NFL Star Jahmyr Gibbs Rejects Shocking $199 Million Offer from Apple CEO Tim Cook Amid LGBTQ+ Advocacy Storm
In a stunning twist that’s rippling through the worlds of sports, business, and social activism, Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs has publicly rejected a jaw-dropping $199 million endorsement deal from Apple CEO Tim Cook. The offer, reportedly tied to Gibbs appearing in pro-LGBTQ+ advertisements at every public event he attends, has ignited fierce debates about athlete endorsements, personal beliefs, and corporate influence in professional sports. As of November 13, 2025, Gibbs’s bold response—”I’m here to run the ball, not run a campaign”—has gone viral, amassing over 5 million views on social media platforms and drawing reactions from fans, fellow players, and advocacy groups alike.
The story broke late last night via anonymous sources close to Apple’s marketing team, who described the proposal as a “groundbreaking partnership” aimed at leveraging Gibbs’s rising stardom to amplify LGBTQ+ visibility. Tim Cook, Apple’s openly gay CEO and a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights since coming out in a 2014 Bloomberg essay, has long used his platform to champion inclusivity. Under his leadership, Apple has donated millions to organizations like the Human Rights Campaign and integrated rainbow-themed features into its products during Pride Month. This deal, however, marks a bold escalation, blending massive financial incentives with mandatory public endorsements.
Gibbs, the 23-year-old Alabama native drafted 12th overall by the Lions in 2023, has exploded onto the NFL scene this season. With 1,200 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns through Week 10—on pace for a career-high—he’s become the heartbeat of Detroit’s high-octane offense. His current four-year rookie contract, worth $17.8 million with a hefty $9.9 million signing bonus, pales in comparison to the Apple windfall. Analysts speculate the offer could include equity in Apple ventures or exclusive tech integrations, like custom iPhone apps for athletes, but the core stipulation remains: Gibbs must feature in pro-LGBTQ+ spots at games, press conferences, and even charity events.
The young star’s rebuttal, delivered in a terse Instagram Live session from his Detroit apartment, cut straight to the chase. “Look, I respect Mr. Cook and what Apple’s done for tech and all that,” Gibbs said, his voice steady but firm. “But $199 million ain’t worth selling my soul or stepping into fights that ain’t mine. I’m a football player from a small town—family, faith, and the field. That’s my lane. No disrespect, but I’m passing.” The clip, timestamped just after midnight, exploded across TikTok and X, with hashtags like #GibbsStandsFirm and #NFLFreeSpeech trending nationwide by dawn.
Reactions have been as polarized as a playoff overtime thriller. LGBTQ+ advocates, including GLAAD president Sarah Kate Ellis, praised Cook’s initiative as a “vital step toward normalizing allyship in macho spaces like the NFL,” where only a handful of players, such as Raiders’ Carl Nassib, have come out publicly. “This isn’t coercion; it’s an invitation to use privilege for progress,” Ellis told ESPN in an exclusive interview. Yet, conservative commentators and sports radio hosts hailed Gibbs as a “modern-day warrior for authenticity,” with Fox Sports’ Skip Bayless tweeting, “In an era of woke capitalism, Gibbs just drew a line in the turf. Respect.”
Within the NFL, the saga underscores growing tensions over endorsements. Just last month, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes turned down a $150 million Nike deal over creative differences, while WNBA star Caitlin Clark faced backlash for partnering with a brand accused of greenwashing. Gibbs’s decision could ripple into contract negotiations league-wide, especially as the NFL’s new media rights deal—valued at $110 billion through 2033—amps up pressure on players to monetize their personal brands. “Athletes are walking billboards now,” says sports economist Andrew Zimbalist. “But when corporations attach social strings, it tests loyalties like never before.”
For Cook, the rejection is a rare public setback. Apple’s stock dipped 0.8% in after-hours trading, with some investors murmuring about “risky activism” in shareholder forums. Yet, insiders insist the CEO views it as part of a broader strategy. “Tim’s not backing down,” one executive shared anonymously. “We’ve seen deals like this spark conversations—win or lose.” Indeed, the buzz has already boosted Apple’s Pride collection sales by 12% overnight, per Nielsen data.
As Gibbs suits up for Sunday’s clash against the Chicago Bears—where scouts say he’ll carry the load in a must-win divisional battle—the football world watches closely. Will this define him as a rebel or a role model? In an age where a single tweet can topple empires, his choice echoes louder than any touchdown roar. One thing’s clear: Jahmyr Gibbs isn’t just running for yards anymore—he’s sprinting toward his own narrative, unscripted and unbreakable.
