the Top 10 Athletes by Endorsement Income for 2018 The highest-paid athletes in the world aren't always the ones who are raking in the most money in endorsement deals.

The signing of basketball player Michael Jordan in 1984, with his subsequent promotion of Nike over the course of his career, with Spike Lee as Mars Blackmon , proved to be one of the biggest boosts to Nike's publicity and sales. Among those were powerhouses Duke, Kansas, Michigan State, Florida and Georgetown. Nike has also sponsored many other successful track and field athletes over the years, such as Carl Lewis, Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Sebastian Coe. In 2012, Nike became the official sponsor of the National Football League. Nike-sponsored athletes are posting weekly home workout challenges on Instagram to help keep people fit and engaged with the brand during the coronavirus lockdown.. Footballer Cristiano Ronaldo kicked off Nike’s Living Room Cup on 5 April, posting an Instagram video of himself at home completing 142 ‘core crusher’ sit ups in 45 seconds and challenging Instagram users to beat him. Nike has become synonymous with celebrity endorsements and sponsorships. The Nike Community Ambassador program gives Nike store employees the opportunity to share their love of sport with kids in their local communities. For example, in 2013, the company sponsored 52 of the 68 teams competing in the NCAA basketball tournament, according to the Sports Business Daily. Rob Carr/Getty Images. by Matt Reevy on September 13, 2015. In addition to its long list of athletes, Nike sponsors many college athletic programs.

Bloomberg Business Week noted that as of 2012, the retailer spent 13.5 percent of total company revenue on these marketing efforts. Athletes who are sponsored by Nike include Carmelo Anthony, Derek Jeter, Michael Finley, Dwight Freeney, Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan. Nike is the exclusive apparel sponsor of the USA Olympic Track and Field team. Nike, Inc. is an American multinational corporation which is the world's largest supplier and manufacturer of athletic shoes, apparel and other sports equipment. Inspiring the next generation of athletes. By volunteering in schools and communities around the world, Nike Community Ambassadors aren’t just getting kids playing and moving today, they’re inspiring them to be active for life. 6 Athletes Who Were ‘Fired’ By Nike.