Announcement Comes Just Ahead of Famed Annual Super Bowl Party, One-Year Anniversary of the Protect Where We Play Initiative
WASHINGTON — Ocean Conservancy has announced legendary sports agent Leigh Steinberg – who is widely known as the real-life inspiration for the Hollywood film Jerry Maguire – as the first-ever Team Ocean Coach in its Protect Where We Play initiative. The initiative brings together athletes, artists and entertainers to rally millions of fans in support of ocean conservation, and is celebrating its one-year anniversary this spring.
“In nearly 50 years representing hundreds of athletes, I’ve seen first-hand how these stars command the attention of their fans, and have a responsibility and power beyond the field,” said Steinberg. “Now, facing our greatest environmental challenge, that responsibility is urgent, and I’m delighted to help mobilize the sports world to protect where we play with Ocean Conservancy.”
The announcement comes ahead of Steinberg’s 39th annual Super Bowl party, which brings together thousands of athletes and sports insiders to celebrate the big game while highlighting philanthropy opportunities across a variety of issues. Ocean Conservancy will be featured at this year’s party, to be held in San Francisco, and will present Steinberg with an official Protect Where We Play jersey to mark the occasion.
The Arizona Cardinals’ Kelvin Beachum, among the first cohort of athletes to become a Protect Where We Play Team Ocean Captain last year, received the Steinberg DeNicola Humanitarian Award at the 37th Annual Leigh Steinberg Super Bowl Party in February 2024.
“Leigh has built his career as a fierce advocate for players,” said Beachum, Arizona Cardinals’ nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year for 2025. “Now, as a Team Ocean Coach, he’s bringing that same passion to fighting for our ocean and planet. As a Team Ocean Captain, I’m proud to welcome him and stand alongside him in the fight to Protect Where We Play.”
Other Team Ocean Captains include WNBA’s Napheesa Collier, MLB’s Brent Suter, Paralympian Ezra Frech, American ballerina Katherine Barkman, world champion surfer John John Florence and actor John Slattery. Other supporters include the Seattle Seahawks (NFL), Cleveland Monsters (AHL), United States SailGP Team and Team USA Artistic Swimming. Steinberg’s position as a Team Ocean Coach – signifying his advisory and leadership role – brings the voice of sports management to the effort.
“Sport and entertainment have unmatched power to inspire,” said Jenna DiPaolo, Ocean Conservancy’s chief brand and communications officer. “Few people understand that power better than Leigh, and we are delighted to have him on board putting that influence to work for our ocean through Protect Where We Play.”
ABOUT PROTECT WHERE WE PLAY
Protect Where We Play is Ocean Conservancy’s bold, new initiative that aims to inspire a new wave of fan engagement and action by leveraging the sports and entertainment industries as a first entry point to activate a broader and more diverse array of “Team Ocean” advocates. You can watch the sizzle reel here, read Forbes’ coverage of the launch here, and Pollstar’s Earth Day coverage on the origin story of this initiative here. For more information, visit protectwhereweplay.com.
ABOUT OCEAN CONSERVANCY
For more than 50 years, Ocean Conservancy has delivered effective, evidence-based solutions for the ocean and all who depend on it. Today, we continue to unite science, people and policy to protect our ocean from the greatest challenges it faces: climate change, plastic pollution and biodiversity loss. We are a 501(C)3 headquartered in Washington, D.C. that inspires a worldwide network of partners, advocates and supporters through our comprehensive and clear-eyed approach to ocean conservation. Together, we are securing a healthy ocean and a thriving planet, forever and for everyone. For more information, visit oceanconservancy.org, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Bluesky or Instagram.
