Nike exercises contract option with UCLA, extending partnership to 2029

The checks keep clearing from Nike, so the UCLA Bruins might as well stick with checks on their uniforms too. According to the California Post’s Ben Bolch, Nike accepted an option to extend it’s apparel contract with UCLA for two additional years back in December of last year.

UCLA and Nike will now remain partners through at least June 30, 2029. Meaning that at minimum, Nike will be making the uniforms for the first three seasons of Bob Chesney’s tenure with UCLA football.

The partnership makes sense for both sides. Nike is the biggest brand in American sports and even though UCLA isn’t a force in men’s basketball or on the gridiron, it remains one of the most recognizable brands in college athletics. Bolch shared the details, which shows that the Bruins will be receiving a half of million dollars every year in the deal.

“Under the terms of the contract, UCLA will receive $7 million in retail value of Nike and Jordan Brand gear for the 2026-27 school year, the final year of the original deal, as well as $7.125 million in gear for the first option year and $7.25 million in gear for the second option year,” Bolch said. “UCLA will also receive $500,000 in cash for each of the next three school years as part of the deal, the same amount it had received in earlier years as part of a contract that took effect on July 1, 2021.”

UCLA has been with Nike/Jordan since 2020 after the school’s deal with Under Armour fell apart, leading to an eight-figure settlement to UCLA athletics. Perhaps the Under Armour deal not going through was a blessing in disguise for UCLA, allowing the Bruins to enter the NIL era of collegiate sports with a brand that’s held in a higher regard.

This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Nike exercises two additional years in apparel deal with UCLA