It should come as no surprise that, after leading Tampa Bay to a Super Bowl title, quarterback Tom Brady is again leading in NFL player retail sales heading into the new season.
The NFLPA Top 50 Player Sales List is the only verified list of retail sales by player, and this month’s quarterly sales rankings features a mix of new and familiar faces, including perennial best-selling players, rising new veterans, and exciting rookies making their debut heading into the 2021-22 season.
Main Takeaways:
- 10 new players appear in the quarterly sales rankings;
- Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes continue to dominate, placing 1 & 2;
- Retail sales based on player licensing continues its momentum, following a record sales year in 2020.
The NFL Players Association says its first list for 2021 is based on sales of all officially licensed NFL player merchandise, tracking year-to-date pre-season results March 1-May 31, 2021, for the most up-to-date, comprehensive sales figures available.
The list is comprised of the only verified rankings of NFL player products sold from online and traditional retail outlets as reported by more than 75 NFLPA licensees. Licensed product across hardline, apparel, digital, and unconventional categories include items such as: game jerseys, T-shirts, hoodies, bobbleheads, plush toys, socks, face coverings, headbands, figurines, wall decals, backpacks, pennants, photos, drinkware, pet products and many more.
Top 10 players among all officially licensed product sold:
- Tom Brady, QB, Tampa Bay
- Patrick Mahomes II, QB, Kansas City
- Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas
- Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati
- CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas
- Justin Fields, QB, Chicago
- Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas
- Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville
- Rob Gronkowski, TE, Tampa Bay
- Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo
To see the rest of the top 50 players by retail sales, click this link: View the Full List
The NFLPA also noted several important trends for licensees in this quarter, the most notable being the long-lasting popularity of Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes, the QB for the Kansas City Chiefs. For the past 12 quarters, either Bradyn or Mahomes has led the rankings 12 straight times since October 2018. Brady’s has topped the year-end sales chart a record four times and appears among the top three 24 times – including 12 straight – since the list was introduced in 2014.
Chase Young, Davante Adams, Justin Herbert, CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott rocketed from the NFLPA’s year-end list to first quarter rankings. Young surged 26 spots (No. 39 to No. 13), Adams 18 spots (No. 45 to No. 27), Herbert 15 spots (No. 34 to No. 19), Lamb 14 spots (No. 19 to No. 5) and Prescott 10 spots (No. 13 to No. 3).
In addition to eight 2021 NFLPA Rising Stars (rookies and veterans) making the list—Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, Najee Harris, Jalen Hurts, Justin Jefferson and Darren Waller—two additional veterans made their Top 50 debut with Devin White and Henry Ruggs III (Ruggs III was also a Rising Stars member in 2020).
Linebacker Devin White debuted at No. 17, the highest ranked defensive player since the start of the 2020 season. Seven defensive players appear in the rankings, the most on a preseason list since the 2019 season.
Three quarterbacks made moves to new markets following the season, which project on this first quarter list: Matthew Stafford (LA Rams), Carson Wentz (Indianapolis) and Jared Goff (Detroit).
The most popular Fanatics-branded and Nike jerseys were Tom Brady, Dak Prescott, Joe Burrow, Justin Fields and Patrick Mahomes. Additionally, the most customizable jerseys, T-shirts and hoodies sold from Fanatics featured Brady, Mahomes, Burrow, Fields and Rob Gronkowski.
The best-selling Fathead wall decals and cutouts featured Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady, Dak Prescott, Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen.
Funko reported sales of Pop vinyl collectibles were led by Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady, Lamar Jackson, Aaron Rodgers and Nick Bosa.
The top five best-selling players in youth apparel from Outerstuff included a mix of rookies and veterans: Justin Fields, Joe Burrow, Trevor Lawrence, Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes.
Aaron Rodgers, Dak Prescott, Khalil Mack, Patrick Mahomes and Ezekiel Elliott led in sales of figurines and squishy toys from Party Animal.
Tom Brady and Devin White led sales of commemorative coins, puzzles, and trains from Bradford Exchange.
Tom Brady also led sales of JUNK athletic headbands and pet accessories and apparel from Pets First.
Real-time, moment-driven T-shirt maker BreakingT saw big sales from rookies Justin Fields, Trevor Lawrence, DeVonta Smith (not among the Top 50), Trey Lance and Zach Wilson.
Socks from FBF Originals, Rock ‘Em and Strideline were led by Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady, Trevor Lawrence, Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson.