What is the brand of the official NFL game ball?

Wilson is the brand of the official NFL game ball. The ball itself is commonly called “The Duke,” a name honoring Wellington Mara, the longtime New York Giants owner and an important figure in NFL history.

Wilson has supplied the NFL’s official football since 1941, making the partnership one of the longest-running equipment relationships in professional sports. The company’s footballs are manufactured in Ada, Ohio, where each ball is inspected and prepared for use under league specifications.

The Duke is made from leather and carries the NFL shield, the commissioner’s signature, and markings that identify it as an official game ball. Quarterbacks often discuss its grip and texture because the ball’s feel can affect throwing, especially in wet or cold conditions.

A common mix-up is Nike, whose uniforms and other league apparel are prominent. Nike is not the official NFL game-ball brand. Rawlings and Spalding have also made football equipment, but Wilson holds the NFL’s official game-ball role.