- Former New Orleans Saints’ QB Drew Brees has signed a promotional deal with PointsBet.
- Brees is also taking an equity stake in the Australian based sportsbook.
- PointsBet is live in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, and New Jersey.
As sports betting continues to grow in the United States it has opened up a new post-career opportunity for retired pro athletes. There’s been plenty of sportsbooks signing partnerships with retired NFL, NBA and NHL players to promote their business. The latest deal involves one of the best quarterbacks ever to play the game. Former New Orleans Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees has been announced as a ‘global brand ambassador’ of PointsBet USA. Brees will also take an equity stake in the sportsbook company.
Brees retired after the 2020 season to end a twenty year NFL career. He began his career with the San Diego (now Los Angeles) Chargers before moving on to the New Orleans Saints in 2006. It was in New Orleans that his career really took off and he’s considered to be arguably the best player in franchise history. Brees was named to the Pro Bowl 13 times, led the NFL in passing yardage 7 times and passing touchdowns 4 times. He also owns a host of impressive all time records including most career passing yards, most career pass completions, highest single season completion percentage, most consecutive games with a touchdown pass, most pass completions in a season, highest completion percentage in a game and is tied for most TD passes in a single game. He’s also the all time NFL leader in 300+ yard passing games.
The newly retired quarterback is transitioning into a broadcasting career with NBC Sports–the fact that NBC Sports and PointsBet have a promotional partnership no doubt figured prominently into Brees signing on. PointsBet is now the official, exclusive sports betting partner of NBC Sports:
As the official, exclusive sports betting partner of NBC Sports, PointsBet will utilize the media giant’s premium television and digital assets to promote the PointsBet brand. As part of the agreement, NBC Sports provides PointsBet with year-round, multi-platform media and marketing opportunities across its unmatched portfolio of events, including exclusive multiplatform gameday integrations across NBC Sports Regional Networks. PointsBet’s full Spanish-language functionality will reach Hispanic sports fans via Telemundo Deportes and Telemundo broadcast stations.
Here’s how a PointsBet press release described Brees’ role with the company:
PointsBet, a premier global online gaming operator, today announced that NFL all-time great and future Hall of Famer Drew Brees has officially joined the PointsBet team. Brees, who this season is transitioning from signal caller to a broadcasting career with NBC Sports – PointsBet’s official sports betting partner – will deepen the NBC Sports and PointsBet relationship as he forays into the sports betting landscape to contribute as a PointsBet global brand ambassador while the company continues to expand and realize the growing online gaming opportunity in 2021 and beyond.
As part of the exclusive, multi-year relationship, Brees will also become a significant PointsBet shareholder, taking an equity stake in the company to further illustrate the shared vision. Brees will both star in and help develop original content for PointsBet, lead watch parties, and steer marketing and promotional concepts, among other areas.
PointsBet USA CEO Johnny Aitkin is excited to have Brees join the company:
“Today is a massive day for our company as we welcome Drew Brees into the PointsBet family. Drew is renowned for his tireless work ethic and achieved great success in his career regardless of the obstacles in front of him, possessing the scrappy, well-prepared challenger, win-at-all-costs mentality that embodies PointsBet’s DNA. We look forward to collaborating for years to come and integrating Drew across our portfolio to complement PointsBet’s market-leading technology infrastructure and strategic approach to the competitive sports betting space.”
Brees also expressed his pleasure at joining the PointsBet USA team:
“I am excited to team up with PointsBet, a leader in the future of sports entertainment built off elite technology. Sports betting is growing across the country and will positively impact sports engagement, and I am proud to be at the forefront alongside PointsBet and NBC Sports.”
PointsBet opened a US office in Denver, Colorado’s LoDo district in 2020. They are now live in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, and New Jersey.
