
NFL, Mitchell & Ness team up with Lil Wayne on apparel
The NFL and Mitchell & Ness have teamed up with multi-platinum recording artist and cultural icon Lil Wayne to launch an exclusive series of limited-edition apparel collections.
The collections will blend Lil Wayne's signature style and love for the NFL with Mitchell & Ness's culture-defining aesthetic. The first drop will debut at the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay, spotlighting a collection inspired by the hometown Green Bay Packers—Lil Wayne's lifelong team.
The inaugural capsule will include limited-edition T-shirts, hoodies, and a jersey designed by Lil Wayne and infused with influences from his upcoming album Tha Carter VI. The designs combine the iconic 'Cheesehead' culture of the Packers with bold graphics and premium detailing.
"We had to create something that reps the G but still drips with that Tunechi flavor. It's more than merch,' said Lil Wayne. 'It represents legacy, loyalty and a little bit of luxury for the real ones.'
The partnership is expected to roll out new collections throughout the year, each spotlighting different NFL teams and showcasing Lil Wayne's creative direction. Fans can purchase pieces from the collaboration online, and at select team stores, as well as in person during the NFL Draft in Green Bay.
'This collaboration represents the essence of Mitchell & Ness – merging one of the most talented worldwide entertainers with iconic sports franchises and bold merchandise designs,' said Emilie Arel, president of Mitchell & Ness.
'We couldn't be more excited to launch a collection with Lil Wayne at the NFL Draft and are excited to see this relationship come to life and different points throughout the year.'
Xaimara Coss, director of licensing at the NFL added: 'Lil Wayne's influence on culture and music is undeniable, and we are excited to bring his creative vision to life with the help of Mitchell & Ness during the NFL Draft and beyond.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


France 24
4 days ago
- France 24
Canada, US, Mexico brace for World Cup extravaganza
Forty-eight teams and millions of fans are set to descend on North America for the first ever World Cup shared by three nations, with the tournament getting under way on June 11 next year. In theory, the 23rd edition of the most popular sporting spectacle on the planet has all the makings of a successful tournament. An array of venues ranging from Mexico's iconic Estadio Azteca to the glittering $5 billion SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles will play host to 104 games spread over nearly six weeks. The United States will host the bulk of those fixtures -- 78 -- with Canada and Mexico staging 13 each. All games from the quarter-finals onwards will be held in the United States, with the tournament culminating in the final at New Jersey's 82,500-seater MetLife Stadium on July 19, 2026. 'Like 104 Super Bowls' American officials believe the return of the World Cup to the country -- 32 years after the United States hosted the 1994 finals -- could represent a watershed moment for football in the country. "The World Cup is going to raise the attention of the sport in ways that nobody ever dreamed of," said Don Garber, the commissioner of Major League Soccer. FIFA's President Gianni Infantino meanwhile has been hyping next year's finals as the equivalent of "104 Super Bowls", contrasting the World Cup's estimated six billion viewers to the 120 million or so who tune in for the climax of the NFL season. There are historical precedents which suggest the hype might be justified. The 1994 World Cup in the United States remains the best attended World Cup in history, with an average of 68,600 fans flocking to each game. Yet while organisers eagerly anticipate a commercial success, with one FIFA estimate suggesting it could generate a mammoth $11 billion in revenues, questions over other aspects of the tournament remain. The 48 teams -- up from 32 in 2022 -- will be spread into 12 groups of four, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the knockout rounds, and the eight best third-placed teams joining them to make up a last 32. That expansion is likely to reduce the sense of jeopardy in the first round, a problem seen in other major championships which have increased in size in recent years. Visa backlog There is also the question of how the polarising policies of US President Trump may impact the tournament. Since taking office, Trump has launched a global trade war, repeatedly threatened to annex World Cup co-host Canada and launched an immigration crackdown at US borders which has seen overseas visitors from countries like France, Britain, Germany and Australia either detained or denied entry in recent months. Trump this week signed a travel ban on 12 countries including Iran, who have qualified for the World Cup, but the ban will not apply to players taking part in the tournament. Trump, who is chairman of a White House task force overseeing preparations for the World Cup, says overseas fans travelling to the tournament have nothing to fear. "Every part of the US government will be working to ensure that these events are safe and successful, and those traveling to America to watch the competition have a seamless experience during every part of their visit," Trump said last month. FIFA chief Infantino, who has forged a close relationship with Trump, echoed that point, insisting that America was ready to "welcome the world." "Everyone who wants to come here to enjoy, to have fun, to celebrate the game will be able to do that," Infantino said. With one year to go however, it is by no means clear that Infantino's pledge will hold up. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last month that some embassy staff may be required to work double-shifts to expedite visa processing, citing the example of Colombia, where US visa wait times are currently 15 months. "If you haven't applied for a visa from Colombia already, you probably won't get here in time for the World Cup unless we go to double shifts," Rubio told lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Those fans who do make the trip to North America may also find themselves having to fork out a small fortune due to FIFA's reported decision to use dynamic pricing to determine ticket prices. That system, where prices on ticketing websites fluctuate according to demand, may well force fans to shell out thousands of dollars to obtain tickets for the highest profile games. "Dynamic pricing does not belong in football because it is an exploitation of fans' loyalty," Ronan Evain, the executive director of the Football Supporters Europe fan group told The Times. "It would be a fiasco for FIFA to use it for the World Cup." © 2025 AFP


