Zurich North America and Players Health have teamed up in a move that could really shake up college sports. They’ve launched a new Critical Injury Protection Insurance policy, aimed at protecting colleges, universities, and collectives that pay student-athletes for their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL).
This policy is meant to keep those financial investments safe if a student-athlete gets seriously hurt. With NIL deals changing the game in college athletics, having this kind of insurance feels like a logical next step.
Revolutionizing Athlete Safety and Financial Security
Student-athletes can now make money from their own name, image, and likeness. That’s a big shift, but it also introduces new risks—especially if a star player gets injured and can’t play.
Zurich North America and Players Health saw this coming and created a Critical Injury Protection Insurance policy that covers NIL payments if an athlete is sidelined by injury.
What the Policy Covers
If an athlete suffers a season-disrupting injury and misses 40% or more of the season, the policy kicks in. It covers NIL contract payments made or owed to that athlete, which is a relief for schools and collectives who’ve invested heavily.
The policy can be customized to match the value of different NIL contracts, so institutions aren’t stuck with a one-size-fits-all deal. There’s even an option for athletes themselves—coverage for potential loss of future NIL income if they’re hurt.
Collaboration with Teamworks
Players Health has integrated the insurance with Teamworks, the Operating System for Sports™. If you work in college sports, you probably know Teamworks—it’s used by 99% of Division I athletic departments and thousands of elite teams worldwide.
This integration makes the insurance easy to access for a huge range of schools and athletes. It could help promote both safety and financial stability across the board.
Data-Driven Insights
There’s more to this partnership than just insurance. Players Health has built up one of the biggest athlete injury databases out there, which they use to model injury risk and probability.
That data gives organizations real, actionable insights—something that can actually help reduce injuries and keep athletes safer.
Players Health was founded by Tyrre Burks, a former college football player. His team is packed with folks who played sports at the college or pro level, and they use their experience to advise athletic organizations on best practices for safety.
Supporting the Professionalization of College Athletics
Zurich and Players Health see this policy as just one piece of their larger mission to professionalize college sports. As the landscape evolves, risk management and financial protection are becoming more critical than ever.
This insurance could put Zurich and Players Health at the forefront of NIL-related financial protection and athlete safety.
Expert Opinions and Future Directions
Players Health founder and CEO Tyrre Burks made it clear that athlete safety and sustainability are at the heart of this idea. “Every major change in college athletics should start with one question: does this make the game safer and more sustainable for athletes? This partnership allows us to answer ‘yes’ in a tangible way,” Burks said.
Marty Banaszek, Head of Group Accident at Zurich North America, talked about how this offering is more than just insurance. “It’s a relationship born out of Players Health’s broader mission to support athlete safety and Zurich’s commitment to help organizations and individuals to meet tomorrow prepared,” he explained.
Educational Value and Market Leadership
The NIL transition is still pretty new and evolving fast. Education is a big part of what Zurich and Players Health bring to the table, since their leaders have deep connections with college athletic departments and understand the ins and outs of NIL.
Zurich’s long history of customizing Accident & Health products for all sorts of institutions helps keep them ahead of the curve.
Competitive Edge for Athletic Programs
Tate Gillespie, VP of collegiate and NIL strategy at Players Health, pointed out that this policy gives athletic programs a real edge. “Athletic directors and coaching staffs are looking for smarter ways to manage risks to athletes and protect their programs. This policy gives them a competitive edge with the protection and information needed to manage budgets and make confident decisions,” he said.
Jim Villa, Zurich Global Head of Accident & Health, praised the creative approach Players Health has taken. “Zurich is proud to be a first mover with Players Health, not just with insurance but with a holistic, comprehensive protection offering for colleges and athletes. Together we’re delivering an inventive, consultative solution for an exciting new era of college sports, which bring joy to so many,” Villa shared.
About Players Health and Zurich North America
Players Health is a leading provider of insurance protection and risk-management solutions for youth, amateur, fitness, and collegiate sports nationwide. They’re out there protecting more than 5.5 million athletes across 40,000 programs.
Players Health delivers insurance coverage, athlete safety education, and compliance resources. These tools help create safer environments and reduce risk, which, honestly, is something every athlete deserves.
They’re guided by a simple belief: every athlete should have a safe place to play. So, Players Health is always working to strengthen safety standards across the sports ecosystem.
Zurich North America offers insurance and risk management services to help businesses and people bounce back from setbacks. They’re one of the biggest providers out there, serving mid-sized and large businesses—including over 90% of the Fortune 500.
Fortune even recognized Zurich as one of the World’s Most Admired Companies. That kind of reputation doesn’t come easy; it’s built on dedication and, frankly, a lot of hard work.
If you’re curious about this insurance solution and want more details, the full article’s up on Street Insider.
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