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Athlete Endorsement Agreement

For athletes and brands teaming up on an endorsement, sponsorship, or NIL partnership.

Drafted by a Harvard Law entertainment attorney.

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Custom Contract

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Recommended for most users

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About 2 to 5 minutes

Editable Template

Download a blank version in Word or PDF that you fill out yourself. Every spot to fill is highlighted in yellow.

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Custom Contract or Editable Template?

Compare the two options before you choose.

Feature	Custom Contract	Editable Template
Best for	Most users	Editing everything yourself
How it works	Answer guided questions	Fill highlighted fields yourself
Word and PDF	Yes	Yes
E-signature	Yes	No
Time required	About 2 to 5 minutes	Depends on your edits
Price	$50	$50

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Is this the right contract for your endorsement deal?

This contract is built for an athlete who promotes, endorses, appears for, or creates content for a brand, including name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals. It fits partnerships where both sides want clear terms for deliverables, payment, how the athlete's identity is used, exclusivity, and any school or league rules.

Want a deeper overview? Read what to understand before signing an athlete endorsement agreement.

Good fit for

Athletes signing endorsement or NIL deals
Brands or collectives partnering with an athlete
Deals that use the athlete's name, image, or likeness
Partnerships with category exclusivity
College athletes who must follow NIL and eligibility rules

You may also need

Agent & Athlete Agreement - when an agent negotiates the deal
Appearance Agreement - when the deal includes paid appearances
Social Media Manager Agreement - when someone runs the athlete's accounts
Merchandise Licensing Agreement - when the deal includes branded merchandise
Non-Disclosure Agreement - before sharing private deal terms

What's Inside This Contract

Grant of rights and endorsement services

Sets what the athlete does and how the brand may use the athlete's identity.

Term and territory

States how long the deal lasts and the area it covers.

Compensation

Covers the payment and when it is due.

Intellectual property

Addresses ownership of the athlete's identity and the endorsement materials.

College athlete and NIL requirements

Addresses applicable athletics-association, commission, conference, school, reporting, and legal requirements.

Representations and warranties

Each side's promises about authority, products, and honest endorsement.

Insurance

Sets insurance the brand carries for appearances and events.

Termination

How either side can end the deal and what happens afterward.

Disputes and general provisions

Covers standard terms such as notices, how disputes are handled, and signatures.

Not sure what a section means? Every contract you create includes a built-in "Explain Sections" view with a plain-English note for each part of the document.

Before you start

It helps to have these details on hand before you create your contract:

Athlete and brand names
The deliverables and any appearances
How the athlete's name, image, or likeness is used
The payment and when it is due
Any category exclusivity
Term and territory
Whether any school or team marks are involved
Any NIL or eligibility rules that apply

Points Worth Negotiating

What the athlete must do and deliver
How the brand can use the athlete's name, image, or likeness
Whether the brand receives exclusivity in a category
Whether any school or team marks are involved
How long the brand can use the content
When payment is due

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an athlete endorsement agreement?

It is an agreement where an athlete promotes, appears for, or creates content for a brand in exchange for payment. It sets the deliverables, usage rights, term, and how the athlete's name, image, and likeness are used.

Who should sign an athlete endorsement agreement?

The athlete and the brand both sign. If the athlete works through a company, the company signs, and a guardian signs for an athlete who is a minor.

Is this the same as an NIL agreement?

They overlap. NIL refers to name, image, and likeness rights, and an endorsement agreement is one way an athlete licenses those rights to a brand.

What are likeness rights?

Likeness rights are permission to use an athlete's image, name, or recognizable features. The agreement sets out where, how, and for how long the brand can use them.

Can a brand use my school or team marks?

Not automatically. School and team logos and names are owned by those institutions, so the brand needs separate permission to use them.

What does exclusivity mean?

Exclusivity is a promise not to work with certain competing brands or product categories for a set time. A narrower category and shorter time limit other deals less.

Should I choose the custom contract or the editable template?

Choose the custom contract to answer a few questions and have it filled in for you. Choose the editable template if you prefer a blank version with labeled fields to complete yourself.

What are common warning signs in an athlete endorsement agreement?

These are common issues to watch for in any athlete endorsement agreement:

Unlimited use of the athlete's name, image, or likeness
Broad category exclusivity that blocks future deals
No clear deliverables
No payment deadline
School or team marks used without clear permission
Long-term rights that are not clearly explained

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