Less than 24 hours after the NFL parted ways with Papa John’s as the league’s official pizza sponsor, Pizza Hut has stepped in with a multi-year partnership.
“We know many of our fans enjoy pizza while watching NFL games and we are thrilled to have Pizza Hut, an industry leader and one of America’s favorite brands, as an official league sponsor,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “With a focus on family, friends and fun, Pizza Hut has the creativity we are looking for in a partner and we look forward to working together with them to make the at-home NFL experience more exciting than ever for our fans.”
Papa John’s had three years remaining on its eight-year contract with the NFL when CEO John Schnatter weighed in on NFL player protests during the national anthem stating, “The NFL has hurt us. We are disappointed the NFL and its leadership did not resolve this.”
Schnatter believed the league should have attempted to stop players from kneeling during the anthem before it became a prominent form of protest. Soon after those comments were made, it was announced that Schnatter would be replaced as CEO beginning January 1, 2018, but being the company’s biggest shareholder, he would remain as chairman of the board.
According to Papa John’s, the pizza chain plans to continue a relationship with the NFL on a team-by-team basis, focusing on 22 of its 32 teams.
President of Pizza Hut, Artie Starrs stated, “We have an unmatched ability to bring those fans closer to the sport thanks to the power of our 7,500 restaurants and 150,000 football-crazed team members. The capacity for what’s possible is endless and that’s going to make this league partnership great fun for Pizza Hut, the NFL and everyone who loves pizza and football.”
Terms of the company’s deal with the NFL were not announced.
Brandon Contes is a freelance writer for BSM. He can be found on Twitter @BrandonContes. To reach him by email click here.