🤡 WTF is NIL: The “Deal” That Isn’t
Free Gear, Discount Codes & Why You’re Just Doing Unpaid Marketing in Disguise
Welcome to WTF is NIL—the series where we explain how what looks like an exciting opportunity is actually just a legal and financial mess waiting to happen.
Today’s lesson? Fake NIL deals.
You know the ones:
They slide into your DMs, throw around words like “partnership” and “ambassador,” and hand you a 10% discount code like it’s a paycheck.
Spoiler: It’s not.
💬 What These “Deals” Actually Look Like
You get:
A personal discount code no one will use
A free shirt (if you’re lucky)
A requirement to post, tag, and hype the brand weekly
No contract, no payment, no clue what your rights are
They get:
Free content
Free marketing
Brand exposure to your entire audience
All upside, zero cost
So… who’s really winning here?
🚩 Red Flags That Should Have You Sprinting the Other Direction
Let’s translate a few greatest hits from these fake NIL pitches:
💬 “You’ll get paid when people use your link!”
Translation: You’re now a sales rep working on full commission for 0.00003% return.
💬 “We like to keep it casual—no contract necessary.”
Translation: We’d like to use you with no accountability whatsoever.
💬 “This will help you build your brand.”
Translation: We will absolutely build ours. Yours? TBD.
💬 “We’re just starting out, but you’ll be part of our growth!”
Translation: We’re broke. You’ll get nothing but a gratitude DM.
😬 Why It Feels Like a “Real” NIL Deal
These offers prey on athletes who:
Are flattered by any brand attention
Don’t want to seem difficult
Think getting “free stuff” means they’re winning
Haven’t been taught how real deals work
The result?
You’re a marketing team of one, working unpaid, promoting a brand that never planned to pay you.
✅ What an Actual NIL Deal Should Include
If you’re serious about protecting your NIL, here’s the checklist:
Written Contract: Verbal agreements are just wishful thinking in sportswear.
Payment Terms: Up front. Clear. Real money.
Defined Expectations: Number of posts, platforms, content type, duration.
Image Rights: What can they do with your face and for how long?
Termination Clause: Can you leave the deal? You should always be able to.
🔒 Bonus Warning: “Perpetual Rights” Are a Trap
Some of these companies will sneak in a clause giving them the right to use your content forever.
One photo shoot = your face in their ads until the sun explodes.
And if you never got paid for it? Even better—for them.
🧠 Final Thought: Free Gear ≠ Compensation
If they’re not paying you, it’s not a deal.
If they’re asking you to post content, schedule content, promote sales, and follow a brand script—you’re not “part of the team.” You’re the unpaid team.
You are the brand. Start acting like it.
Got Questions or Already Trapped in a Discount-Code Disaster?
📲 Call us before your NIL deal turns into a punchline.
We’ll tell you what you signed, what they’re really asking, and how to walk away with your rights—and dignity—intact.
🛡️ Newburg Law – Your Family. Your Future. Your Foundation.