The Michael Jordan Family Pens Heartfelt Note as $178 Million Michigan Investment Gives ROI After 9 Long Years: “Hail to the Victors”

Michael Jordan gets to share in the glory of another championship. As the Michigan Wolverines football team is now the College Football Playoff national champions, he was quick to celebrate the win. The University of Michigan’s football program has a partnership with Air Jordan since 2016. That partnership showed on the giant screens of the NRG Stadium in Houston.

Air Jordan’s official Instagram page showcased the Jumpman logo on the screens in a special message to the victors. “From unfinished business, to undefeated. Congrats to the University of Michigan on an undefeated season and the national championship. Hail to the Victors from your Jordan Family.”

The Wolverines have seized the title for the first time since 1997 with the 34-13 victory. Celebrations were marked by the Jordan Brand which is behind the blue and yellow colorway Wolverines gear. The Wolverines are not only the first college to sign with Air Jordan but also the first Jumpman team to win the national championship.

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Currently, 9 college football teams wear the exclusive Jordan Brand gear – Michigan Wolverines, North Carolina Tar Heels (MJ’s alma mater), Florida Gators, Oklahoma Sooners, UCLA Bruins, Morehouse Tigers, Norfolk State Spartans, Houston Cougars, and Howard Bison. Notably, Nike released special editions of the Air Jordan 3s and 11s themed around Michigan’s opponents, the Washington Huskies, ahead of the game. These partnerships only came through because of the Wolverines.

Air Jordan’s game-changing gamble on the Wolverines

When the Wolverines hired Jim Harbaugh in 2015, not only football analysts saw the school’s fortunes turning. The Jordan Brand saw the potential and inked their first college football deal with them. MJ’s billion-dollar sneaker brand paid the program an initial $12 million, followed by $76.8 million in annual payments and an investment of about $85 million worth of apparel.

Air Jordan’s parent company, Nike has much bigger deals with other D1 programs. But the Black Cat seal of approval has more perks. Desmond Howard said in the ESPN pre-game show, “I believe it all started when [Michigan] signed with Jumpman because when they did that, it gave them credibility with a lot of recruits they wanted. And I think that Michigan tonight will be the first football team, sponsored by Jumpman, to win the National Championship.”

His prediction came true. The Michael Jordan impact was felt in the Wolverines nation as they added this new notch to the Jordan Brand’s trophy room.

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