*In NFL news out of New York City, the Jets have unveiled a new partnership with Def Jam Recordings, and former Giants receiver Victor Cruz has announced his retirement as well as a new post-football gig with ESPN.
The new partnership between the Jets and Def Jam will see the pair of New York institutions teaming up on exclusive content for fans during the foreseeable future. “We are looking to amplify our in-game experience and provide fans with entertaining content from their truly talented artists,” Jets President Neil Glat tells Billboard.
Def Jam EVP of Marketing & Commerce Scott Greer describes the partnership as a natural fit because of the strong ties and overlap between the football and hip-hop cultures. “Collaborating with another iconic New York brand like the New York Jets to create content and original in-game music has a natural synergy for our brand and our audience, and is a great way for Def Jam to bring fans of the Jets and hip-hop together and broaden the reach for our artists,” he tells Billboard.
A new video series will chronicle Jets’ players interacting with various Def Jam artists throughout the season. First up, rising safeties Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye head to Jadakiss‘ studio to hang the Yonkers, NY, rapper for a rarely documented recording session.
What happens when you bring @TheAdamsEra & @alldayMAYE to @Therealkiss‘ studio?
???
More on our new deal with @defjam → https://t.co/xX1BUbGsG9 pic.twitter.com/QnJ2iKCyWZ
— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 21, 2018
During a Nov. 2 game against the Buffalo Bills last season, the Jets’ defense went viral after the entire unit broke into dance during a timeout. With the Def Jam catalog at the stadium DJ’s disposal, we may see much more of this in the future.
Meanwhile, the salsa-dancing Victor Cruz officially closed the curtain on his NFL career on Tuesday while simultaneously announcing his next move.
“As I officially close one chapter of my life and begin another, I could not be more thrilled to join another championship team at ESPN,” Cruz, 31, said in a statement. “I’m excited to get started and share my insight and analysis with the viewers and fans of the NFL.”
Cruz also announced his departure in a video for ESPN’s Uninterrupted:
Via ESPN:
He was a force for the New York Giants from 2011 to 2013, a time span in which he caught 241 passes for 3,626 yards and 23 touchdowns. He also had a strong playoffs after the 2011 season with 21 receptions for 269 yards in four games and a touchdown catch in the Giants’ 21-17 victory over the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI.
Injuries derailed Cruz’s career with the Giants, who released him in February last year. He suffered a torn patellar tendon in October 2014 and missed the entire 2015 season. He had just 39 catches for 586 yards and a touchdown in 2016.
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