How To Contact Phil Knight…

Email Phil Knight at Nike or care/of his talent agent, manager, or publicist.

Meet Phil Knight at one of his book signings, movie/TV show premieres, product launches, live events, meet-and-greets, or bidding on a charity auction.

Call Phil Knight at 1-800-344-6453 (Nike Toll-Free) or 503-671-6453 (Nike World Headquarters).

Send your autograph request and a self-addressed stamped envelope to get Phil Knight’s autograph. Send Phil Knight a fan mail letter care/of:

Phil Knight
c/o Nike Inc.
1 Bowerman Dr.
Beaverton, OR 97005

Phil Knight’s speaking agency is:

Nike Inc.
1 Bowerman Dr.
Beaverton, OR 97005

Phil Knight’s management is:

Nike Inc.
1 Bowerman Dr.
Beaverton, OR 97005

Phil Knight’s publicist is:

Public Relations Dept.
c/o Nike Inc.
1 Bowerman Dr.
Beaverton, OR 97005

Phil Knight started after writing a college paper at Stanford Graduate School of Business, proposing a strategy to break the German dominance in the athletic shoe market by importing cheaper, high-quality running shoes from Japan. Inspired by this idea, he traveled to Japan in 1962, where he secured a distribution deal with Onitsuka Tiger (now ASICS) under the name Blue Ribbon Sports. With an initial investment of $500 each, Knight and his former track coach, Bill Bowerman, began selling these Japanese running shoes at track meets from the trunk of Knight’s car. Their partnership flourished, and in 1971, they launched their footwear line with the “Swoosh” logo, rebranding the company as Nike, Inc., which would grow to become a global leader in the athletic footwear and apparel industry.

Phil Knight and Ben Affleck met in 2021 when Affleck was preparing to direct and star in the movie “Air” about creating the Air Jordan shoe. Affleck wanted to meet Knight to get his input on the script and ensure he was portraying him accurately. The two men met at Knight’s home in Oregon and spent several hours discussing the movie. Knight was impressed with Affleck’s knowledge of the Air Jordan story and gave Affleck his blessing to move forward with the film. The movie “Air” was released in 2023 and received positive reviews from critics. Knight said he was “pleased” with the film and praised Affleck’s performance.

Phil Knight met Derek Jeter through Nike’s endorsement deals with prominent athletes. Jeter, a legendary New York Yankees shortstop, had a long-term relationship with the Nike brand, including a signature shoe line with the Jordan Brand, a subsidiary of Nike. Their paths crossed at Nike promotional events, brand strategy meetings, and other professional gatherings. Knight’s role as the co-founder of Nike and Jeter’s status as a Nike-endorsed athlete allowed them to interact.

Phil Knight and Jeff Bezos are high-profile business leaders. Knight is the co-founder of Nike, and Bezos is the founder of Amazon. They met at business events and conferences and through mutual business interests. Both have influenced the modern retail and branding landscapes.

Phil Knight met Kevin Durant when Nike wanted to sign the basketball star to an endorsement deal. Durant, whom several shoe companies highly sought after, ultimately signed with Nike in 2007, shortly after being drafted into the NBA. Knight knew the company’s efforts to secure a deal with Durant. Their relationship has been fruitful, with Durant becoming one of the faces of Nike Basketball and releasing multiple editions of his signature Nike shoes.

As the co-founder of Nike, Phil Knight was involved in the strategic discussions when Nike pursued Kobe Bryant as a brand endorser. Bryant signed with Nike in 2003 after starting his NBA career with a competing brand. The partnership between Kobe Bryant and Nike became one of the most iconic in the sports world, with Bryant releasing multiple signature shoe lines with the company.

As the co-founder of Nike, Phil Knight was instrumental in Nike’s strategic initiative to sign top athletes to endorsement deals. LeBron James was signed by Nike to a significant endorsement deal just before he entered the NBA in 2003 while he was still a high school basketball phenom. They met given James’ prominence as a Nike athlete and the importance of his brand partnership to the company. This relationship has been highly successful, with LeBron James becoming one of the most significant faces of Nike Basketball.

Phil Knight and Maria Sharapova became acquainted through Nike’s sponsorship and endorsement agreements. Sharapova signed with Nike at a young age and has been one of the brand’s most prominent tennis athletes. Given Sharapova’s stature within the Nike roster of elite athletes and Knight’s involvement with the company, they met during events, promotional activities, and while discussing endorsement-related matters. Sharapova’s long-term relationship with Nike included numerous apparel and footwear lines and marketing campaigns.

