Drake Maye and Dak Prescott have joined Athletic Brewing Company as athlete-owners (Courtesy of Athletic Brewing Company)
The 24-year-old quarterback has spoken about wanting to understand business beyond the NFL. The 33-year-old Cowboys quarterback has built a portfolio of investments and partnerships during his NFL career. Drake Maye and Dak Prescott are getting more than endorsement money from their latest business move. The New England Patriots and Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks have become athlete-owners of Athletic Brewing Company, adding an ownership stake to a deal that also requires them to promote its nonalcoholic beer. The partnership puts a young quarterback still learning the business world alongside a veteran who has spent years building interests outside football. Athletic Brewing has already established a sizable market presence, but the company has not disclosed the value of either player’s stake. For Maye, the partnership also offers a chance to learn about entrepreneurship while he is still early in his professional career. An ownership role gives him a closer look at how a company grows, reaches customers and builds a brand over time. Prescott’s move into Athletic Brewing fits a wider pattern in his off-field activities. He is also an investor in Spindrift, the sparkling-water brand he used to drink before becoming involved with the company. His experience gives him a different starting point from Maye, who is only beginning to explore opportunities beyond football. The commercial work remains part of the agreement. Maye’s campaign spot begins with him throwing a football before shifting to a tailgate scene, while Prescott’s advertisement centres on a backyard cookout. Athletic Brewing gains two established NFL names to help reach consumers, and the quarterbacks retain a financial interest in the company they promote. The key question is whether that ownership will eventually prove more valuable than a conventional endorsement deal. The company’s growth offers a reason for optimism, but neither player’s stake has been disclosed, and future returns remain uncertain. For now, the arrangement gives both quarterbacks a role beyond advertising. They are helping market Athletic Brewing while holding an interest in its future.