Chase Young awaits the Washington Commanders’ decision on his fifth-year option on the field. However, the star defensive end has inked a deal off the field. Chase Young was named the first brand ambassador of Klutch Athletics by New Balance.
Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul launched Klutch Athletics in partnership with New Balance. Paul previously said Klutch Athletics is independent of Klutch Sports. Coincidentally, the sports agency represents Young.
“It’s a blessing,” Young told Pat Benson of FanNation Kicks. “It’s a big opportunity that I was blessed with. Growing up as a kid you just think about getting to the NFL and to the Hall of Fame. You really don’t think about everything outside of the sport, but got a little older, and now it’s an opportunity and blessing that I want to take advantage of.”
Klutch Athletics gear will be available for purchase on April 27 with apparel and hoodies. Young will also help with the design of the brand’s first football cleat, launching in 2024
Young grew up in the D.C. area, widely known as the DMV. New Balance has been part of the DMV’s culture for ages. Familiarity played a hand in Young’s decision to join the brand.
“So I grew up in D.C., so New Balance was big for us. I had a lot of 993s, I can remember in middle school. I had about five pairs; I still hold that one in my heart. It’s always going to stick. The 574s are cool, but even growing up, the 993s were the coolest,” Young said.
Chase Young was the second overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He emerged as a rookie with 7.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries. He got named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Unfortunately, his sophomore season in the NFL was not as fruitful. Young had just 1.5 sacks through nine games before he tore his ACL and ruptured his patellar tendon in his left leg during a Week 10 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The injury kept him off the field for the first 14 games of the 2022 season.
Chase Young will look to regain his form in Year 4 in the league. Meanwhile, the Commanders have until May 1 to exercise his fifth-year option for the 2024 season, or Young could become a free agent at the end of this upcoming season.
For now, Young is looking to establish his brand off the field. His quest began as Klutch Athletics’ first brand ambassador.
