Shaquille O’Neal, a legend in the NBA, has never been shy about gushing over Papa John’s pizza. Basketball colossus Shaq is on the Papa John’s board of directors, and he’s showing his support for the “Kelce pizza”—a new dish that NFL great Jason Kelce and his wife Kylie devised. His recent social media post revealed a different aspect of his mindfulness practice.

Shaquille O’Neal wasted no time endorsing Papa Johns, the pizza joint he co-founded with his investors. He proudly shared the news that their newest pizza taste was now available on their Instagram.

Adding a tale about Jason and Kylie (McDevitt) Kelce’s favorite pizza—pepperoni and banana peppers—to their menu was something Shaq did.

Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce and his wife were spotted chatting about Jason’s favorite part of the special pizza from Papa John’s.

Reposted from Kelce’s Instagram, O’Neal’s story promoted Papa Johns Pizza, which Shaq endorsed.

Papa John’s board of directors includes Shaquille O’Neal.

In addition to his job as an endorsement, O’Neal has joined Papa John’s board of directors, further solidifying his affiliation with the company.

In 2019, this collaboration came to light as Papa John’s attempted to restore its reputation following the controversial departure of founder John Schnatter. O’Neal, who is renowned for his honesty and dedication to making a positive difference in the community, made it clear that Schnatter had to leave the company before he could join it.

In spite of backlash from his fans, Shaquille O’Neal stood by his choice, highlighting his part in the new leadership team’s plan to breathe fresh life into Papa John’s.

Papa John’s has a three-year endorsement arrangement with O’Neal for about $11 million in cash and shares, in addition to his board membership. The three-year cash payments have been increased to $5.625 million, making this agreement superior to his prior one.

In particular, O’Neal’s innovative work for the pizza joint includes the wildly popular Shaq-a-Roni pizza. Papa John’s donated $1 from every pizza sold, totaling over $7 million, to the Papa John’s Foundation for Building Community, which was in line with Shaquille O’Neal’s long-term objectives of encouraging constructive community impact.

Papa John’s gets more than just financial support from O’Neal’s endorsement deal; he also gives them the green light to use parts of his personal brand. Meanwhile, Shaquille O’Neal acts as a brand ambassador for Papa John’s, using his platform in public appearances, social media, and PR to further improve the company’s image.