PlayersOnly Partners with The Players NIL to Launch Unlocking Influence, Empowering Athletes to Own Their Brands Beyond the Game
PlayersOnly has partnered with The Players NIL to launch the Unlocking Influence pilot program, aimed at empowering athletes to build their personal brands in the NIL era.
LOS ANGELES, CA | September 16, 2025 — PlayersOnly, the all-in-one, AI-powered platform built to power the future of the sports industry, today announced an official partnership with The Players NIL, the nation’s premier educational program designed to help athletes define, grow, and sustain their personal brand in the new Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) era.
Founded by Mark Koesterer, The Players NIL has been at the forefront of athlete empowerment since 2022, transforming NIL into a long-term life skills journey rather than a short-term transactional moment. With its guiding principle, “How can you use athletics to better your life?”, the program helps athletes turn four years of competition into 40 years of opportunity.
As part of the collaboration, PlayersOnly and The Players NIL will co-lead the Unlocking Influence pilot program this fall, integrating AI-powered technology with education in leadership, storytelling, and career development. The pilot cohort will launch across a group of universities including Molloy College, Drexel University, George Washington University, Malone University, West Chester University, and Penn State University—equipping student-athletes and sports management students alike with the tools to shape their brand and future.
“The world of college athletics changed forever on July 1, 2021. What hasn’t changed is the unique power of athletes to build their brands and leverage those brands for future opportunities,” said Mark Koesterer, Founder of The Players NIL. “At The Players NIL, we are proud to partner with PlayersOnly to help athletes across the country develop their personal brand, share their story, and build meaningful relationships that last well beyond their playing careers.”
Through this partnership, PlayersOnly will provide platform licenses to participating schools for the duration of the pilot, while The Players NIL will oversee program development, student recruitment, and university partnerships. Together, the organizations will co-create educational content, run joint marketing campaigns, and deliver measurable insights on student engagement.
“This partnership represents exactly what PlayersOnly was built for,” said Tuan Ma, Founder & CEO of PlayersOnly. “We’re combining world-class education with next-gen technology to give athletes control of their story, their influence, and their opportunities. With The Players NIL, we’re helping to build not just athletes—but leaders, entrepreneurs, and change makers for decades to come.”
The Players NIL partnership signals another step in PlayersOnly’s commitment to holistic athlete empowerment—where performance, brand, and life beyond sports intersect.
About PlayersOnly
PlayersOnly is the AI-powered, two-sided platform redefining branding, partnership strategy, and social connection in the sports industry. Combining advanced insights with a built-in social network, PlayersOnly empowers athletes, brands, and sports organizations to grow their influence, discover aligned partners, and build authentic relationships—on and off the field. Learn more at www.playersonly.ai.
About The Players NIL
Founded in 2022, The Players NIL exists to educate and empower the next generation of athletes in the rapidly evolving Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) era. Through a comprehensive life skills curriculum, The Players NIL shifts the focus from short-term transactions to long-term transformation—helping athletes turn four years of competition into forty years of opportunity. Its mission is simple yet powerful: equip athletes to leverage their influence, define their success, and create meaningful, lasting opportunities beyond the game. Learn more at www.theplayersnil.com.
Media & Brand Inquiries:
Olivia Haring – Public Relations | olivia@playersonly.ai
Alisa Kouznetsova - Partnerships & Brands | alisa@playersonly.ai
