– Rankings Include All Player-Identified Products Sold by 80+ NFLPA Licensees via Online and Traditional Retail Outlets, with Retail Sales Exceeding $1.5 Billion –– Highlights Include Cam Newton Leads in Collegiate Co-brand Sales; Linebackers Von Miller and Khalil Mack Debut in the Top 50; Brady, Newton, Luke Kuechly, and Rob Gronkowski Lead in Kids’ Toys and Apparel –WASHINGTON D.C., April 25, 2016 – Tom Brady stands atop the NFLPA Top 50 Player Sales List at the end of the 2015-16 season. The list is based on total sales of all officially licensed merchandise from March 1, 2015 through February 29, 2016. Brady took the lead back from Russell Wilson, who was the best-selling player for the previous two quarters. Brady last held the top spot on the list in the first quarter of 2015, when sales reports were released on July 23, 2015.
Rounding out the season-ending top five are the recently-retired Peyton Manning, Wilson, Aaron Rodgers and Dez Bryant. Joining them in the top 10 are Odell Beckham Jr., Cam Newton, Rob Gronkowski, J.J. Watt and Jason Witten.
The list is released quarterly by the NFLPA, via its licensing and marketing arm NFL Players Inc., and is based on overall sales of all licensed products from online and traditional retail outlets. The NFLPA collects data reported from more than 80+ NFLPA licensees such as Fanatics, Nike, Majestic Athletic, Outerstuff, Forever Collectibles, Fathead, McFarlane Toys, Bleacher Creatures, FBF Originals, 500 Level, FanPrint, Photo File and New Era. Licensed product categories include men’s, women’s and youth game jerseys and t-shirts, wall decals, figurines, toys, matted and framed photos, ugly sweaters, bobbleheads, pins, drinkware, socks and electronic device accessories, among others.
NFLPA licensees generated retail sales exceeding $1.5 billion during the year.
Highlights from the NFLPA’s fourth quarter (December 1, 2015-February 29, 2016):
• Brady, Newton, Beckham Jr., Luke Kuechly and Gronkowski are among the most popular players when it comes to kids’ toys and apparel – including Bleacher Creatures and Outerstuff.
• Von Miller, Super Bowl MVP, joined the list for the first time since the NFLPA began compiling data on total sales in 2013, thanks in large part to big sales from kids’ jerseys from Outerstuff.
• Khalil Mack, who checked in at No. 41, also made his debut due to strong sales from kids’ jerseys from Outerstuff.
• Peyton Manning had the best-selling jersey through Nike, followed by Newton, Miller, Brady, and Gronkowski.
• Newton (Auburn University) jumped three spots from last quarter to No. 1 in collegiate co-branded sales, dethroning Brady (University of Michigan).
• Five Super Bowl participants: Peyton Manning (No. 2), Newton (No. 7), Kuechly (No. 11), Miller (No. 24) and Greg Olsen (No. 48) had the top sales of jerseys sold through Fanatics.
• Colin Kaepernick was the top seller for player-identified caps from New Era and Lids.
• Newton was tops in sales of customized player jerseys by Fanatics; the quarterback also led in drinkware sales from Boelter Brands and Tervis.
• Quarterbacks, Brady, Kaepernick, Tony Romo, Wilson and Peyton Manning led sales in international t-shirts in Mexico with new licensee, Ziporex.
• Brady and Peyton Manning had the most popular FanPrint t-shirts sold direct-to-consumer via Facebook ads.
• The Seahawks are the team with the most players ranked among the Top 50 including Wilson (No. 3), Richard Sherman (No. 14), Marshawn Lynch (No. 15), Jimmy Graham (No. 22), Kam Chancellor (No. 40) and Earl Thomas (No. 50).
NFLPA Top 50 Player Sales Year-End Rankings* (March 1, 2015-February 29, 2016)
1. Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots
2. Peyton Manning, QB, Denver Broncos
3. Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks
4. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers
5. Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys
6. Odell Beckham Jr., WR, New York Giants
7. Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers
8. Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England Patriots
9. J.J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans
10. Jason Witten, TE, Dallas Cowboys
11. Luke Kuechly, LB, Carolina Panthers
12. Tony Romo, QB, Dallas Cowboys
13. Colin Kaepernick, QB, San Francisco 49ers
14. Richard Sherman, DB, Seattle Seahawks
15. Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seattle Seahawks
16. Marcus Mariota, QB, Tennessee Titans
17. Antonio Brown, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
18. Clay Matthews, LB, Green Bay Packers
19. Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis Colts
20. Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints
21. DeMarco Murray, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
22. Jimmy Graham, TE, Seattle Seahawks
23. Julian Edelman, WR, New England Patriots
24. Von Miller, LB, Denver Broncos
25. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Minnesota Vikings
26. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals
27. Jordy Nelson, WR, Green Bay Packers
28. Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions
29. Derek Carr, QB, Oakland Raiders
30. Jameis Winston, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
31. Amari Cooper, WR, Oakland Raiders
32. Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
33. Le’Veon Bell, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
34. Ryan Tannehill, QB, Miami Dolphins
35. Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants
36. A.J. Green, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
37. Demaryius Thomas, WR, Denver Broncos
38. Matt Forte, RB, Chicago Bears
39. Eddie Lacy, RB, Green Bay Packers
40. Kam Chancellor, SS, Seattle Seahawks
41. Joe Haden, DB, Cleveland Browns
42. Khalil Mack, LB, Oakland Raiders
43. Jarryd Hayne, RB, San Francisco 49ers
44. Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
45. Darrelle Revis, DB, New York Jets
46. Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers
47. Sammy Watkins, WR, Buffalo Bills
48. Greg Olsen, TE, Carolina Panthers
49. LeSean McCoy, RB, Buffalo Bills
50. Earl Thomas, DB, Seattle Seahawks*Team listed indicates player’s team during the 2015 season
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. is the licensing and marketing subsidiary of the NFLPA. NFL Players Inc. has been a trusted resource since 1994, delivering access to the influence, power and personal stories of NFL players. NFL Players Inc. 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.
