Showing 694 results for:
contract
Popular topics
All results
When the New England Patriots inked Stefon Diggs to a four-year, $69 million deal, $25 million of it guaranteed, it didn’t just make headlines; it marked a directional shift. A franchise long defined by systematic precision and conservative spending is finally reaching a new identity: one shaped around adaptability, controlled risk, and cultural recalibration. Betting On Diggs Production In A Post-Prime Window Diggs is 31 years old, and he’s coming off a torn ACL that sidelined him in Week 8 of the 2024 season. And yet, his numbers from those eight games with the Houston Texans weren’t symbolic—they were substantial. According to ESPN, he tallied 47 receptions for 496 yards and three touchdowns, ranking seventh in total receptions at the time and averaging 62.0 yards per game. C.J. Stroud posted a 104 passer rating and a 73% completion rate when targeting him, evidence of Diggs’ continued ability to elevate a quarterback’s efficiency. Even if the explosiveness has dulled slightly,...
From breaking records on the field to securing lucrative endorsements, DK Metcalf has established himself as a wide receiver to watch in the NFL. Since being drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in 2019, he has quickly risen to elite status, becoming one of the league’s most dominant offensive weapons. Known for his rare combination of size, speed and athleticism, Metcalf has delivered performances that showcase his stamina and strength, cementing his reputation as a game-changing playmaker. Off the field, the 27-year-old has successfully transformed his football stardom into financial success . His endorsements include partnerships with major companies such as Nike, Gatorade and Beats by Dre, further boosting his income and public profile. Additionally, he has ventured into business, capitalizing on opportunities in industries ranging from fitness to fashion. With a keen eye for branding and entrepreneurship, he has positioned himself as more than just an athlete – he’s a savvy...
Stephen A. Smith has officially signed a five-year, $100 million contract extension with ESPN, solidifying his role as the face of “First Take” while also gaining greater flexibility to expand his presence beyond sports. According to Sports Illustrated, Smith confirmed the extension on First Take, expressing gratitude for the deal while acknowledging the lengthy negotiation process. “It took too d-mn long,” he remarked with a smile, adding that he remains proud to be part of the “Worldwide Leader in Sports.” His co-host, Molly Qerim, responded lightheartedly, “Yeah, you’re telling me! I saw those mood swings.” Evolving Role at ESPN Under the new agreement, Smith will continue as the primary voice of “First Take” but will scale back appearances on other ESPN programs, including a reduced role on the network’s NBA pregame show, The Athletic noted. This shift allows him to explore additional media opportunities, including political commentary, a space he has engaged with more...
Happy wife, happy life is how the saying goes. Tracy McGrady will agree. The basketball legend, nicknamed T-Mac, was drafted into the NBA by the Toronto Raptors in 1997. He was just 18 years old at the time and had played high school basketball for North Carolina’s Mt. Zion Christian Academy. He signed a three-year rookie contract valued at $4,689,480, per Spotrac. This was not, however, his first lucrative contract. Just ahead of the 1997 draft, his talents landed him a $12 million shoe endorsement deal with Adidas, as AFROTECH™ previously reported. Making that kind of money at 18 came with its learning curves. McGrady grew up in a household with his mother working as a custodian at Disney while his grandmother was a custodian at his elementary school for three decades. No one in his family earned over $40,000. “You can only imagine I’m 18 years old. I don’t have a family that has taught me financial literacy. I don’t know anything about it. So all of this is just trying to figure...
Shaquille O’Neal has built a thriving post-NBA career, leveraging his larger-than-life personality and business acumen to secure major brand partnerships, media deals, and entrepreneurial ventures. From endorsements with major corporations to investments in various industries, O’Neal has cemented himself as a powerhouse beyond the court. Now, he’s extending his presence on television — O’Neal will be staying with TNT. According to Front Office Sports, the former basketball player turned sports commentator has secured an extension with the network that will earn him $15 million annually. The future of O’Neal and his “Inside the NBA” co-hosts, Ernie Johnson and Kenny Smith, had been in question after it was announced that TNT lost its NBA media rights to Disney, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video. The three companies entered an 11-year media deal valued at $76 billion, which will take effect in the 2025-26 season, USA Today reports. “Throughout these negotiations, our primary objective has...
