MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. — A new apparel provider brings fresh air to the Auburn University football team?
After wearing Under Armour for the past 18 years, the Tigers announced in April that they would switch to Nike as the team's official apparel manufacturer, with the change taking effect next summer, as Auburn's current contract with Under Armour expires in June 2025.
“We're always on the lookout for everything,” athletic director John Cohen said when asked about the possibility of alternate uniforms at the SEC spring meetings on Tuesday, “but we also want to pay tribute to the great traditions of our sport, especially football. We have an iconic uniform and we need to make sure we pay tribute to it again.”
Details of Auburn's new contract with Nike have not yet been made public. According to AL.com, a recent records request by the Montgomery Advertiser was denied because the entity Nike contracted with was the Tigers Unlimited Foundation, a separate nonprofit corporation. As a nonprofit with no direct ties to the university, the foundation's records, including its contracts, are not subject to public records requests.
“We're happy with where we are,” Cohen added. “We've had a great partnership with Under Armour for 18 years, we've won championships in their gear and we're fortunate to have them be a part of our history. But we had to make the best decision for Auburn University and we feel we have done that.”
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Richard Silva is an Auburn University sports reporter for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached by email at rsilva@gannett.com or on Twitter X (formerly Twitter) @rich_silva18.
