In a groundbreaking gesture that merges professional success with collegiate loyalty, NFL superstar Myles Garrett has donated \$7.4 million to launch a Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) fund aimed at empowering Texas A\&M athletes. The unprecedented move by the Cleveland Browns All-Pro pass rusher stands as one of the largest personal contributions to collegiate NIL efforts in the nation, immediately sending shockwaves through the NCAA landscape and solidifying Garrett’s role not just as a football icon, but as a benefactor and advocate for athlete advancement.
Garrett, who starred at Texas A\&M from 2014 to 2016 before being selected No. 1 overall in the 2017 NFL Draft, has long credited the university with molding his character and launching his career. Now, in an era where college athletes are finally being compensated for their marketability, Garrett is using his platform, influence, and financial resources to level the playing field and ensure the Aggies remain competitive on and off the field. His donation isn’t just symbolic—it’s strategic, timely, and deeply personal.
“This university gave me everything,” Garrett said in a statement. “Texas A\&M believed in me, supported me, and prepared me for the next level. This is my way of giving back—not just to say thank you, but to make sure future generations of Aggies have every opportunity to succeed, not just on the field but in life.”
The new NIL fund, officially dubbed the “Aggie Edge Fund,” is designed to provide financial support and brand-building resources to student-athletes across all sports at Texas A\&M. Unlike many NIL collectives that are centered on football or men’s basketball, Garrett’s fund is explicitly inclusive. Early details reveal that a portion of the fund will be dedicated to women’s sports, Olympic sports, and athletes from underrepresented backgrounds. In essence, it is a holistic approach to NIL, one that emphasizes not only equity but also sustainability and academic development.
In the months leading up to the donation, Garrett worked closely with Texas A\&M leadership, including athletic director Trev Alberts and key members of the NIL advisory board. Sources close to the situation say the deal came together after months of brainstorming, with Garrett insisting that the fund focus on long-term athlete development, financial literacy, personal branding, and career planning. He reportedly turned down numerous endorsement opportunities and financial investments this year in order to focus his energy on the initiative.
Alberts praised Garrett’s decision as “transformational,” adding that it represents the future of alumni involvement in collegiate athletics. “This is a monumental moment for Texas A\&M,” Alberts said. “Myles is setting the bar—not just for what it means to be an Aggie, but what it means to be a leader in this evolving NIL landscape. His commitment will impact hundreds of lives and inspire countless others to give back.”
Texas A\&M head football coach Mike Elko was equally effusive in his praise. “You talk about culture, leadership, and commitment to excellence—this is what it looks like,” Elko said. “We talk to our players all the time about legacy. Myles isn’t just building his legacy in the NFL. He’s building it right here, brick by brick, for the next generation.”
Garrett’s NIL fund comes at a critical time for Texas A\&M and the broader college sports world. With recruiting battles intensifying and NIL collectives rapidly shaping the competitive landscape, universities that fail to keep up risk falling behind. While Texas A\&M has previously invested in its own NIL infrastructure, Garrett’s gift injects fresh energy and legitimacy into the program’s efforts, offering a blueprint for how alumni and current athletes can work together in a mutually beneficial ecosystem.
The Aggie Edge Fund will be administered in partnership with Texas A\&M’s “12th Man+” NIL initiative, which was launched to ensure compliance with NCAA rules while maximizing athlete support. The fund will feature a hybrid model of direct payments for promotional work, educational programming, and access to top-tier branding consultants. A portion of the \$7.4 million will be reserved in an endowment, generating long-term support for athletes even after Garrett’s initial gift has been used.
Notably, the fund is also expected to provide grants to student-athletes who want to pursue internships, entrepreneurial ventures, and post-graduate education. In doing so, Garrett is attempting to redefine NIL from a transactional model to a transformational one—where the focus is not just on short-term deals, but on building lifetime value for student-athletes.
Several current Aggies athletes have already expressed their gratitude for the fund. Star wide receiver Moose Muhammad III posted on social media, “Much respect to @Flash\_Garrett for always having our backs. This is what being part of the Aggie family is all about.” Women’s soccer captain Katie Smith echoed that sentiment, writing, “So proud to be part of a program where former players lift others up. Myles Garrett is a legend in more ways than one.”
Garrett’s donation has also sparked a wider conversation in the college athletics community. While NIL collectives have drawn criticism for being opaque or overly focused on a few high-profile athletes, Garrett’s approach offers a more inclusive, values-driven alternative. Prominent NIL advocates and analysts have already hailed it as a model for other institutions to follow.
“This is what NIL should be about—empowerment, opportunity, and paying it forward,” said Luke Fedlam, a leading NIL attorney and advisor. “Myles Garrett is showing that NIL isn’t just about big contracts or flashy sponsorships. It’s about legacy, mentorship, and making sure the next generation is prepared for life beyond sports.”
Garrett has long been known for his philanthropic spirit. In Cleveland, he has funded literacy programs, launched an environmental justice initiative, and been active in social justice causes. His off-the-field work has earned him multiple nominations for the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. Yet even by those lofty standards, his donation to Texas A\&M represents a new level of impact and intentionality.
Sources close to Garrett say the star defensive end is not finished. He reportedly has plans to expand the fund in the future, inviting other former Aggies, donors, and fans to contribute. The goal, according to a statement released by the Aggie Edge Fund, is to eventually grow the fund to over \$20 million and become the premier NIL support system in the SEC.
That level of ambition is no surprise to those who know Garrett well. Whether it’s dominating offensive lines on Sunday afternoons or investing in the futures of college athletes, Garrett has always operated at the highest level. His blend of humility, intelligence, and drive has made him one of the most respected figures in football—and now, one of the most influential voices in collegiate athletics.
As the NIL era continues to unfold, Garrett’s donation could prove to be a watershed moment—not just for Texas A\&M, but for how college sports as a whole approach athlete compensation, development, and support. It is, in many ways, a call to action for other alumni, athletes, and institutions to think bigger, give more, and invest in the future with clarity and purpose.
In the end, Myles Garrett’s \$7.4 million gift is far more than a headline. It is a powerful reminder that greatness on the field can—and should—be matched by generosity and vision off of it. For Texas A\&M, it is a game-changer. For college athletics, it may just be the beginning of a new era—one driven not just by deals and dollars, but by legacy, leadership, and love for the game.
