In a historic debut for the brand, Marvin Harrison Jr. will lace up the first-ever football cleats designed by New Balance. Known for their premier running shoes and athletic wear, New Balance is making a significant foray into football footwear, and they’ve chosen Harrison to lead the charge.
Earlier this offseason, Harrison inked a deal with New Balance, aligning his promising career with a company aiming to set new standards in football gear. This partnership signifies not just a new chapter for Harrison, but also a bold step for New Balance, which began its football cleat project back in 2020.
A Collaborative Journey
The road to accomplishing this breakthrough in football footwear has been anything but straightforward. "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."
New Balance relied heavily on an intelligent approach to product creation, merging its history of best-in-class craftsmanship with cutting-edge innovation. The prototype designs underwent rigorous testing in the New Balance Sports Research Lab by players at every level, including NFL stars Chase Young and Will Anderson Jr. These athletes provided critical insights that proved essential throughout the development process. "We focused on an intelligent approach to product creation that combined our history of best-in-class craftsmanship with cutting-edge innovation," New Balance stated. "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."
A Revolution in Design
The results of these efforts are the Prodigy and Fortress cleats. Harrison will likely be seen donning the Prodigy, a gold and white low-top cleat specially designed for skill players. The design emphasizes agility and speed, offering players like Harrison the optimal blend of fit and performance.
On the other hand, the Fortress cleat is tailored for players needing enhanced support and durability on the field. This black and gold high-top variant provides an alternative for those prioritizing stability in their gameplay.
A Star-Studded Roster
While Harrison will be the face of New Balance’s cleat debut, other football stars have played pivotal roles in the brand's journey. NFL quarterbacks like Kyler Murray have noted the potential impact of such specialized footwear. Murray expressed his excitement about Harrison joining the elite ranks of athletes wearing New Balance cleats. "I think that takes us to another level," commented Murray. "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."
Such endorsements underscore the high expectations placed on New Balance's entry into football. The company’s commitment to excellence is clear in their bold proclamation: "The game deserves better. We won't settle for anything less than setting a new standard."
Setting New Standards
It is evident that New Balance is not merely entering the football cleat market—they are attempting to redefine it. By leveraging their extensive expertise in athletic wear and running shoes, they are poised to offer football players a unique combination of comfort, innovation, and performance.
The meticulous process of developing and testing these cleats, involving elite athletes, exemplifies New Balance’s dedication to making an impact. As Marvin Harrison Jr. steps onto the field with the Prodigy cleats, the football world will be watching closely to see if New Balance’s ambitious goals come to fruition.