Former Alabama superstars and current NFL Pro Bowlers, wide receiver Amari “The Body Snatcher” Cooper and running back Derrick “King Henry” Henry, have officially announced a joint $55 million ambassadorial mega-deal. The unprecedented partnership, titled the “Crimson Tide Legacy Fund,” is dedicated to providing comprehensive and equitable NIL contracts for every scholarship football player on the Alabama Crimson Tide roster.
The announcement was made during a press conference at the Mal M. Moore Athletic Facility, drawing gasps from the assembled media and sending shockwaves across college football. This fund is structured not as a typical booster collective, but as a long-term commercial partnership.
Cooper and Henry are collaborating with a consortium of national brands and key Alabama alumni businesses, leveraging their combined star power and nationwide recognition to secure the massive valuation. The two athletes will serve as joint ambassadors, appearing in advertising campaigns and promotional content designed to elevate the partner brands, with a significant portion of the revenue directly channeled into the Legacy Fund.
The Crimson Tide Legacy Fund is explicitly designed to standardize and stabilize NIL compensation for Alabama football players, addressing the volatility and disparity often seen in the current collective-driven NIL ecosystem.
Under the terms of the fund, every scholarship player will receive a base NIL contract, with additional tiers of compensation based on on-field performance, academic achievement, and community engagement.
“This is about more than just competitive recruiting; it’s about equity and rewarding hard work,” said Cooper, a Biletnikoff Award winner during his time at Alabama. “Derrick and I both know what it’s like to be a star on that field, but we also know that every single person from the starting quarterback to the walk-on offensive lineman—contributes to the program’s legacy. This fund ensures the value of the ‘A’ benefits everyone.”
Derrick Henry, the 2015 Heisman Trophy winner, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the long-term vision. “This is an investment in the future of the Crimson Tide. By unifying our efforts and creating a professional, sustainable revenue stream, we are giving our current players the financial security and brand development opportunities they deserve, allowing them to focus on championships and their education. The King’s Court is open to all.”
The $55 million commitment places the Crimson Tide Legacy Fund at the very top tier of college sports compensation, creating a powerful recruiting tool for the program. The guaranteed, structured compensation is expected to be a major draw for top-tier talent, signaling Alabama’s complete and aggressive embrace of the new collegiate athletic model, which includes the pending NCAA revenue-sharing changes arising from the House settlement.
While the specifics of the new NCAA model, which allows for direct compensation and is capped at roughly $20 million per school annually for revenue-sharing, are being implemented, the Crimson Tide Legacy Fund works in concert with—and significantly beyond—those measures.
“The money from the fund is solely for compliant Name, Image, and Likeness activities, fully leveraging the players’ personal brands,” explained a spokesperson for the fund. “This complements the athletic department’s separate revenue-sharing allotment. Essentially, this is a massive commercial endorsement project, driven by two of the biggest stars in the sport, all for the benefit of the current players.”
Alabama Athletics Director Greg Byrne offered high praise for the former players’ initiative. “Amari and Derrick have once again shown what it means to be a champion. Their commitment to giving back to the program that helped launch their careers is extraordinary. This fund secures a competitive edge for the Crimson Tide in this new era of college athletics for years to come.”
The fund is scheduled to officially begin disbursing payments starting at the beginning of the next fiscal year, ensuring that the entire roster will benefit immediately. This philanthropic yet highly commercial endeavor sets a new benchmark for alumni involvement and player compensation, cementing Alabama’s position as a leader in the evolving world of college football.
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