Tebow, the New York Jets new backup quarterback, built up quite the following during the 2011 NFL season and it appears that it’s not just fans who are fawning over his good nature and charm.
Nike, who will own the rights to all NFL-related merchandise as of Sunday, April 1, has filed a lawsuit against fellow sporting goods provider Reebok for marketing and selling Tebow’s new Jets jerseys.
Nike Inc. claims in the suit that Reebok International Ltd., which is a subsidiary of the Adidas Group, has used Tebow’s name on Jets apparel without the permission from Nike or the player’s consent.
The Tebow trade, which was finalized late last week, took place just days before Nike replaces Reebok as the official supplier of NFL team uniforms and apparel.
The lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages, states that demand for such gear was abnormally high last week, during what is typically a slow time of year for jersey sales. It also claims that the unauthorized jerseys sold by Reebok will compromise the sale of authorized Nike jerseys in the future.
New Nike-supplied uniforms for all of the NFL’s 32 teams will be unveiled next week in New York City. The unveiling will kick off Nike’s five-year deal as the league’s official sponsor.
