Northwestern Athletics Announces Major 10-Year Under Armour Extension

Northwestern Athletics continues to make major moves, and the future in Evanston is looking brighter than ever.

On Friday, Northwestern officially announced a 10-year extension of its partnership with Under Armour, keeping the Wildcats outfitted by the global sports apparel brand through at least 2037.

The agreement is much more than simply continuing an existing partnership.

It includes increased investment in Northwestern Athletics, expanded Name, Image and Likeness opportunities for student-athletes, new uniform designs and additional marketing support across the university’s 21 varsity programs.

For Northwestern, it is another significant development during an exciting period for the athletic department.

The Wildcats originally partnered with Under Armour in 2011, becoming the company’s first Big Ten partner. Northwestern teams began wearing Under Armour apparel in 2012, and the relationship has continued for more than a decade.

Now, both sides are committing to another 10 years together.

One of the biggest aspects of the extension is the increased opportunities it creates for Northwestern student-athletes.

Under the new agreement, athletes will have more opportunities to participate in NIL partnerships with Under Armour, potentially allowing them to build their personal brands and benefit from the company’s national and global reach.

With NIL becoming such an important part of college athletics, these opportunities could provide Northwestern with another valuable resource as it looks to attract and retain talented athletes.

The agreement also includes a renewed focus on uniform design.

Under Armour plans to work directly with Northwestern student-athletes to develop specialty and alternate uniforms for marquee games, giving players a voice in how their teams look on the field and court.

That could be especially exciting for Northwestern football fans.

The Wildcats just opened the new Ryan Field with an impressive 34-13 victory over Penn State, creating plenty of excitement surrounding the program and its future.

With a new stadium, a growing football program and now additional opportunities for specialty uniforms, Northwestern continues to build its identity both on and off the field.

The partnership will also provide increased marketing investment and a broader selection of Northwestern-branded merchandise, giving fans more opportunities to support the Wildcats.

Northwestern athletic director Mark Jackson expressed his excitement about continuing the relationship, particularly as the university enters a new era.

“The enhancements in this agreement reflect a shared ambition to compete and win at the highest level,” Jackson said.

That statement reflects the direction Northwestern Athletics appears to be heading.

Over the past several years, the Wildcats have celebrated national championships in lacrosse, field hockey and women’s golf, while the men’s basketball program reached consecutive NCAA Tournaments in 2023 and 2024.

The football program is also generating excitement under head coach David Braun, particularly following the arrival of offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and the opening of New Ryan Field.

Now, Northwestern is securing another long-term partnership that could help support continued growth across the entire athletic department.

And perhaps the most encouraging part is that the benefits extend beyond football and basketball.

All 21 varsity programs will receive enhanced apparel, footwear and performance equipment, giving Northwestern athletes access to additional resources as they compete at the highest level.

That commitment is important for a university that wants to remain competitive across multiple sports in an increasingly demanding college athletics landscape.

Of course, an apparel partnership alone will not determine Northwestern’s success on the field.

But the increased investment, NIL opportunities and marketing support represent meaningful resources for an athletic department looking to take another step forward.

And the timing could hardly be better.

Northwestern has already made a major investment in its future with the opening of New Ryan Field. Now, the university has secured a long-term agreement with one of the biggest names in sports apparel.

It is another sign that Northwestern is not standing still.

From upgraded facilities to expanded opportunities for student-athletes, the Wildcats continue putting pieces in place to compete at a higher level.

For Northwestern fans, there is plenty of reason to be excited about what comes next.

And with Under Armour now committed through 2037, the partnership will be part of that future for years to come.