When Elliott Hill replaced John Donahoe as the CEO of Nike just over a year ago, the brand doubled down on its commitment to athletes and innovation. While such a shift takes time to fully materialize, Nike has just taken a bold step forward with the unveiling of NIKE, Inc. Sport Offense. This new structure involves not only Nike’s innovation, design, and product teams, but Jordan Brand and Converse’s as well. The introduction of this single, athlete-focused creation engine is designed to lead to “more game-changing products for athletes everywhere,” according to Nike.
“By uniting our creation organization across Nike, Jordan, and Converse, we’re accelerating progress and fully leveraging our strengths to deliver epic products that make athletes better. It’s a new day in Innovation, Design, and Product at Nike,” shares Phil McCartney, Chief Innovation, Design, and Product Officer.
Four technological advances centered around solving problems for athletes have been announced: Project Amplify, the Therma-FIT Air Milano Jacket, Aero-FIT, and the Mind 001 and Mind 002.
Project Amplify
Leading off the new pillars of innovation is Project Amplify, the world’s first powered footwear system for running and walking. Designed to empower everyday athletes to reach greater speeds and distances with less effort, the natural lower leg and ankle movement is augmented. While Nike refers to it as a “new future for running, jogging, and walking,” the robotics system isn’t for competitive runners. Instead, the brand notes that Project Amplify helps some shave two minutes off of their 12-minute mile time, targeting everyday athletes. This breakthrough is compared to how electric bikes strengthen the capabilities of bike riders, which has greatly impacted modern commuting.
Created with robotics partner Dephy, Project Amplify features a motor that is both light and powerful. This is backed by a drive belt and rechargeable cuff battery to connect to a carbon fiber–plated running shoe that can be worn with our without the augment system. This bold new approach to mechanical footwear is still in its testing stage, with a broad consumer launch targeted for sometime in the coming years.
Therma-FIT Air Milano Jacket
Nike Air is one of the industry’s most important innovations to date. After almost 50 years, the technology is as prevalent as ever, powering countless sneakers. Now, it sports Nike’s “most technically engineered garment of its kind.” The Therma-FIT Air Milano Jacket is powered by A.I.R. (Adapt. Inflate. Regulate.) Technology. This new design combines the Air we know and love with innovative materials and computational design informed by the Nike Sport Research Lab to offer dynamic warmth. Temperature is regulated in real time, with the jacket inflating or deflating in seconds, without having to change layers. These warmth levels are designed to range from a hoodie to a puffer jacket.
The Therma-FIT Air Milano Jacket will be worn by Team USA athletes during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games and will serve as their medal ceremony look. Each of the team’s jackets features the sculpted design, a custom ACG pump, and a special lining graphic that nods to the team’s home in Colorado Springs. With Paralympic athletes in mind, Nike made sure to include accessibility elements, from interior bottom hem thumb loops to a magnetic zipper.
Aero-FIT
Nike recognizes that rising heat and humidity continues to challenge athletes. As a response to this shift, the brand has created Aero-FIT. This material innovation results in Nike’s best cooling system to date, with it said to be more than twice as effective at creating airflow than legacy Nike materials. Aero-FIT improves sweating efficiency with its revamped movement of air between skin and fabric. While elliptical mesh zones serve as a visual signature, the lighter mesh ensures peak airflow, targeting high-heat areas. It also is Nike’s “first elite performance apparel made from 100 percent textile waste,” which it has accomplished thanks to chemical recycling. Before Aero-FIT is brought across Nike’s product strategy, it will make its global debut during the FIFA World Cup 26, with federations’ football kits featuring the material.
Mind 001 and Mind 002
Rounding out the NIKE, Inc. Sport Offense’s initial set of technological advances is the brand’s first exploration of neuroscience-based footwear. Over 10 years in the making, the Mind 001 mule and Mind 002 sneaker are two mind-altering footwear models. The goal is, by leveraging 22 independent foam nodes per shoe, athletes are able to “lock in their mindset before and after competition.” The Mind lineup is scientifically shown to “activate key sensory areas of the brain via underfoot stimulation,” deepening awareness and grounding them in the moment. This serves as the first two creations from Nike’s Mind Science Department, a new part of the Nike Sport Research Lab centered around the mind-body connection. Look out for both models to become available in January 2026.
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