The Players' Tribune's Signature Stories

ABOUT THIS ENTRY

The Players’ Tribune’s ‘Signature Stories’ is a culmination of everything the brand is known for—honest and open storytelling, visually stunning photography, and engaging video—all seamlessly combined into a unified, beautiful user experience.

Through ‘Signature Stories’ audiences are able to make a deeper connection with the featured athletes—including professional skier, Mikaela Shiffrin, NFL Quarterback, Jamarcus Russell, professional basketballer, John Wall, and tennis star, Iga Swiatek - as they share pieces of themselves that they never shared before.

How does this represent “Excellence in Engagement”?

The Players’ Tribune exists to give athletes the ability to take control over their own stories and experiences and share them broadly with the world in thoughtful, impactful ways.

Signature Stories’ raw authenticity is the main reason that the collection was such a success with audiences. The public is constantly looking to further understand and connect with the athletes they idealize and the honest sharing of life’s experiences is an impactful way to allow that connection to flourish.

Furthermore, ‘Signature Stories’ sets a new precedent for how athlete-storytelling can be created and shared. One of the main differentiators between this series and TPT’s other content is the extensive process of writer and athlete collaboration.

While many TPT pieces take time, when working on a ‘Signature Story’ the athlete and editor work together for months—diving in and out of every little detail they wish to share in order to showcase the most complete story.

With ‘Signature Stories’ athletes are able to put it all out on the table, sharing even their personal photos and videos, and leaving no stone unturned. The industry around storytelling is always changing and this series will surely be a turning point in that evolution.

Objective

Since its inception, The Players’ Tribune has been dedicated to amplifying the voice of the athlete and, through trust and respect, building a safe space for athletes to share their most personal stories. For nearly a decade, The Players’ Tribune has been the go to destination for athletes wishing to open up to the public about their innermost selves—think Kevin Love’s 2018 piece on his struggle with anxiety - and in 2022 the brand took this mission a step further and introduced a new content vertical, ‘Signature Stories’.

The Players’ Tribune’s ‘Signature Stories’ is a culmination of everything the brand is known for—honest and open storytelling, visually stunning photography, and engaging video—all seamlessly combined into a unified, beautiful user experience.

Through ‘Signature Stories’ audiences are able to make a deeper connection with the featured athletes—including professional skier, Mikaela Shiffrin, NFL Quarterback, Jamarcus Russell, professional basketballer, John Wall, and tennis star, Iga Swiatek—as they share pieces of themselves that they never shared before.

Too often athletes are seen as one-dimensional and with ‘Signature Stories’ The Players’ Tribune is taking a 360 approach to their unique experiences, showcasing the nuance and depth that surrounds the lives of athletes.

Strategy & Execution

Fans today want to know the whole athlete, not just what they’re capable of on the field/court/Olympic stage. In this digital age, surprisingly it’s the human connection that audiences are looking for & that's exactly what ‘Signature Stories’ provide.

Shiffrin opens up about losing her father & the effect that grief has had on her, while Russell dives into his history & reputation, setting the record straight on who he really is & the truth behind the rumor mill. Wall talks about his mom and how losing her led to depression so deep he almost took his own life, and Swiatek shares her journey to becoming a world champion. These stories are true, they’re unflinching, they’re human—and that's what makes this series standout amongst the noise.

When creating a ‘Signature Story’ the team & athlete dedicate months to diving into their lives in order to present the most complete story possible, including sharing never-before-seen photos and videos straight from the athletes’ personal archives.

TPT ensured that these stories would be heard & shared by allowing other sports media publications access, creating a network of distribution that enabled all fans, regardless of preferred medium or outlet, to witness & take part in ‘Signature Stories’.

Organizations

• The Players’ Tribune

Featured Athletes

• Mikaela Shiffrin
• Jamarcus Russell
• John Wall
• Iga Swiatek

Credits

Mikaela Shiffrin

JaMarcus Russell

John Wall

Iga Swiatek