The National Football League (NFL) announced Novartis as its first-ever corporate pharmaceutical partner on March 13.
The long-term, exclusive agreement marks a significant step in the NFL’s efforts to leverage its platform to promote health and wellness among its vast fanbase.
Novartis, a global leader in innovative medicines, will collaborate with the NFL on key health initiatives. One such collaboration is the league’s Crucial Catch program, which focuses on cancer awareness and early detection.
The partnership aims to turn football fans’ passion into a commitment to better health, encouraging proactive decisions about screenings and risk management.
“At the heart of this first-of-its-kind partnership is the ambition to educate and mobilize communities to detect cancer and other diseases early, broadening health solutions beyond medicine,” said Victor Butto, president of Novartis U.S.
The partnership supports the NFL’s Crucial Catch initiative, which works with the American Cancer Society (ACS) to promote early cancer detection and reduce risks.
Early detection is critical, as the five-year survival rate for many cancers exceeds 90% when identified early. Novartis will join the NFL and ACS in addressing the unequal burden of cancer in under-resourced communities, aiming to help more people detect cancer at an early, more treatable stage.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Novartis as our first-ever corporate partner across the pharmaceutical category,” said Tracie Rodburg, senior vice president of sponsorship at the NFL. “As we continue to strategically prioritize the health and wellness space, we look forward to working with Novartis to make an impact in communities for our fans across the 2025 season and in the years ahead.”
In addition to supporting Crucial Catch, Novartis will serve as the presenting partner for the NFL’s Health and Safety Summit, the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game and the Hall of Fame Class Presentation at NFL Honors.
The company will also engage with fans through the My Cause My Cleats initiative, highlighting players’ personal causes, and will have a presence at major events such as the 2025 NFL Draft and Super Bowl LX.
Chief medical officer of the NFL Dr. Allen Sills emphasized the importance of the alliance in advancing health initiatives.
“At the NFL, we’re always looking for new ways to provide the highest level of care to our players, including through collaboration with experts across the medical field,” Sills said. “Novartis is the ideal partner to help us in this mission due to their unparalleled expertise in innovative medicines and their dedication to improving health outcomes.”
As the 2025 season approaches, fans can expect to see Novartis and the NFL working together to promote health awareness and early detection, both on and off the field.
“With its nationwide fan base and demonstrated commitment to health advocacy, the NFL is a powerful partner for igniting critical health conversations at an unmatched scale,” Butto said.
Contact Multi-Media & Senior Sports Reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral. For more sports and health news, click here.
Senior Sports Writer for the Indianapolis Recorder Noral Parham III.
Noral Parham is the multi-media & senior sports reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Parham has worked with various leagues to provide a diverse perspective in sports, including the Big Ten, Big East, IHSAA, IndyCar, MLB, NHRA, NFL, NBA, WNBA, WWE and the Olympics. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.