Marvin Harrison Jr. and New Balance Step onto the Grid Iron with Historical Debut
As soon as Marvin Harrison Jr. takes the field this season, fans will witness a historic moment in football. Harrison, poised to make an indelible mark on the sport, will debut the first-ever football cleats designed by the iconic brand New Balance.
Earlier this offseason, Harrison inked a deal with New Balance, adding another feather to his illustrious cap. Known for their premier running shoes and athletic wear, New Balance has set its sights on the gridiron, aiming to revolutionize football footwear. Harrison will lead this charge, likely donning the New Balance Prodigy cleat—an expertly crafted gold and white low-top designed for skill players that promises a perfect blend of style and performance.
New Balance's Ambitious Venture
The journey to these game-changing cleats began in 2020 when New Balance first entertained the idea of entering the competitive world of football gear. "Our first conversations about stepping onto the gridiron kicked off in 2020," the company shared on their website. "The goal—making the best-fitting, most comfortable cleat in the game—was simple. Getting there was not."
New Balance's approach to creating these groundbreaking cleats has been nothing short of meticulous. Combining its rich history of best-in-class craftsmanship with cutting-edge innovation, the company wear-tested prototype designs in their celebrated Sports Research Lab. Players at every level, including NFL standouts Chase Young and Will Anderson Jr., were integral to this testing phase, ensuring that the cleats would meet the high demands of top-level competition.
"We focused on an intelligent approach to product creation that combined our history of best-in-class craftsmanship with cutting-edge innovation," New Balance stated. "The prototype designs were wear-tested in our Sports Research Lab by players at every level, including Chase Young and Will Anderson Jr. These insights proved vital throughout the process."
Cleats Designed for Every Battle
Beyond the Prodigy cleat, New Balance has introduced another variant dubbed the Fortress. This black and gold high-top cleat is engineered for the men who engage in the fiercest battles on the field, providing enhanced support and durability where it's most needed. This diversity in design underscores New Balance's commitment to catering to the various demands of football players, reflecting the dynamic nature of the sport itself.
High Praise from NFL Stars
Harrison's collaboration with New Balance has already garnered significant attention, with peers like Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray singing his praises. "I think that takes us to another level," Murray said, expressing his excitement about Harrison's potential impact on the field. "When you got a guy out there that is capable of winning one-on-ones, obviously he's got to go do it and he knows that. We all know it, but as far as manipulating coverage and stuff like that, you got a guy out there that can do that and even if he's not open, he's open. I'm excited to be able to build that with him, but when he does what he does, yeah, I fully expect our offense to be top of the league."
With talents like Harrison Jr. and Murray rallying behind New Balance's innovative designs, it's clear that the brand's entry into football is more than just a business maneuver—it's a transformative step toward setting a new standard in the sport. As echoed by New Balance, "The game deserves better. We won't settle for anything less than setting a new standard."
With this vision and commitment, New Balance, alongside players like Marvin Harrison Jr., is poised to usher in a new era of football excellence, one step at a time.