For The Second Straight Year Tom Brady Returns To No. 1 Spot On Year-End NFLPA Top 50 Player Sales List
TOP THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT YEAR-END NFLPA TOP 50 PLAYER SALES LIST
TOP THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT YEAR-END NFLPA TOP 50 PLAYER SALES LIST
For a second straight year, fans propelled Tom Brady to No. 1 on the year-end NFLPA Top 50 Player Sales List, based on total sales of all officially licensed NFL player merchandise from March 1, 2018 through February 28, 2019.
- Brady is the only player to claim the retail crown three times. Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson previously finished atop the year-end sales list twice.
- This marks a record 15th appearance for Brady among the top three best-selling players since the list’s inception in 2014 – and he has never ranked outside of the top nine.
The NFLPA Top 50 Player Sales List is the only verified ranking of all officially licensed, NFL player-branded merchandise sold from online and traditional retail outlets as reported by over 70 NFLPA licensees such as Fanatics, Outerstuff, Nike, Fathead, FOCO, Wincraft and Funko. Licensed product categories include video games, trading cards, men’s, women’s and youth game jerseys, T-shirts and hoodies, backpacks, wall decals, pennants, collectible figurines, matted and framed photos, bobbleheads, plush, drinkware, pet products, and many more. For the fifth consecutive year, NFLPA licensees generated record retail sales, exceeding $1.6 billion during the year.
Top 10 players of all officially licensed product sold:
- Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots
- Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys
- Carson Wentz, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
- Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys
- Patrick Mahomes II, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
- Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants
- Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers
- Deshaun Watson, QB, Houston Texans
- Khalil Mack, LB, Chicago Bears
- Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints
View complete Top 50 List here.
Below are year-end player sales highlights:
- Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott finished #2 for a third straight year and was joined by teammate Ezekiel Elliott at #4. The duo has occupied two of the top four spots on the last eight Top 50 Player Lists.
- Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes II jumped to #5 following a record-breaking season.
- The rookie class registered strong player retail sales, with five representatives, including Saquon Barkley at #6, the highest ranking since Ezekiel Elliott topped the year-end list in 2016. Baker Mayfield (#12), Sam Darnold (#26), Leighton Vander Esch (#31) and Josh Allen (#48) rounded out the rookies.
- On the defensive side, seven players made the year-end list, including Chicago Bears linebacker Khalil Mack at #9, matching the record set by Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (2015-16) for highest-ranked defensive player.
- Ten players climbed from the 2018 NFLPA Rising Stars to the year-end list – Josh Allen, Saquon Barkley, Sam Darnold, Aaron Donald, Leonard Fournette, Alvin Kamara, Patrick Mahomes II, Baker Mayfield, Jalen Ramsey and Michael Thomas. The rankings consider on-field performance, early demand from partners, fantasy league status, and new faces in strong markets as factors for sales popularity analysis.
- The five most popular Nike jerseys were Tom Brady’s No. 12, Khalil Mack’s No. 52, Patrick Mahomes II’s No. 15, Todd Gurley’s No. 30 and Julian Edelman’s No. 11. The hottest selling collegiate alumni Football jerseys from Nike were LeSean McCoy (Pittsburgh), Brady (Michigan), Dez Bryant (Oklahoma State), Joe Thomas (Wisconsin) and Marcus Mariota (Oregon).
- Fans who followed the college careers of Patrick Mahomes II (Texas Tech), Tom Brady (Michigan), Alvin Kamara (Tennessee), Derrick Henry (Alabama) and Odell Beckham Jr. (Louisiana) drove the stars to top five status in overall collegiate jersey sales by Nike, adidas, Under Armour and Fanatics.
- Fathead wall decals and cutouts of Tom Brady, Saquon Barkley, Odell Beckham Jr., Baker Mayfield and Patrick Mahomes II were best sellers. That fandom translated to college, as Barkley, Beckham Jr., Brady, Antonio Brown and Mayfield ranked highest in sales of Fathead collegiate co-branded product.
- Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and Baker Mayfield were top sellers of Funko Pop vinyl collectibles at year end.
- FY19 was a sock-cess for Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Patrick Mahomes II as the trio dominated sock sales from Freaker.
- New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman and New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold were best sellers of drinkware from Boelter Brands.
- L.A. Rams running back Todd Gurley, Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo sold the most products from Aminco, including fashion jewelry, hair accessories, key rings, magnets, pendants and pins.
- Tom Brady sold the most cake toppers from DecoPac, jigsaw puzzles from MasterPieces, youth apparel from Outerstuff, and pet jerseys from Pets First.
- Hallmark ornaments featuring Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz, then-Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb and Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan led all player sales.
About the NFL Players Association
The National Football League Players Association is the union for professional football players in the National Football League. Established in 1956, the NFLPA has a long history of assuring proper recognition and representation of players’ interests. The NFLPA has shown that it will do whatever is necessary to assure that the rights of players are protected—including ceasing to be a union, if necessary, as it did in 1989. In 1993, the NFLPA again was officially recognized as the union representing the players, and negotiated a landmark Collective Bargaining Agreement with the NFL. The current CBA will govern the sport through 2020.
About NFL Players Inc.
NFL Players Inc., the licensing and marketing arm of the NFLPA, connects businesses to the power of NFL players. NFL Players Inc. creates customized business solutions for partners, through licensing, marketing strategy and player activations. For more information, please visit nflpa.com/players.
Media Contacts:
John Fitzpatrick, NFLPA, John.Fitzpatrick@nflpa.com
David Cooper, MVP PR, David@MVPPR.com