A Potential Consolation

Because of the NCAA’s rule, current deals can’t be nullified because of injury. And as StockX pointed out, an athlete wouldn’t automatically lose their marketability, either.

That could mean everything to athletes who suffer season-ending injuries — or receive career-ending diagnoses.

If they have pro potential, their draft stock could severely decrease, or disappear altogether. But they won’t lose their NIL deals.

• Take Miami quarterback D’Eriq King, for example, who hit the ground running with deals, like a co-founder title at Dreamfield and a partnership with the Florida Panthers.
• A few weeks into the season, King suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. But he didn’t lose his social media following or the personal characteristics that enticed some brands to work with him.
• And if King can make a comeback, that would likely only improve his marketability in the eyes of potential sponsors.

In this sense, NIL ensures athletes can make at least some money no matter what happens in the future. And that can’t be taken away. 

Athletes could even sign new deals while hurt — there’s nothing stopping them from inking partnerships while rehabbing. 

As experts have previously told FOS, it’s the athlete’s brand that counts.