By BEN SHIMKUS, CONSUMER REPORTER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
Published: 13:33 EDT, 31 March 2025 | Updated: 13:49 EDT, 31 March 2025
A new sandwich shop is stepping up to the NFL's top fast food sponsorship.
Jersey Mike’s – known for its large portions, fresh-baked bread, and premium meats – will become the official fast food sponsor of the NFL in 2025.
The move ends Subway's run as the league’s top fast food partner, a title it’s held since 2020.
Since that deal began, some of the NFL's biggest stars – including Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, and Rob Gronkowski – have appeared in Subway commercials.
The chain also activated its sponsorship at key events like the NFL Draft and the Super Bowl, often with surprise promotions and fan engagement stunts.
But Subway has faced major changes in recent years, including store closures, pricing changes, and menu revamps.
Meanwhile, Jersey Mike’s is on the rise.
The chain recently opened its 3,000th location and has been steadily expanding its footprint and marketing presence.
Subway held the top sandwich sponsorship with the NFL from 2020 through the 2024 season
It’s previously tapped actor Danny DeVito as the face of its national ad campaigns and has been growing its sports partnerships – including a recent deal naming it the 'official sub sandwich' of the NHL.
The NFL sponsorship is by far Jersey Mike’s largest yet.
The league averaged 17.5 million viewers per regular season game in 2024 and set a record with 127.7 million viewers for this year’s Super Bowl.
For comparison, NHL games average just over 4 million viewers, though the hockey league plays an 82-game regular season compared to the NFL’s 17-game slate.
With the deal, Jersey Mike’s joins other major food partners of the NFL, including Applebee’s and Little Caesars.
Uber Eats also maintains a branding partnership with the league and has collaborated with all three restaurant chains.
Jersey Mike's agreed to a recent $8 billion investment deal with Blackstone.
The influx of cash likely accelerated the sandwich-maker's efforts to increase its visibility and store footprint.
The NFL reported a record number of Super Bowl viewers to close out its 2024 season
The NFL is one consistently atop televisions most-watched events
Neither Subway nor representatives for the NFL responded to DailyMail.com's request for comment.
NFL changes
The NFL is also adding a new athletic apparel brand to its fields.
Under Armour, the Baltimore-based sports fashion company, is now one of the official glove and cleat providers for the league.
This marks Under Armour’s second time partnering with the NFL after a five-year hiatus.
Nike and Adidas will also keep their partnerships with the league.
Last December, Nike inked a 10-year extension on its broader partnership with the NFL. It still provides all uniforms.