The NFL Players Association on Thursday announced its "Top 50 Player Sales List" based on total third quarter sales of "all officially licensed NFL player merchandise from March 1 through Nov. 30, 2016," and four Vikings were among the Top 50.
Despite missing all of 2016 because of a dislocated knee, Teddy Bridgewater led the Vikings and ranked 34th.
Harrison Smith was next at 41, followed by Stefon Diggs at 43 and Adrian Peterson at 49.
New England quarterback Tom Brady ranked first.
Dallas rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott was second and followed by Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant.
Giants receiver Odell Beckham, Jr. was fourth, followed by Eagles rookie quarterback Carson Wentz at fifth.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski and Panthers quarterback Cam Newton rounded out the top 10.
Here are highlights from the NFLPA Top 50 Player Sales List:
• Tom Brady led overall jersey sales; Odell Beckham Jr., Russell Wilson, Cam Newton and Rob Gronkowski rounded out the top five
• Brady (Michigan) led all collegiate sales of men's Nike jerseys; Marcus Mariota (Oregon) led collegiate co-branded sales in Fathead wall decals; Ezekiel Elliott (Ohio State) and Mariota led sales in collegiate sports photo collectibles from Photo File
• Brady led overall sales for OYO Sportstoys construction toy figures, followed by Dak Prescott and Elliott
• Wentz became the new No. 1 seller for player-identified caps from New Era and Lids
• Wentz also led sales of kids jerseys, fleece, and t-shirts from Outerstuff
• Pet jerseys – sold through Fanatics – were led by Wentz, followed by Rob Gronkowski, Beckham Jr., and Brady.
• Fanatics sales (including jerseys, apparel and headwear) were led by a trio of rookies in Prescott, Wentz and Elliott; Brady and Gronkowski rounded out the top five
• Antonio Brown, Beckham Jr., Brady, Von Miller and Wentz led jersey and apparel sales for Nike
• J.J. Watt once again led sales in double-wall insulated drinkware products from Williams Industry, Tervis and Dynamic Drinkware
View the top 50 photos of Vikings fans from 2016.
Top 50 Player Sales List YTD (Mar. 1 – Nov. 30, 2016)
- Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots
- Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys
- Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys
- Odell Beckham Jr., WR, New York Giants
- Carson Wentz, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
- Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks
- Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers
- Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys
- Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England Patriots
- Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers
- Antonio Brown, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
- J.J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans
- Jason Witten, TE, Dallas Cowboys
- Tony Romo, QB, Dallas Cowboys
- Von Miller, LB, Denver Broncos
- Derek Carr, QB, Oakland Raiders
- Todd Gurley, RB, Los Angeles Rams
- Luke Kuechly, LB, Carolina Panthers
- Amari Cooper, WR, Oakland Raiders
- Khalil Mack, LB, Oakland Raiders
- Richard Sherman, DB, Seattle Seahawks
- Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Clay Matthews, LB, Green Bay Packers
- Le'Veon Bell, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Jordy Nelson, WR, Green Bay Packers
- Julian Edelman, WR, New England Patriots
- Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals
- Marcus Mariota, QB, Tennessee Titans
- Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints
- Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis Colts
- Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons
- Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants
- Navorro Bowman, LB, San Francisco 49ers
34. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Minnesota Vikings
- Jameis Winston, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston Texans
- A.J. Green, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
- Jared Goff, QB, Los Angeles Rams
- Tyler Lockett, WR, Seattle Seahawks
- Demaryius Thomas, WR, Denver Broncos
41. Harrison Smith, DB, Minnesota Vikings
- Kirk Cousins, QB, Washington Redskins
43. Stefon Diggs, WR, Minnesota Vikings
- Jarvis Landry, WR, Miami Dolphins
- Brandon Marshall, WR, New York Jets
- Alshon Jeffery, WR, Chicago Bears
- Kam Chancellor, DB, Seattle Seahawks
- Carlos Hyde, RB, San Francisco 49ers
49. Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings
- Jimmy Graham, TE, Seattle Seahawks
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.
