Olivia “Livvy” Dunne turned a gymnastics career at Louisiana State (LSU) into an NIL empire as she showed the world that even athletes in non-revenue sports could become national stars with the right combination of timing, personality, and platform.
Her rise coincided with TikTok’s explosion during the pandemic, where lifestyle-driven content fueled the appeal of both athlete and influencer. When NIL rules changed in 2021 to allow paid promotions, Dunne was perfectly positioned to capitalize, securing deals with Vuori, American Eagle, and Sports Illustrated. She set the standard for athlete branding.
Now, with Dunne’s NCAA career over, the question is who will step into her place as the next national face of NIL.
We work with many female athletes who represent brands well, even if they don’t have the national fame of Livvy Dunne.
Forbes (paywall)
October begins 🎃
October starts today and with it, the fourth quarter.
Discourse will soon turn to Halloween costumes and festivities before we know it. And then, Christmas because Thanksgiving is often overlooked.
Feel free to drop us an email and let us know what you think.
If you know someone else who would like this newsletter, send it to them. They can subscribe here.
Lastly, if this isn’t for you, the unsubscribe link is at the end of each email.
In honor of another Chargers victory, enjoy this photo of quarterback Justin Herbert.
Progressive Insurance brings back backup quarterback campaign
Progressive has revived its backup quarterback campaign from 2024 featuring NFL second string signal callers in humorous TV ads.
The 2025 campaign casts NFL backup quarterbacks like Teddy Bridgewater, Tommy DeVito, Tyler Huntley, and Mitch Trubisky as substitutes in everyday mishaps.
All NFL quarterbacks want to be starters but this campaign honors the second stringers in a humorous way.
Backup NFL quarterback Tommy Devito steps in to replace a disgruntled child for a family photo in Progressive Insurance’s commercial
Quick Hits
Italian sportswear brand Diadora has signed its first NIL deal with Villanova junior Marco Langon, marking its entry into college athlete endorsements. As part of the partnership, Langon will gain access to Diadora’s performance lab in Italy, altitude training, mentorship, and state-of-the-art gear designed at the company’s headquarters. (MSN via Footwear News)
AG1 takes a patient, community-first approach to sports sponsorships, investing years in building relationships before signing deals. Instead of chasing quick wins, the brand focuses on authentic adoption and team partnerships—measuring success by the “energy” created when athletes and fans embrace AG1. Marketing Brew
Overtime
Hope you’re enjoying the Game Changers newsletter.
Brought to you by Eric Wein from Athletes Endorse, a Los Angeles-based agency that creates sales-driven athlete marketing campaigns in under 30 days.
Email: [email protected]
Thank you for reading.
Until next week,
