NFL Superstar Myles Garrett Donates \$7.4 Million to Launch NIL Fund for Maple Leafs
NFL icon invests in Leafs athletes’ future, creating one of the largest support funds in NACC history.
By Jordan Michaels | SportsNorth Daily | May 28, 2025
In a move that has sent shockwaves through the sports world and across national borders, NFL superstar and Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett has donated a staggering \$7.4 million to launch a Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) fund exclusively for student-athletes at the University of Toronto — home of the Maple Leafs.
The fund, dubbed the Garrett Athletic Futures Initiative (GAFI), is aimed at supporting varsity athletes in the Leafs collegiate system, with a strong focus on empowering players to benefit from their personal brand through NIL deals.
The donation marks one of the largest single-athlete investments into a Leafs athletic institution in North American College Competition (NACC) history.
“It’s about more than football. It’s about building opportunity,” Garrett said in an exclusive interview. “There’s incredible talent north of the border that doesn’t get the exposure or support it deserves. I want to change that.”
The announcement was made this morning during a joint press conference at the University of Toronto’s Varsity Centre, attended by Canadian sports officials, university leadership, and several surprised student-athletes.
Garrett, wearing a Maple Leafs varsity jacket, delivered a passionate speech about global sports unity, the power of education, and the importance of investing in youth beyond borders.
The GAFI fund will provide annual NIL stipends, mentorship programs, marketing support, and direct brand partnerships for athletes across multiple sports — including hockey, basketball, track & field, and football, which is gaining popularity in the NACC. More than 300 athletes are expected to benefit in the program’s first three years.
“We’ve never seen anything like this in Canadian college sports,” said Dr. Andrea Mulligan, Vice President of Athletics at U of T. “This is transformational. Myles Garrett is not only investing in our athletes, he’s rewriting the rules of what’s possible in Canadian collegiate athletics.”
Though Garrett’s ties to Canada were previously unknown, sources close to the athlete say he’s long been a supporter of international education and has trained in Toronto during NFL offseasons.
The move also comes at a pivotal time in NACC development, as the league is exploring expanded NIL frameworks to match the NCAA’s evolving landscape.
Social media exploded following the announcement, with Canadian athletes praising Garrett’s unexpected generosity. “I’m honestly speechless,” tweeted Maple Leafs hockey captain Lina Petrov. “This changes everything for us. Thank you.
Sports analysts say this gesture could spark a new wave of cross-border philanthropy, with U.S. athletes recognizing the untapped potential in Canadian sports. Some have speculated this could inspire similar initiatives at McGill, UBC, and other NACC powerhouses.
As for Garrett, he hinted that this is just the beginning. “This isn’t charity — this is an investment,” he said. “I believe in these kids. Let’s build something legendary.”
With \$7.4 million committed, Myles Garrett isn’t just redefining NIL — he’s redefining what it means to be a global athletes.