Marketing

Subway, NFL veteran launch protein push, teen sports contest

Photo: iStock.

January 5, 2021

NFL veteran Marshawn Lynch is working with Subway restaurants to drive home the health benefits of eating at the chain. Through an ad campaign across TV, social media and digital channels, Lynch touts protein-packed choices and helps aspiring sports stars through the Subway Pro Teen Awards, a news release said.

Subway said customers may tap into its newly launched Protein Bowls or get $2 double-protein upgrades to its foot-long sandwiches and the aforementioned bowls.

Subway and Lynch are also teaming up on a national contest for high school athletes, who had to forgo their football season due to the ongoing pandemic. Subway, with the help of NFL stars Marshawn Lynch and Keenan Allen, is launching the Subway Pro Teen Awards to celebrate future pros working to achieve their athletic dreams.

Beginning Jan. 15, high school football players can submit a video of their best pro moves, craziest catches, hardest tackles and longest throws or kicks online at https://www.subway.com/en-US/proteen for a chance to be one of 20 winning players.

High school athletes are encouraged to submit entries, but coaches, teachers, parents, teammates and friends may submit entries on the athletes' behalf.

Winners will receive a personalized video from Lynch, an invitation to attend a virtual awards event with Allen, and a $1,500 scholarship from Subway.

Lynch and Allen, along with public voting, will select winners on a three-part scoring system:

• 30% of score based on the number of votes on their video.
• 10% on how well the entry meets the contest theme.
• 60% based on judges' scoring (Lynch & Allen) of video entries based on skill/creativity captured in the video.

"Subway helps you power up and 'Go Pro' on and off the field with their new Protein Bowls and their Pro Teen Awards," Lynch said in the release. "2020 was a year like we've never seen before, with many players having to sacrifice their season and slow down their hustle. I'm excited to be part of Subway's Pro Teen Awards and give high school athletes another chance to achieve their goals and celebrate the game. So check it out, and let's fuel up and get back out there together with Subway!"

Subway is an Official Sponsor of the NFL and kicked off Footlong Season in 2020 as part of a three-year sponsorship.

Subway, based in Milford, Connecticut, has locations owned and operated by more than 20,000 franchisees.