Deloitte is involved in a domino effect of U.S. corporations scaling back their DEI initiatives. An increasing number of companies are shifting their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts or removing them all together. Google will no longer recognize Black History Month and Pride Month on its calendar, per USA Today, while Disney says it will turn its focus from DEI to business outcomes and values, notes Business Insider. There is a growing push from conservatives such as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, and President Donald Trump. Per ABC News, Trump’s administration believes “DEI creates and then amplifies prejudicial hostility and exacerbates interpersonal conflict.” However, Christie Smith, former vice president of inclusion and diversity at Apple and C-Suite adviser, told the outlet, “When done right, DEI policies improve employee engagement, reduce turnover, and foster innovation by bringing diverse perspectives to the table. But the impact depends...
It’s important to surround yourself with friends you can win with, and Software Engineer Jovonne Cameron can attest to this. Cameron is a first-generation American who was initially discouraged from entering the tech industry by a high school guidance counselor. This led her to obtain a bachelor’s degree in business communication from Baruch College. She then went on to pursue a career in special education, working as an educator. However, she still maintained an interest in tech, particularly in computer science. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, she was able to pursue her dream. “The pandemic came, and that was part of my story. I wanted to give myself that chance that I never got growing up and bet on myself. And then, within six months of making the decision, I became a software engineer,” she told AFROTECH™. Cameron now doubles as a software engineer and runs a tech consultancy that helps small businesses integrate artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline their...
Dawn Staley has made history yet again. The University of South Carolina’s women’s basketball coach continues to leave an indelible mark on the sport. Known for her trailblazing accomplishments, Staley first made headlines in 2021 when she became the highest-paid Black coach in NCAA women’s basketball, as previously reported by AFROTECH™. Her leadership has propelled the Gamecocks to remarkable success, including appearances in six NCAA Final Fours and securing the school’s first national title in 2017, Reuters reports. Since then, Staley has only strengthened her legacy. In 2024, under her guidance, the team celebrated an undefeated 38-0 season, culminating in their third national championship, according to Sports Illustrated. Notably, all three titles have been achieved during her tenure. A Historic New Contract Staley’s transformative impact on the University of South Carolina’s basketball program has earned her another groundbreaking contract. Per a university press release,...
Founder Craig J. Lewis is revamping his mission to empower the gig economy. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Lewis leads Gig Wage, a fintech platform aimed at improving payroll for 1099 employees. With his background in payroll sales at Payroll Plus Inc. from 2009 to 2010 and a two-year stint as a payroll technology consultant at CyberPay, Lewis has a deep understanding of the industry, as mentioned on his LinkedIn profile. “I helped to sell ADP’s [the largest payroll company in the world] first cloud-based product called ADP Run, and that’s where it all started for me,” he told AFROTECH™ in a 2021 interview. “I’ve seen the impact that technology has on the payroll space. After reading an article about the global independent workforce, aka the gig economy, I realized that there wasn’t a payroll space for that group, meaning, people who do work for a company but the companies aren’t really designed or don’t have access to the technology to pay these type of people. These are your...
Concerns about the future have intensified as Donald Trump prepares to be sworn in as the 47th U.S. president. The Washington Post reports minority- and women-owned businesses have looming concerns over contracts, citing a potential loss of $70 billion in annual contracts amid legal disputes affecting government programs for “disadvantaged” firms. Within the Black community, legal issues were prevalent amid Fearless Fund’s ongoing litigation, which has now been settled. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, the firm, led by founding partner Arian Simone, was sued by Edward Blum and his American Alliance for Equal Rights group in August 2023 over its Strivers Grant program. The $20,000 grant backed by JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Mastercard had been aimed at small businesses primarily owned by Black women, and the activist group accused the investment firm of “explicit racial exclusion.” The group had already been victorious in the Supreme Court over race-based affirmative action policies....
