Russell Wilson Defends Retail Crown on NFL Players Inc. Top 50 Player Sales Year-End List

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– Rankings Include All Products Sold by 80+ NFLPI Licensees via Online and Traditional Retail Outlets, with Sales Exceeding $1.4 Billion during the Year –

– Highlights Include Gigantic Fiscal Year-to-Year Leaps by Dez Bryant, Jordy Nelson and DeMarco Murray; Four NFLPI “Rising 50” Players Joining List; Quarterbacks Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Russell Wilson Leading Sales in Fatheads, Nike jerseys, Ugly Sweaters and Bobbleheads –

WASHINGTON D.C., April 20, 2015 – Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson retained the No. 1 ranking for a second consecutive year on the NFL Players Inc. (NFLPI) Top 50 Player Sales List for the fiscal year 2015, based on total overall sales of all officially licensed products from March 1, 2014, through February 28, 2015. Wilson again surpassed quarterback Peyton Manning of the Denver Broncos, who finished atop the list for the third fiscal quarter, but ended the year at No. 2. 

Joining Wilson and Manning among the year’s top 10 NFLPI retail kings are New England Patriots Super Bowl XLIX champion quarterback Tom Brady (No. 3), San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (No. 4), Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (No. 5), Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (No. 6), Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (No. 7), Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (No. 8), Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (No. 9) and Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (No. 10). Rounding out the top 15 are Cowboys tight end Jason Witten (No. 11), New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (No. 12), Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (No. 13), former Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy (No. 14) and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (No. 15).

The list, released quarterly by NFLPI, the marketing and licensing arm of the NFL Players Association, is based on total overall sales of all officially licensed products from online and traditional retail outlets as reported by more than 80 NFLPI licensees such as Nike, VF Imagewear, Fanatics, Outerstuff, Fathead, McFarlane Toys, Oyo Sportstoys, Bleacher Creatures, Forever Collectibles, Funko, FBF Originals and Photo File. Licensed product categories include men’s, women’s and youth game jerseys and t-shirts, murals, figurines, matted and framed photos, socks, vinyl collectibles, plush, memorabilia and electronic accessories, among others.

NFLPI licensees generated retail sales exceeding $1.4 billion during the year.

Additional highlights:

  • Wilson outsold all players in Ugly Sweaters and Nike jerseys.
  • Peyton Manning led player bobblehead sales. Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson was the only non-quarterback in the top 10 for bobblehead sales (No. 9).  
  • Four out of the top five in Fathead player sales were quarterbacks, led by Brady, Manning, Wilson and Rodgers. Watt was the only non-quarterback, finishing No. 4 overall.
  • Peyton Manning was the top-selling sock from FBF Originals, followed by Wilson and Kaepernick.
  • Wilson led all players in vinyl collectible figurine sales from Funko in the licensee’s first year with NFLPI, followed by fellow Super Bowl XLIX participants Brady, Lynch and Sherman.
  • The top four players in overall sales of all officially licensed products – Wilson, Manning, Brady and Kaepernick – were all featured as runners in Imangi’s Temple Run 2.
  • Former Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray jumped from outside the top 50 list in FY 14 all the way to No. 23 in FY 15.
  • Bryant (No. 6) and Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson (No. 21) made the biggest leaps, jumping 24 and 22 spots, respectively, through FY 15.
  • Sherman (No. 7) and Watt (No. 8) were the top-selling defensive players, followed by Packers linebacker Clay Matthews at No. 16.
  • With five players ranked – Wilson, Sherman, Lynch, and defensive backs Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor – including three in the top 10, the Seahawks maintain their title of having the team with the most individual player retail power.
  • Manziel ranked first in collegiate co-branded hardlines sales which includes Fatheads, Oyo Sportstoys, bobbleheads and ornaments. Outselling the likes of Peyton Manning (No. 2) and Cam Newton (No. 4), Manziel’s strong popularity in the collegiate market led to a top 10 finish in overall player sales, making him the highest ranked rookie on the list.
  • Four players from NFLPI’s “Rising 50” list of future top-selling stars, debuted on the year-end FY 15 list: New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (No. 20), Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (No. 41), and Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (No. 42) and running back Le’Veon Bell (No. 43).

NFLPI Top 50 Player Sales Rankings (FY 15)*: 

1. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks 

2. Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos

3. Tom Brady, New England Patriots 

4. Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers

5. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

6. Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys

7. Richard Sherman, Seattle Seahawks

8. J.J. Watt, Houston Texans

9. Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks

10. Johnny Manziel, Cleveland Browns

11. Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys

12. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

13. Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots

14. LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles

15. Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts

16. Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers

17. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys

18. Brandon Marshall, Chicago Bears

19. Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions

20. Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants

21. Jordy Nelson, Green Bay Packers 

22. Eli Manning, New York Giants

23. DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys

24. Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

25. Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins

26. Nick Foles, Philadelphia Eagles 

27. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings

28. Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs

29. Earl Thomas, Seattle Seahawks 

30. Kam Chancellor, Seattle Seahawks

31. Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers

32. Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins

33. Victor Cruz, New York Giants

34. Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers

35. Matt Forte, Chicago Bears

36. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

37. Patrick Willis, San Francisco 49ers 

38. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers

39. Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh Steelers

40. Demaryius Thomas, Denver Broncos

41. Julian Edelman, New England Patriots

42. Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers

43. Le’Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers

44. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers

45. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals

46. Devon Still, Cincinnati Bengals 

47. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers

48. A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals

49. Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota Vikings 

50. Wes Welker, Denver Broncos

*Team listed indicates player’s team for sales during FY 15

 

About NFL Players Inc.

NFL Players Inc. is the licensing and marketing subsidiary of the NFL Players Association. NFLPI has been a trusted resource since 1994, delivering access to the influence, power and personal stories of NFL players. NFLPI is a “one-stop shop” for businesses seeking licensing rights, access to players through hospitality and events, marketing strategy and player procurement. For more information, please visit nflpa.com/players.

 

Media Contacts:

David Cooper for NFLPI

dcooper@coynepr.com
917-716-8566

Mike Donnelly, NFLPA
Mike.Donnelly@nflpa.com
202-756-9160