Phil Knight met Michael Jordan through Nike’s efforts to sign promising athletes to endorse their products. In 1984, after Jordan’s standout performance in college basketball and just before he began his legendary NBA career, Nike successfully signed him to a landmark endorsement deal, which led to the creation of the Air Jordan brand. Nike executives, including marketing specialist Sonny Vaccaro, facilitated this partnership as it became one of sports history’s most significant and lucrative endorsements.

Phil Knight and Nike were associated with many top athletes, including Rafael Nadal. Nadal was signed by Nike at a young age, becoming one of the brand’s most prominent tennis ambassadors. Phil Knight met Nadal given the tennis star’s long-standing high-profile relationship with Nike. This partnership featured Nadal in numerous Nike marketing campaigns, and he wore Nike apparel throughout his illustrious career.

Phil Knight met Roger Federer through Nike’s extensive history of sponsoring top tennis players. Federer, one of tennis’s greatest players, had a long-standing and highly successful partnership with Nike that began in 1994 when he was 13 years old and continued into his professional career. Knight, as the co-founder of Nike, was well aware of Federer’s importance to the Nike brand. They met at Nike events, product launches, and discussions related to his sponsorship deals. Federer was a key ambassador for Nike, sporting their apparel and footwear in countless tournaments.

Phil Knight met Rory McIlroy when Nike sought to sign the professional golfer to an endorsement deal. In 2013, McIlroy signed a substantial sponsorship agreement with Nike, reported to be worth up to $250 million, making him one of the key faces of Nike Golf. Given his active role in the company, this partnership involved meetings and negotiations between McIlroy, his management team, and Nike executives, including Phil Knight.

Phil Knight met Shaquille O’Neal due to Nike’s extensive involvement in the basketball world and O’Neal’s prominence as an NBA player. While Shaquille O’Neal primarily had endorsement deals with other companies, most notably Reebok, they still met at NBA events, sports conferences, and other occasions where industry leaders and athletes were present.

Phil Knight met Sonny Vaccaro, a well-known sports marketing executive and talent scout, through Nike’s efforts to expand their presence in the basketball shoe market. Vaccaro, who had established relationships with college basketball programs across the United States, was hired by Nike in the early 1980s to help the company secure endorsement deals with up-and-coming basketball players, which included the pivotal signing of Michael Jordan. This strategic partnership with Vaccaro significantly boosted Nike’s profile in the competitive athletic footwear industry.

Phil Knight met Tiger Woods in the mid-1990s when Nike sought to sign the young golf prodigy to an endorsement deal. Woods was turning professional after an outstanding amateur and collegiate golf career. In 1996, Nike secured a landmark endorsement deal with Tiger Woods, one of the most significant in sports marketing history, which helped solidify Nike’s position in the golf industry. This deal brought Woods into the Nike family and contributed to a long-standing relationship between the golfer and the company.

Phil Knight met Tim Cook through their connections to Nike. Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple Inc., has served on Nike’s board of directors since 2005. Their professional paths crossed due to Cook’s role at Nike, where his expertise in operations provided valuable insights to the company. Knight and Cook interacted and collaborated through shared business interests and leadership experiences.

Phil Knight was born in Portland, Oregon, USA, on February 24, 1938. He grew up in the Portland area and attended the University of Oregon in Eugene, where he became a middle-distance runner and earned a journalism degree.

Phil Knight resides in Oregon, where he was born and raised. He has maintained strong ties to the area, particularly through his philanthropic contributions and involvement with the University of Oregon.

Phil Knight is an American business magnate and philanthropist. He is the co-founder and former CEO of Nike, Inc., one of the world’s largest suppliers of athletic shoes and apparel and a major manufacturer of sports equipment. Knight ran track at the University of Oregon and later started selling running shoes out of his car trunk with his coach Bill Bowerman, which laid the foundation for Nike. Over the decades, he grew the company into a global powerhouse in the sports industry. Knight is also known for his philanthropic efforts, having donated substantial amounts to educational and research institutions.

Phil Knight is married to Penelope “Penny” Parks, and they have two sons named Matthew and Travis Knight.