Marvin Harrison Jr. Partners with New Balance for Historic Cleat Debut
In a significant stride for both New Balance and Marvin Harrison Jr., the renowned running shoe company is making its first foray into football cleat design. Harrison Jr., a prominent wide receiver, will be debuting the first-ever football cleats designed by New Balance, marking a new chapter in the company’s storied history.
Earlier this offseason, Harrison inked a deal with New Balance, aligning himself with a brand long celebrated for its premier running shoes and athletic wear. This partnership underscores New Balance's ambitious vision to set new standards in football footwear.
Introducing the Prodigy
The cleats Harrison will be showcasing are named the Prodigy. These gold and white low-tops are specifically designed for skill players, embodying both performance and style. According to New Balance, the Prodigy is envisioned to be the best-fitting, most comfortable cleat in the game.
“Our first conversations about stepping onto the gridiron kicked off in 2020,” the company shared on their website. “The goal—making the best-fitting, most comfortable cleat in the game—was simple. Getting there was not.”
Indeed, the journey towards launching these cleats has been rigorous. New Balance commenced its football cleat project in 2020, dedicating immense resources and efforts to this venture. Integral to this process were NFL stars Chase Young and Will Anderson Jr., who were involved in testing prototype designs in New Balance's cutting-edge Sports Research Lab.
“We focused on an intelligent approach to product creation that combined our history of best-in-class craftsmanship with cutting-edge innovation,” New Balance elaborated. “The prototype designs were wear-tested in our Sports Research Lab by players at every level, including Chase Young and Will Anderson Jr. These insights proved vital throughout the process.”
Expanding the Lineup
While the Prodigy cleat takes center stage with Harrison Jr., New Balance has also introduced another variant called the Fortress. This black and gold high-top is designed for enhanced support and durability, catering to players who require increased stability on the field. This dual release underscores New Balance’s commitment to providing versatile and high-performance footwear options for football players.
The company’s mission is clear: “The game deserves better. We won’t settle for anything less than setting a new standard.”
Anticipation Builds Among Players and Fans
The anticipation surrounding Harrison’s debut in the Prodigy cleats is palpable. Kyler Murray, a quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, expressed his excitement over the potential impact Harrison could have on the field while wearing these innovative cleats.
“I think that takes us to another level,” Murray said, highlighting Harrison’s potential. “When you got a guy out there that is capable of winning one-on-ones, obviously he’s got to go do it and he knows that. We all know it, but as far as manipulating coverage and stuff like that, you got a guy out there that can do that and even if he’s not open, he’s open. I’m excited to be able to build that with him, but when he does what he does, yeah, I fully expect our offense to be top of the league.”
As New Balance steps into this new arena, their rigorous approach to product development, combined with the talent of athletes like Harrison Jr., sets a promising stage for their future in football. This moment signifies not only a pivotal turn for New Balance but also highlights their potential to revolutionize football footwear.