France 24
6 days ago
- France 24
NFL Vikings legend Marshall dead at 87
Marshall, who had been hospitalized for an extended stay, recovered 30 fumbles, the most by any NFL defensive end, but his wrong-way run with one of them became a signature play. On October 25, 1964, Marshall was playing for the Vikings against San Francisco when he recovered a fumble and returned it 66 yards the wrong way, pitching the ball out of bounds after crossing the goal line for a safety instead of the touchdown he thought he had scored. Undaunted, Marshall later forced a fumble that teammate Carl Eller returned for a touchdown in a 27-22 Minnesota triumph. Marshall, who played for Cleveland in 1960 before joining the expansion Vikings the next year, joined Eller and tackles Alan Page and Gary Larsen were among those who formed the "Purple People Eaters" defensive line that became a Vikings legend in the team's early seasons. "He was, if anybody ever has been, the heart and soul of the Minnesota Vikings," Page said. "It was my high honor to play next to him." Marshall, who began his career with Canada's Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1959, played in four Super Bowls with the Vikings before retiring in 1979 at age 41. "The entire Minnesota Vikings organization is mourning the loss of Jim Marshall," Vikings co-owners and top executives Mark and Zygi Wilf said in a statement. "No player in Vikings history lived the ideals of toughness, camaraderie and passion more than the all-time iron man. A cornerstone of the franchise from the beginning, Captain Jim's unmatched durability and quiet leadership earned the respect of teammates and opponents throughout his 20-year career. Jim led by example, and there was no finer example for others to follow."


France 24
21-05-2025
- France 24
NFL LA Games decision is flag football's 'Dream Team' moment: president
Tuesday's announcement made Trochet's 39th birthday all that more special, coming less than two years since the sport he leads gained the ultimate accolade in being voted onto the sports roster by International Olympic Committee members. Flag football is an abbreviated, five-a-side form of American football, in which players "tackle" each other by grabbing a flag attached to the waist of opponents. Six men's teams and six women's teams will take part in the Olympic tournament in 2028, with each squad comprised of 10 players. The NFL's announcement on Tuesday was "one of those milestones that we had on the playbook", said Trochet. "All of that was scripted, of course. NFL-style, right? I'll make the joke because it was my birthday," he told AFP at the launch of the European championships which take place in September in France. Trochet, who is the youngest head of an Olympic sport federation, equated having the NFL players available for LA28 to the NBA superstars' first appearance at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, where the USA 'Dream Team' won gold. Several NFL players have already expressed an interest, with Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and Kansas City Chiefs counterpart Patrick Mahomes among those indicating a desire to play in the Games. "We just keep on scoring every single time. So the recognition, the inclusion (in the Olympics)," Trochet said. "And now it is this Dream Team moment. "It's a huge milestone. I mean, how many sports can pretend to bring all of that kind of sports super power? NBA, the NFL." The former offensive lineman said having played for France in gridiron -- at "a humble level" -- he knew how special it was to represent one's country. 'Family pride' Trochet -— who had spells with the Amiens Spartans in France and the Austrian franchise Danube Dragons -- said singing the national anthem and donning the country's colours sent chills down one's spine. "I think for every athlete it's something special, being in the Olympics, being with your national team, getting that gold medal," he said. "Putting yourself in the Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps category, being on this global stage. "It's a new excitement for them." The urbane Frenchman, who grew up steeped in American culture in Chateauroux, central France, as it hosted a US airforce base, said the Olympics offered something unique. "Being a Super Bowl winner is awesome and it's so hard to try to get to the Super Bowl every year, but you might have only one chance in your career to get an Olympic medal," he said. For Trochet there is no let-up as he seeks to ensure flag football is in the programme for Brisbane in 2032, which he says will be decided before Los Angeles. "I said at the beginning that LA was not a one and done," he said. "So whenever this process will start, we're ready and we will put forward a very appealing proposition to stay in the game. "The NFL thing probably helps. It's one of those things that brings value." French captain Elisa De Santis still has a full-time job despite winning world and European titles -- and at 36 the lure of Los Angeles offers her one final hurrah. "It is the Games that give me oxygen," she told AFP. For the urbane Trochet Los Angeles also offers a personal goal -- taking along his father, who was responsible for him catching the gridiron bug as he was president of the Chateauroux club.