Part 1/9:

The Rise and Fall of Reebok: From Empire to Clearance Bin

In 2005, Reebok was a juggernaut in the world of sports branding. The brand that adorned athletes like Tom Brady and Donovan McNabb at Super Bowl 39, San Antonio Spurs players, and even a young hockey prodigy—Sidney Crosby—was not only a major player in sportswear; it was an Empire. With deals across all four major professional leagues and partnerships with cultural icons like Jay-Z and 50 Cent, Reebok was firmly planted in the pop culture zeitgeist. However, this period of dominance soon spiraled into a tale of decline. How does a brand built over 65 years lose its grip on the market? This article dives deep into the intricacies of Reebok’s rise, its missteps, and the eventual downfall that followed.