Jayson Tatum is making moves on and off the basketball court as he explores potential investment opportunities in a WNBA franchise in St. Louis, MO. As interested parties compete for ownership of the league’s upcoming 16th team, the Boston Celtics star has informally committed to supporting the franchise, according to Sportico. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Tatum secured a record-breaking five-year, $315 million contract extension in July and now plans to work behind the scenes, helping attract other high-profile investors and advocating for the WNBA team. “St. Louis is a top-tier sports market, and we believe that bringing a WNBA franchise to the region will be a defining moment in the city’s ongoing revitalization,” said Don Soffer, the spokesperson for the effort to establish the 16th team in St. Louis, per Sportico. Tatum’s potential involvement follows a change in the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, ratified in April 2023, which, as OnFocus previously reported, now...
NFL quarterback Deshaun Watson has made headlines for his on-field achievements and off-field controversies. As one of the highest-paid athletes in professional football, Watson’s net worth in 2024 reflects his lucrative contracts, endorsement deals, and financial investments. Despite facing legal and public challenges, his financial status remains significant in the sports world. In this article, we’ll explore Deshaun Watson’s net worth in 2024, the key sources of his wealth, and how his career has impacted his financial standing. Watson has been in the news quite a lot recently, largely due to the Browns offensive struggles, and most recently, suffering a season-ending Achilles injury that drew a ravish personal defense from teammate and backup quarterback, Jamies Winston, who is, of course, known for his innate talent to go viral and inspire resilience in his teammates. Although Watson’s dealt with his fair share of recent struggles and his 2024 season may be ending early, he’s...
JuJu Watkins is making major moves on and off the court. On Tuesday, 8, 2024, ESPN reported that the University of Southern California star — who recently entered her second season with the team — signed a multiyear contract extension with Nike , securing “one of the richest shoe endorsement deals in women’s basketball.” Watkins joined the Nike family as a high school senior in October 2022. At just 19, she has consistently exceeded expectations during her time with the Trojans, leading the team to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1994 in her first year, according to CBS Sports. She boasted averages of 27.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.3 steals per game, ranking second nationally in scoring, per the outlet. With 920 points, she made history as the all-time leading scorer among freshmen in Division I women’s basketball, surpassing San Diego State University’s Tina Hutchinson who had the previous record of 898 during the 1983-84 season. As Blavity reported, Watkins...
It is no secret that professional sports players are some of the world’s highest-income earners. From basketball to soccer to American football, these athletes earn a top dollar through highly negotiated contracts to play the game they love. But who are the people who ensure these massive deals are secured? Agents have been on the front lines of deals and negotiations to ensure their clients receive the “big bucks” and contracts that reflect their skillset and worth. One of the more prominent firms involved in some of sports’ largest deals is Klutch Sports, led by founder Rich Paul. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rich Paul (@richpaul) According to an AFROTECH™ profile, Paul built his career without attending college. After high school, he started reselling vintage jerseys, which led to a chance meeting with LeBron James in 2002. At the time, James, a 17-year-old basketball phenom, admired Paul’s powder blue Warren Moon Houston Oilers throwback jersey in an airport,...
Mark Cuban believes it’s only a matter of time before an NBA player signs a $1 billion contract. The Dallas Mavericks’ minority owner shared his thoughts during an appearance on Shannon Sharpe’s “Club Shay Shay” podcast. When Sharpe asked if he thinks the world will ever see such a monumental deal, Cuban responded, “Yeah, but that presumes that TV keeps on going up the way it is. But, you’re going to see a hundred million dollars a year here shortly. Because if the TV contract has 10% increases in the cap, [which is] the way the CBA works. You saw Steph [Curry] had 62 million for one year… and it’s going to go crazier.” The Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) defines the employment guidelines and agreements for all professional basketball players in the National Basketball Association, per its website . It also outlines the rights and responsibilities of the NBA Clubs, the NBA, and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA). Sharpe’s question was prompted by 25-year-old...