The Pantone Color of the Year might be Very Peri, a purplish shade representing “carefree confidence.” But a new Pantone shade is displaying another blend of confidence—the confidence that comes with being one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.
This is “Brady Blue,” a specific shade that will be used for Tom Brady’s upcoming “Brady” apparel brand.
Developed in partnership with quarterback @TomBrady, @bradybrand and Pantone Color Institute: Brady Blue 112-22 is bold, exuding strength and confidence, imbued with an inner intensity, emblematic of his self-determination and commitment to precision.#Pantone #Bradyblue pic.twitter.com/4toZamFxa1
— PANTONE (@pantone) December 23, 2021
It’s nice, right?
Pantone was quick to point out in a press release that this “isn’t the same blue” as Brady’s former New England Patriots, but is a color that is meant to “embolden the next generation to new heights” and give off “strength and confidence.”
That next generation includes current college athletes, who now have more freedom to profit from their name, image and likeness (NIL). The Brady brand has already signed players from Georgia and Coastal Carolina, and branched out to other sports, including college ice hockey and basketball.
The apparel brand is scheduled to debut on Jan. 12 via the company’s direct-to-consumer e-commerce platform, with future plans to end up in Nordstrom stores.
“Having these 10 athletes represent our first Brady campaign is really special,” Brady said, according to Sports Pro Media. “They are hard-working and driven players in the early stages of their careers, and each one of them embodies the spirit and ethos in which our brand was founded.”
In the music world, certain bands have transitioned from their touring days to becoming more of a brand than a band. Think Slayer, or other bands with members who are deceased, like Nirvana. Their logo is like any other designer logo at this point.
Brady might never actually retire. He’s given no indication that he’s ready to slow down or that the game has passed him by. But, in the event that he does prove human and hangs up his cleats one day, the Brady brand will be there waiting for him to transition from the playing days to the branding days, and there will be a good stable of athletes who by that point will be established in professional careers and a new stable of players ready to move up.
Like everything he’s done so far, Brady is doing this right. And how many other athletes can say they have their own color?
