WASHINGTON, D.C. - Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota ranked ninth in the NFLPA Top 50 Player Sales List for FY16 Q1, which accounts for total sales of all officially licensed merchandise from March 1 through May 31, 2015.
The Titans selected Mariota #2 overall in the NFL Draft on April 30, 2015.
Marcus Mariota, Dorial Green-Beckham and David Cobb pose for photos during the NFLPA Rookie Premiere in Los Angeles. (AP Photos)
Mariota, Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston and wide receiver Kevin White of the Chicago Bears were the only rookies among the FY16 Q1 top 50 best sellers.
Mariota also led in collegiate co-brand hardlines which includes licensees Oyo Sports, Fanatics, Forever Collectibles, Team Beans and Team Spirit Store;
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady ranked No. 1 for the first time on the list, unseating Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, who topped all players in sales on the NFLPA's FY15 year-end report that saw Brady finish a then-best third place.
Quarterbacks dominated during Q1, which is historically the lowest quarter in terms of sales volume for licensees, with Brady, the San Francisco 49ers' Colin Kaepernick, Wilson, the Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers and the Denver Broncos' Peyton Manning in the top five spots.
Titans QB Marcus Mariota takes part on the first day of rookie minicamp at Saint Thomas Sports Park. (Donn Jones Photography.com)
Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman and New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham, Jr. were joined for the first time in the top 10 of a sales report by a pair of rookie quarterbacks in Mariota and Winston. Philadelphia Eagles running back DeMarco Murray, Seattle Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham, Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden, Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski and Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy completed the top 15 best sellers.
The list, released quarterly by NFL Players Inc., the marketing and licensing arm of the NFLPA, is based on overall sales of all licensed products from online and traditional retail outlets as reported by more than 80 NFLPA licensees such as Nike, VF Imagewear, Fanatics, Outerstuff, