NFL, Novartis team up to fight cancer; initiative includes Hall of Fame Game
NFL
Both the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game and the unveiling of the next class of enshrinees at the “NFL Honors” show will be presented by Novartis as part of an unprecedented partnership announced Thursday between the pharmaceutical company and the National Football League.
Under the agreement, Novartis, a leader in innovative medicines and treatments, becomes the official first-in-category corporate pharmaceutical partner of the League. The exclusive partnership aims to empower football fans everywhere to make proactive decisions about their health, better understand screening guidelines and create a playbook for a healthier future.
The collaboration will unite missions to harness the power of “gameday spirit” into a dedication for advancing better health, beginning in oncology, the partners said in a joint news announcement.
Novartis will also serve as the league’s presenting partner for the upcoming Health and Safety Summit and will support “My Cause My Cleats” through storytelling around players and the issues most important to them.
“At the heart of this first-of-its-kind partnership is the ambition to educate and mobilize communities to detect cancer and other diseases early, broadening health solutions beyond medicine,” said Victor Bultó, president of Novartis U.S. “With its nationwide fan base and demonstrated commitment to health advocacy, the NFL is a powerful partner for igniting critical health conversations at an unmatched scale.
“Together, Novartis and the NFL are working toward leveling the playing field against serious health conditions, empowering every fan to proactively manage their health,” Bultó said.
Within the first year, the joint effort will focus on strengthening the support of the NFL’s Crucial Catch initiative alongside the American Cancer Society, an initiative that promotes cancer awareness, early detection and risk reduction. Novartis will join the League and cancer society in their commitment to help more people detect cancer early and address the unequal burden of cancer in under-resourced communities.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Novartis as our first-ever corporate partner across the pharmaceutical category,” said Senior Vice President, Sponsorship at the NFL Tracie Rodburg. “Together we will be able to make an impact in communities for our fans across the 2025 season and in the years ahead.”
“At the NFL, we’re always looking for new ways to provide the highest level of care to our players, including through collaboration with experts across the medical field. Novartis is the ideal partner to help us in this mission due to their unparalleled expertise in innovative medicines and their dedication to improving health outcomes,” said Chief Medical Officer at the NFL Dr. Allen Sills. “At our upcoming Medical Summit and beyond, we’ll work with Novartis in leveraging our combined strengths to advance health initiatives and make a lasting impact at the league and in communities across the country.”
The 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game presented by Novartis, will be played July 31 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. Teams playing in the kickoff to the 106th NFL season will be announced soon.
Under the agreement, Novartis, a leader in innovative medicines and treatments, becomes the official first-in-category corporate pharmaceutical partner of the League. The exclusive partnership aims to empower football fans everywhere to make proactive decisions about their health, better understand screening guidelines and create a playbook for a healthier future. The collaboration will unite missions to harness the power of “gameday spirit” into a dedication for advancing better health, beginning in oncology, the partners said in a joint news announcement.
Novartis will also serve as the league’s presenting partner for the upcoming Health and Safety Summit and will support “My Cause My Cleats” through storytelling around players and the issues most important to them.
“At the heart of this first-of-its-kind partnership is the ambition to educate and mobilize communities to detect cancer and other diseases early, broadening health solutions beyond medicine,” said Victor Bultó, president of Novartis U.S. “With its nationwide fan base and demonstrated commitment to health advocacy, the NFL is a powerful partner for igniting critical health conversations at an unmatched scale.
“Together, Novartis and the NFL are working toward leveling the playing field against serious health conditions, empowering every fan to proactively manage their health,” Bultó said.
Within the first year, the joint effort will focus on strengthening the support of the NFL’s Crucial Catch initiative alongside the American Cancer Society, an initiative that promotes cancer awareness, early detection and risk reduction. Novartis will join the League and cancer society in their commitment to help more people detect cancer early and address the unequal burden of cancer in under-resourced communities.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Novartis as our first-ever corporate partner across the pharmaceutical category,” said Senior Vice President, Sponsorship at the NFL Tracie Rodburg. “Together we will be able to make an impact in communities for our fans across the 2025 season and in the years ahead.”
“At the NFL, we’re always looking for new ways to provide the highest level of care to our players, including through collaboration with experts across the medical field. Novartis is the ideal partner to help us in this mission due to their unparalleled expertise in innovative medicines and their dedication to improving health outcomes,” said Chief Medical Officer at the NFL Dr. Allen Sills. “At our upcoming Medical Summit and beyond, we’ll work with Novartis in leveraging our combined strengths to advance health initiatives and make a lasting impact at the league and in communities across the country.”
The 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game presented by Novartis, will be played July 31 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. Teams playing in the kickoff to the 106th NFL season will be announced soon.