In 2022, Howard University signed a 20-year deal with Jordan Brand and became its first HBCU partner. Since then, the Bison have received exclusive sneakers across basketball and football, and 2 retail Air Jordan 1 Lows.
The latest pair dropped in October, with Bronx rapper and Howard alum Lady London helping make its debut. That makes this a good time to look back at the best Howard sneakers so far. Here are the best Jordan Brand x Howard sneakers, ranked from hard-to-find PEs to pairs you can wear.
8. Air Jordan 11 TD “Howard Bisons” Cleats
Howard football took the field in a new look this season, and it started with a pair of cleats. Jordan Brand made the Air Jordan 11 TD in both Mid and Low builds for the Bison.
Each pair is covered in glossy dark Howard blue patent leather, including the tongue. That finish matches the team’s colors and keeps the shoe’s patent leather identity. Howard’s athletic department also shot the cleats around campus, which made the reveal feel personal.
The pairs are exclusive to the football team, so fans cannot buy them. Still, they show how far Jordan Brand has pushed its HBCU partnership beyond basketball. The Mid and Low versions also give players a choice on the field.
7. Air Jordan 14 “Howard Bison” PE
The Air Jordan 14 gave Howard another reason to stand out among HBCU programs in 2026. A first look surfaced in April, showing the Bison joining Jordan Brand’s Air Jordan 14 PE lineup for the year.
Oklahoma recently unveiled its own pair, so Howard joined other Jordan Brand schools with this silhouette. The upper uses a navy-based color scheme with subtle red accents, which keeps the look clean and classic.
Those are Howard’s school colors, and they work well on the Air Jordan 14’s sleek, racing-inspired shape. Like most PEs, it is not expected to release to the public. Even so, it adds another strong piece to Howard’s growing HBCU sneaker collection.
6. Air Jordan 23 “Howard University” PE
The Air Jordan 23 has been quiet on Jordan Brand’s release calendar, but Howard still got a PE. It first surfaced in 2024, after Howard showed off 38 Air Jordan models to celebrate its partnership with Jordan Brand.
One white, navy, and red pair was on display, but Jordan Brand also made a separate pair for Bison student-athletes. That pair has a molded suede upper that shows the school’s bison mascot on the lateral side.
The HU emblem sits on the medial side above a quilted stitch pattern. Additional school decals appear on both sides of the tongue. Overall, it is one of the boldest HBCU pairs in Howard’s collection, even though it was made for student-athletes only.
5. Air Jordan 1 Low OG “Howard University” PE
Jordan Brand gave Howard’s women’s basketball team an Air Jordan 1 Low OG PE with a bold red look. The upper is covered in a textured material that makes the color hard to miss on the court.
Inside, a quilted red satin lining and “HOWARD BISON” graphics on the sockliner add school pride. White Wings sit on the heel tab, while a navy Nike Air tag finishes the tongue.
The other Air Jordan 1 Low PEs in that pack went to UNC and UCLA football, so Howard stood out. It also put an HBCU program in rare company among Jordan Brand’s college partners. Like most PEs, it did not release to the public.
4. Air Jordan 6 “Howard University” PE
Every legacy starts somewhere, and Howard’s started with the Air Jordan 6. After joining Jordan Brand in the summer of 2022, Howard became the first HBCU to sign with the Jumpman.
Soon after, the Air Jordan 6 PE arrived as the school’s first piece of exclusive footwear. It features Howard’s red, white, and blue colors along with the university’s emblem. That placed Howard alongside schools like Florida, North Carolina, and Oregon.
Pairs went to the Bison and friends and family, so most fans never got a chance to buy them. Still, it started a run of HBCU Jordans that continues today. That makes it a key chapter in the story.
3. Air Jordan 1 Low OG “Howard University”
For HBCU fans who wanted a pair of their own, 2024 finally delivered. The Air Jordan 1 Low OG “Howard University” was the first Howard sneaker the public could buy from Jordan Brand. It dropped in October 2024 for $140 in a clean white base.
Gym Red,” “Midnight Navy,” and “Sail” pull in Howard’s colors without going overboard. That makes it a great everyday pair for alumni, students, and fans. The silhouette also keeps things easy, since the Air Jordan 1 Low goes with almost any outfit.
Most Howard PEs never leave campus, so a general release mattered a lot. It proved that Jordan Brand was willing to share its HBCU partnership with everyone.
2. Air Jordan 4 “Howard University” PE
The Air Jordan 4 PE might be Howard’s most polished pair. Jordan Brand made it only for the Bison basketball team ahead of March Madness in 2025. The upper uses dark navy suede with bright red accents.
Golden hangtags carry Howard’s crest, while the lace dubraes are engraved with “HU.” Inside the tongue, “HU YOU KNOW” is stitched in crimson as a nod to the school’s iconic chant.
A Jumpman with a diamond detail also sits on the tongue and heel. Some fans wanted louder branding, but the subtle details reward a closer look. It remains one of the best HBCU PEs Jordan Brand has made.
1. Air Jordan 1 Low OG “Howard University”
The newest pair is also the best Howard sneaker yet. The Air Jordan 1 Low OG “Howard University” reached fans in October after a limited release in September. It features a navy satin upper with a red Swoosh outlined in white zig-zag stitching.
Bison branding sits on the right heel, and a “67” on the right insole honors Howard’s 1867 founding. Bronx rapper and Howard alum Lady London debuted the pair, which gave the release real HBCU and hip-hop energy. At $155, it is also one of the easiest ways for fans to rep Howard.
Overall, it shows how Jordan Brand celebrates HBCU culture in a sneaker you can wear every day.
Howard’s partnership with Jordan Brand is only 4 years old, and it already has a deep sneaker catalog. Because the deal runs 20 years, there are about 16 more years of pairs to come. If the early years are any sign, HBCU sneaker fans have a lot to look forward to.
