Inside The Panthers

Pitt Extends Apparel Contract with Nike

The Pitt Panthers will be a Nike school through 2026.

Stephen Thompson

Pitt Extends Apparel Contract with Nike
Pitt Extends Apparel Contract with Nike /
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PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers have extended their contract with Nike through 2026, furthering a long-held partnership 

For the next three years, at least, Pitt Athletics will be clothed by the athletic apparel giant, the same way they have for the previous 15 years, the athletic department announced this week. 

"When you have the opportunity to extend a productive and mutually beneficial partnership, you Just Do It!," Pitt Director of Athletics Heather Lyke said. "Pitt and NIKE have been terrific partners for nearly 15 years, and extending our agreement through 2026 supports our department, our coaches, student-athletes, and staff. We have seen success on the field and in apparel sales since our rebrand with NIKE in 2019. I am eager to see how our Pitt-NIKE relationship continues to progress over the coming years."

Nike helped Pitt oversee its gradual rebrand process, moving from the block letter logo that occupied most of the 2000s and 2010s to the current script logo, along with a return to the pre-1990s retro colors. 

Nike produced each of the home, away and alternate uniforms for the Panthers' 19 varsity sports as they made the transition to updated colors and brandings, with new alternate uniforms arriving intermittently for several teams. Before that, they created retro uniforms that teased the return to bright blue and gold and the script logos, in addition to creating full-time uniforms that fully transitioned away from the block-letter logo. 

Adidas had been Pitt's primary apparel source from 1997 to 2008. Pitt did not disclose financial details of the deal at the time but then-athletic director Steve Pederson said it was a "fairly long-term deal." Pitt Athletics did not disclose the financial details of this contract extension either. 

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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