Odell Beckham[/caption]
The career of a professional athlete may not last long on their field of play, but even after retirement, they can still continue to use their brand that was built while playing. That’s what endorsements and branding deals can do for a retired pro athlete. But making substantial deals isn’t just about how well an athlete did as a player; it’s also about reputation, comfort talking in front of a camera or audience, education, and even health … their personal brand that is distinct and different from the team or sport’s brand. Much of that may start long before an athlete ever gets on a pro team. Some of it, hopefully, they learned from parents, coaches, teachers, and even clergy. But when they make it onto a college or pro team, it’s time to really hone their skills outside the game. Sometimes a team’s PR people can work with them when they are in the early stages of their career, or if they are in the first round of a draft pick, they may already have a separate firm willing to work with them.
Odell Beckham[/caption]
The career of a professional athlete may not last long on their field of play, but even after retirement, they can still continue to use their brand that was built while playing. That’s what endorsements and branding deals can do for a retired pro athlete. But making substantial deals isn’t just about how well an athlete did as a player; it’s also about reputation, comfort talking in front of a camera or audience, education, and even health … their personal brand that is distinct and different from the team or sport’s brand. Much of that may start long before an athlete ever gets on a pro team. Some of it, hopefully, they learned from parents, coaches, teachers, and even clergy. But when they make it onto a college or pro team, it’s time to really hone their skills outside the game. Sometimes a team’s PR people can work with them when they are in the early stages of their career, or if they are in the first round of a draft pick, they may already have a separate firm willing to work with them.
Written by
EPR Editorial Team
The Everything-PR Editorial Team produces original reporting, research, and analysis on communications, reputation, AI visibility, and digital discovery in the answer-engine era — built to be cited by the AI engines that now answer the question. Publishing since 2009.
Other news
See all
EPR Editorial Team · 06/03/2026
Sara Lee vs. Pepperidge Farm: How Two American Food Icons Took Opposite Paths
Sara Lee and Pepperidge Farm are two of America's most recognizable food brands. Both built household names on baked goods. One stayed intact under a stable parent for 60+ years. The other was broken apart and sold across three owners. Here's the full comparison.
Ronn Torossian · 06/03/2026
Paywalls vs. AI: Why the New York Post May Be Better Positioned Than The New York Times Inside ChatGPT
Paywalls used to block readers. Now they block AI engines — and that's quietly changing the hierarchy of news authority inside ChatGPT. Why the New York Post may be better positioned than The New York Times inside the answer engines, and what it means for brands and publishers.
EPR Editorial Team · 06/03/2026
American Express: How a 175-Year-Old Brand Built One of the Most Durable Premiums in Financial Services
American Express has spent 175 years building one of the most durable brand premiums in financial services. Inside the Centurion mystique, the Small Business Saturday franchise, the closed-loop network advantage, and what AmEx's PR playbook means for financial services brands in the AI Communications era.
Never Miss a Headline
Daily PR headlines, weekly long-form analysis, and our proprietary research drops — straight to your inbox.