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McNeese State's Manager Amir 'Aura' Khan's NIL Deals Worth More Money Than You Think

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jonathan Adams | Last updated Mar 22, 2025 11:22 AM ET

The biggest star of March Madness may not be a player, but McNeese State Cowboys basketball manager Amir "Aura" Khan. Heading into the NCAA Tournament, Khan already had NIL deals, and McNeese State's run during March Madness is only adding to the manager's growing portfolio.

While Khan's NIL deal earnings are not made public, Reed Vial, McNeese State head coach Will Wade's assistant, has been helping the manager broker the business deals and provided an estimate.

"North of six figures,” Vial told Forbes' Mark J. Burns of Khan's estimated total NIL earnings to date.

It is safe to say business is booming for the McNeese State manager. After McNeese upset the Clemson Tigers in the first round, Khan revealed NIL deals with Buffalo Wild Wings, Insomnia Cookies and TickPick, per Fox Sports' John Fanta.

On Friday, Topps joined the growing list, announcing that the company had also reached an agreement with Khan and posted a trading card image of the McNeese State manager.

: We’re excited to announce we’ve signed an NIL deal with McNeese State University’s very own @amirk_23.

Legendary team manager Amir “Aura” Khan now has his very own trading cards. pic.twitter.com/3i6etSxlzK
— Topps (@Topps) March 21, 2025

Khan has also been posting ads for companies to his growing X account. These include Turbo Tax and The Formula Bot. Khan credited the McNeese State players for helping his business ventures to grow.

File with the experts at TurboTax so you can be that guy with your taxes @turbotax #TurboTaxPartner #ad #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/hRp1M99rPS
— Amir Khan (@amirk_23) March 22, 2025

"It definitely is (business is rolling), but it's because of these guys," Khan told Fanta during an interview on Thursday. "It's because of this team."

Khan already has landed 10 to 12 NIL deals, per Burns. It is a number that could grow even larger if McNeese State is able to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

"(Vial) had already fielded about 100 phone calls from media and brands today alone. In one word, 'insane,'" Burns wrote on Friday.

"Ahead of (Saturday's) second-round matchup against No. 4 Purdue, Khan will have secured around 10 to 12 NIL deals to date, according to Vial. Other companies include Epic Games’ Fortnite, TurboTax, Topps, PSD Underwear, artificial intelligence data analyst Formula Bot, Rock ‘Em Socks and GLD, an NCAA licensee of jewelry."

On Saturday, Amin showed up to McNeese State's matchup with the Purdue Boilermakers with a custom Under Armour jumpsuit, adding the apparel company to his NIL deals.

McNeese manager Amir “Aura” Khan now has a customized Under Armour jumpsuit. Company reps flew into Providence last night.

I’m told he has 12 NIL deals, all totaling well into the six figures. Buffalo Wild Wings, TickPick and TurboTax are the three biggest. Nothing like March. pic.twitter.com/Jl0DctW6K1
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) March 22, 2025

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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