If you’re looking to catch a ride through Uber in the coming months, your driver’s last passenger may have been a football star.
The ride-for-hire company has partnered with the NFL Players Association to be the transportation partner for football players across the country looking for rides when they’re out on the town.
“We wanted to partner with a company that could not only provide a service but also provide a technology and messaging platform that makes it easy to promote responsibility to our players and fans,” NFLPA player representative Zac DeOssie said in a press release.
That’s a big win for Uber, which has been throwing its weight around after a recent major investment by Google Ventures and TPG. The NFLPA release makes it quite clear that its players are going to be talking up their use of the service as a part of the partnership agreement between the two companies.
It’s also a win for NFL players hoping to avoid a DUI charge. The New York Times reported that players in the league were fined $2.4 million and lost almost $3 million in salary because of driving under the influence. While hiring a driver may seem like a no-brainer in that situation, Uber and the NFLPA hope to make it easier for players to go out without their car.
According to a report by The Next Web, NFL players will get cards pre-loaded with $200 in Uber credit, and their family members will also receive gift cards for the service. Uber is backed by Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos and others.
Previously on GeekWire: Transportation study: Market for ride-sharing, for-hire vehicles ‘growing rapidly’ in Seattle
