C.J. Stroud Had an NIL Deal In College That Let Him Swap Cars Every 60 Days

Before July 2021, student-athletes were prohibited from earning an income on their name and likeness. Any attempt to profit from their athletic prowess was a breach of their NCAA contract and made them ineligible to play college sports. In July 2021, new rules went into effect to allow college students to profit from their name and likeness. Some athletes were quick to cash in. Within the first week, millions of dollars changed hands, and it hasn’t stopped. Not all of the deals were with massive companies, either. In 2022, C.J. Stroud signed a unique NIL contract that netted him the car of his choice and access to an entire dealership of rides.

C.J. Stroud had an NIL deal that let him drive multiple luxury cars

In 2023, C.J. Stroud was drafted by the Houston Texans. He was not an unknown. He played college football at Ohio State University and had plenty of hype surrounding him. Stroud landed in Ohio as a freshman in 2020, and while his time at the university was complicated by COVID-19, he did make the most of it. A local car dealership certainly thought he was a pretty big deal. In 2022, Stroud signed a unique Name, Image, and Likeness contract with Sarchione Auto Gallery, a luxury dealership group in Ohio. The deal ensured Stroud had the vehicle of his choosing to drive.

Initially, Stroud chose a Bentley Bentayga, but later changed his mind and drove around Ohio in a Mercedes G-Wagon as a college sophomore. The car was valued at around $200,000. He didn’t have to make any big decision right away, either. According to ABC6, the then-college quarterback had an additional clause in his contract that allowed him to swap out cars at his discretion every couple of months. The signal caller was encouraged to try out multiple cars while the deal was active.

In exchange for essentially unfettered access to the dealership floor, Stroud agreed to promote the dealership through social media posts and brand awareness tie-ins. Stroud also made promotional appearances for the dealership before leaving Ohio behind for the NFL.

He has partnered with another local dealership these days

While Stroud’s NIL deal carried him through his collegiate years, he has since moved on. Stroud left Ohio in 2023 and now makes his home in Texas. Once he arrived in Houston, he made quick work of finding a car partner in his new city. In 2024, Stroud announced his partnership with Advantage BMW, a dealership in Houston. While the details of that deal remain private, rumours suggest Stroud has a vehicle issued to him through that dealership, similar to the way his original NIL contract in Ohio worked.

Cars aren’t the only type of sponsorships and partnerships that interest the Texans’ star quarterback, either. In late 2024, he announced a collaboration with Jordan. According to Sports Illustrated, the multi-year deal has Stroud representing the sportswear brand on the field. The deal doesn’t include a signature shoe. Still, it’s not out of the question down the line. Stroud’s addition to the team helps the brand further expand its presence in the NFL. A signature shoe could be historic, and the company’s next step in becoming a football powerhouse, too.