By Glenn S. Demby, Esq.
Peyton Manning may have retired with a Super Bowl ring but he was unable to overtake his career-long rival Tom Brady at the cash registers. The NFLPA announced that Brady led all NFL players in merchandise sales for the year, Manning’s last as a pro. Peyton had to settle for the second spot.
The NFLPA Top 50 list covers physical and online retail sales of game jerseys, off-field apparel, accessories, electronics, figurines, etc., in FY 2016 (Mar. 1, 2015 thru Feb. 29, 2016), as reported by licensees. The Seahawks’ Russell Wilson, who had topped the previous two versions of the list, finished in third place. Here’s the top 10:
Ranking: NFLPA | ||||
Rank | Player | Position | Team | |
---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
Other highlights reported by the NFLPA:
- Total NFLPA sales for the year exceeded $1.5 billion;
- Cam Newton sold the most collegiate co-branded merchandise;
- Brady, Newton, Gronkowski and Carolina linebacker Luke Kuechly sold the most toys and kids’ apparel
- Despite being rumored on his way out of San Francisco for months, Forty Niner quarterback Colin Kaepernick sold the most player caps from New Era and Lids.