Nike is set to make further waves on Thursday when in it scheduled to air its ad featuring Colin Kaepernick during the NFL regular-season opener between the Atlanta Falcons and the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles.
The New York Times reported the apparel giant is set to air a 90-second version of the two minute ad it already released online. The ad, titled "Dream Crazy," features Kaepernick voicing a montage of athletes—such as LeBron James and Serena Williams—as they work toward lofty goals.
It also, of course, features the tagline the sparked so many debates: "Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything." Kaepernick hasn't been signed by a team for two years after sparking NFL protests—often carried out by kneeling during the national anthem before games—aimed at raising awareness of the oppression of black people in America.
Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything. #JustDoIt pic.twitter.com/x5TnU7Z51i
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) September 5, 2018
The shoe giant plans to air the ad quite a bit in the coming days—not just on Thursday night.
"Nike's 'Dream Crazy' campaign will air this week during sporting events such as the U.S. Open, M.L.B. and college football in addition to 'Thursday Night Football,'" Nike spokesman Josh Benedek told the Times. NBC, which will air the broadcast, confirmed the brand had bought a 90-second spot.
It's not clear when, exactly, the Nike commercial will air during the broadcast. The game is scheduled, however, to start at 8:20 p.m. ET and a typical NFL broadcast lasts a bit more than 3.5 hours, on average.
The NFL—which is a long-term partner with Nike and is being sued by Kaepernick—likely isn't thrilled that the first game of the year will feature the ad. It's likely the most powerful man in the world, President Donald Trump, isn't happy with it either. Considering his typical bluster, Trump was relatively demure when first asked about the ad—he has been a longtime, very vocal critic of the NFL protests—but later tweeted followed up with a tweet about Nike.
Trump posted on Wednesday: "Just like the NFL, whose ratings have gone WAY DOWN, Nike is getting absolutely killed with anger and boycotts. I wonder if they had any idea that it would be this way? As far as the NFL is concerned, I just find it hard to watch, and always will, until they stand for the FLAG!"
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