In an era where college athletes can finally profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL), a unique initiative called Tribe NIL is breaking new ground by supporting Jewish student-athletes.
This project, founded by comedy writers Jeremy Moses and Eitan Levine, taps into the Jewish professional network to open doors for athletes who might not land flashy sponsorships. By connecting these athletes with internships, jobs, and smaller sponsorships, Tribe NIL is helping them carve out a path for success both on and off the field.
The Genesis of Tribe NIL
Tribe NIL came from the creative minds of Moses and Levine, who bonded over shared cultural and sports interests while working on Amazon’s sports TV show Game Breakers.
They created a segment called This Week in Jews, highlighting Jewish sporting achievements. Their collaboration led them to realize that Jewish athletes, though relatively few, were making real strides in college sports.
Leveraging Jewish Networks
Unlike most NIL initiatives, which usually stick to a geographic focus, Tribe NIL is all about culture. Moses and Levine use the broad Jewish professional network to create opportunities for their athletes.
Moses jokingly calls this approach “Jewish nepotism”—but honestly, it works. The idea is to secure sponsorships, internships, and jobs by linking athletes with Jewish stakeholders across different industries.
The Challenges and Opportunities
One of the main challenges Tribe NIL tackles is the lack of financial compensation for Division III athletes and those in non-revenue sports.
While star athletes in Division I football and basketball can cash in on big deals, many talented athletes in other sports are left without much to show for their effort. Tribe NIL tries to bridge this gap by offering other forms of support.
Creating Meaningful Connections
Moses and Levine focus on building closer ties with institutions and Jewish stakeholders. For instance, a Jewish law firm might bring Jewish athletes on board for summer internships and offer extra financial incentives for promotional work.
This setup benefits the athletes and lets firms show off their support for Jewish sports talent. It’s a win-win, really.
Success Stories and Future Aspirations
One standout success for Tribe NIL is the partnership between Manischewitz and Jake Retzlaff, a Jewish quarterback at Brigham Young University.
This collaboration came together thanks to Levine, who’d worked with Manischewitz before on his web series When Can We Eat. The partnership drew a lot of attention and sparked a wave of requests from other Jewish student-athletes hoping for similar deals.
Surveying the Landscape
At first, Moses and Levine weren’t sure how many Jewish college athletes were out there. But a survey by Moses showed there were more than they thought.
He looked through the UCLA Athletics website and found 25 Jewish athletes. That was a surprise—and it made clear that Jewish student-athletes were really making an impact compared to their overall numbers. It was a bit of a wake-up call and made the need for Tribe NIL obvious.
Rooting for the Tribe
Tribe NIL’s approach is rooted in the tradition of supporting Jewish athletes just because they’re part of the tribe. Whether it’s cheering for Max Fried of the Yankees or another Jewish athlete, there’s a sense of pride and community that goes beyond team loyalties.
Moses admits this might limit Tribe’s appeal, since the collective is really for Jews who are comfortable talking about their identity. Not everyone’s going to be into that, but for those who are, it’s meaningful.
Apolitical Stance and Future Goals
Moses and Levine work to keep Tribe NIL out of politics, focusing strictly on supporting Jewish athletes and steering clear of hot-button issues.
They want to avoid the debates that have divided other Jewish-American institutions, especially around topics like Israel and Gaza. The goal is to create a space where Jewish athletes can just focus on thriving, without all the noise.
Pathway to Professional Ranks
One of Tribe NIL’s big goals is to help U.S. college athletes make the jump to the Israeli professional leagues. Moses thinks this is just a natural next step for their mission.
He’s not too worried about any political fallout, honestly. By supporting American Jews to play in Israel, Tribe NIL hopes to deepen the bond between Jewish athletes and their roots.
If you want to dig deeper into what Tribe NIL is doing for Jewish student-athletes, check out the full article on *The Forward* at this link.
- Schools Covered
- College Football Articles
- Men's College Basketball Articles
- Men's College Soccer Articles
- Women's College Basketball Articles
- Olympic Athlete Articles
- Men's College Baseball Articles
- College Sports Media Professionals Articles
- Hall of Fame Member Articles
- Former College Player Articles
- Game Previews
