• by Tanya Gazdik , May 30, 2023

Nissan is sponsoring a documentary about football player Bryce Young.

The automaker was one of the first brands to contract with Young under the new name, image and likeness (NIL) rules for its 2022 Nissan Heisman House campaign.

"Being Young” is an authorized  documentary profiling the 2021 Heisman winner. The film launched May 26 on ESPN+, and will air on ESPN2 today at 7 P.M. EDT.

The film chronicles Young's path from youth to professional football player and features candid interviews with him and his family, former teammates, teachers and coaches, plus other athletes who have benefited from the new NIL rules.

The “unique content” shows how an athlete can build their personal brand while remaining true to themselves and focused on their sport, says Marisstella Marinkovic, vice president and chief marketing officer, Nissan U.S. 

"As student athletes begin to define who they are through NIL deals, it's important that they select the right partners, and the right time to engage with high-profile opportunities, whether it be on a local, regional or national stage,” Marinkovic says in a release. 

Young received the Heisman Trophy on the heels of a historic Supreme Court decision allowing collegiate athletes to negotiate NIL deals for the first time. He was later selected first overall in the 2023 draft.