It looks like Skechers and Howie Long, football legend and FOX NFL studio analyst, are set to partner for a spokesman-type relationship over the next few years. Skechers USA, Inc. released an official statement about the news today and it is included below.
Be sure to leave your thoughts and opinions in the comments; do you think Skechers and Howie Long are a good match?
SKECHERS USA, Inc. (NYSE:SKX) is set to partner with Howie Long—the Pro Football Hall of Famer and sports commentator known by millions—for a multi-year spokesman relationship. Long will appear in a campaign that promotes the footwear brand’s comfortable and stylish men’s collections.
The celebrated commentator’s first television commercial for SKECHERS is set to launch in time for the 2016 football season. The spot will feature the new SKECHERS men’s collection and lead off a multi-tiered TV, print and digital campaign that is expected to continue across all media through 2018.
“I’m excited to be joining the SKECHERS team and following in the footsteps of so many amazing athletes and stars who have appeared on their roster,” said Howie Long. “From the field to the studio, I’ve spent a lifetime of Sundays on my feet, so it feels great to add some Skechers comfort to my wardrobe.”
“Beginning with his career in Oakland and Los Angeles to more than two decades appearing every Sunday on television during football season, Howie is a trusted and familiar face to millions of football fans,” said Michael Greenberg, president of SKECHERS. “Just like legends Joe Montana and Sugar Ray Leonard, we know that Howie is an ideal person to join our team and continue spreading the word about our incredibly popular footwear to the millions of men who love our comfort-focused collections.”
Drafted out of Villanova in 1981, Howie Long’s pro football career spanned 12 seasons as defensive end with the Raiders. He has a Super Bowl win, was an 8-time Pro Bowl team member and was named to the 1980’s NFL All-Decade team. In 2000 he was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame. After retiring in 1993, Long appeared in several movies and found a home quickly in broadcasting where he’s been a studio analyst on the FOX NFL Sunday team since the network debut in 1994. Howie is a longtime supporter of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America where he continues to volunteer. He was also named Walter Camp Man of the Year in 2001 by the Walter Camp Foundation.
Previous SKECHERS men’s campaigns have featured iconic drummer Ringo Starr and sports stars Sugar Ray Leonard, Joe Montana, Joe Namath, Ronnie Lott, Mariano Rivera, Tommy Lasorda, Mark Cuban, Karl Malone, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Rick Fox, Wayne Gretzky and Meb Keflezighi. Baseball great Ozzie Smith also recently appeared in a SKECHERS Relaxed Fit footwear campaign that launched on MLB opening day.
Leveraging fashionable designs and a unique SKECHERS Air-Cooled Memory Foam footbed for long-lasting comfort, styles from the SKECHERS men’s collection are available in SKECHERS retail stores as well as department stores and footwear retailers around the globe.
About SKECHERS USA, Inc.
SKECHERS USA, Inc., based in Manhattan Beach, California, designs, develops and markets a diverse range of lifestyle footwear for men, women and children, as well as performance footwear for men and women. SKECHERS footwear is available in the United States and over 160 countries and territories worldwide via department and specialty stores, more than 1,340 SKECHERS retail stores, and the Company’s e-commerce website. The Company manages its international business through a network of global distributors, joint venture partners in Asia, and 13 wholly-owned subsidiaries in Brazil, Canada, Chile, Japan, Latin America and throughout Europe. For more information, please visit skechers.com and follow us on Facebook (facebook.com/SKECHERS) and Twitter (twitter.com/SKECHERSUSA).
Skechers always seems to reach for retired athletes. Them Shape-ups keep Bird going.
Otherwise, best I know of them is that they were trendy with girls in the early 2000’s. I know the brand is much older than that, though.
Jordan better watch out.
I’d like to see Howie say “who what….sketchers….lifetime”. Lol
I do not like Sketchers. Sure, it’s great that they signed someone, but what is Long really going to help do. I don’t see it likely that him just saying he likes Sketchers is going to do much. Also, even though they have come out with a lot of stuff that looks OK, none of it is their real idea. Recently, the Sketchers Burst came out which immediately reminded me of Adidas Boost. It looks, almost the same, is supposed the do the same , and they even sound similar! That gets me mad that they can’t even come up with their own stuff.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. In this case they are fighting for a share of the market whom may not be young and hip enough to know about boost or zoom nor willing to pay a premium for it.
Smart if you understand the demographics of the aging baby boomers.
Good for Sketchters but, I like to see them sign the likes of Jerry Rice, Barry Sanders.