Eli Manning on XTech investment: Excited to help the company expand and grow

Key Concepts:

• X Tech shoulder pads: Advanced football shoulder pads emphasizing safety, customization, and mobility.
• NFL, College, High School, and Youth Football Markets: The different levels of football that X Tech is targeting.
• Customization and Mobility: Key features of X Tech pads compared to traditional bulky pads.
• Concussion Prevention: The shift in focus from helmets to shoulder pads for overall safety.
• NIL (Name, Image, Likeness): College athletes being compensated for endorsements and sponsorships.
• Transfer Portal: College athletes' ability to transfer schools and the impact of NIL deals on these decisions.
• Women's Sports: The growth and increasing visibility of women's sports, particularly soccer.

X Tech Shoulder Pads

• Product Overview: X Tech manufactures shoulder pads designed for football players, emphasizing safety, customization, and enhanced mobility.
• Eli's Involvement: Eli Manning began using X Tech pads in 2014 with the Giants and witnessed their growth in the NFL and college markets. He is now an investor in the company.
• Market Opportunity: While X Tech dominates the NFL and college markets (10% of pad users), there's a significant opportunity to expand into high school and youth football. A youth shoulder pad is set to launch next year.
• Pad Features: X Tech pads are lighter, fit better, and offer greater mobility compared to traditional bulky pads. This allows players, especially quarterbacks and receivers, to move freely and perform better.
• Evolution of Shoulder Pads: Traditional shoulder pads were generic and often ill-fitting. Now, there's a focus on customization and performance-enhancing features.
• Parental Involvement: Parents are increasingly involved in purchasing equipment for their children, seeking the safest and best products, as worn by NFL and college players like Josh Allen, Matthew Stafford, Justin Jefferson, and Max Crosby.
• Innovation in Shoulder Pads: X Tech identified a gap in the market, as most innovation had been focused on helmets and concussion prevention.

Football Safety and Equipment

• Efforts to Improve Safety: Football at all levels has made strides in safety by reducing head-to-head contact and late hits.
• Rule Changes and Training: Rule changes, less hitting in practice, and emphasis on proper tackling form are aimed at reducing injuries.
• Importance of Safe Equipment: Safe pads and equipment are crucial, especially at the youth and high school levels, to keep players healthy and foster a passion for the game.
• Investment in Player Health: At the college and NFL levels, player health is an investment for schools and players, especially with NIL contracts. Injuries can jeopardize careers and earning potential.

Sports Business and Investments

• NFL Franchise Valuations: NFL franchise valuations continue to grow due to the league's popularity and live TV viewership.
• Eli's Ownership Interests: Eli considered becoming a minority owner in the Giants but found it too expensive and potentially conflicting with his other roles. He owns a stake in Gotham FC, a women's soccer club.
• Growth of Women's Sports: Eli sees significant value and opportunity in women's sports, driven by the increasing visibility and popularity of leagues like the NWSL.
• Passion for Women's Sports: His investment in Gotham FC is a "passion play," allowing his daughters to be around professional female athletes and have role models.

NIL and College Athletics

• NIL is Here to Stay: Eli believes NIL is a permanent fixture in college sports and that athletes deserve to be compensated for their contributions.
• Benefits of NIL: Athletes can leverage their popularity and social media presence to drive brands and earn endorsements.
• Concerns about the Transfer Portal: Eli is concerned about the impact of NIL on the transfer portal, where athletes frequently transfer schools for better financial deals.
• Recruiting Priorities: He worries that athletes are prioritizing financial incentives over factors like coaching, teammates, and campus environment when choosing a school.
• Importance of Fit: Eli emphasizes the importance of choosing a school where athletes will be happy even if they don't play football, a factor he believes is being overshadowed by NIL deals.

Conclusion

Eli Manning's investment in X Tech reflects a belief in the company's product and its potential to improve player safety across all levels of football. He also highlights the growing opportunities in women's sports and expresses concerns about the impact of NIL deals on college athletics, particularly the transfer portal and recruiting priorities. The key takeaway is the importance of innovation in sports equipment, the increasing value of women's sports, and the need for a balanced approach to NIL that prioritizes athletes' well-being and long-term development.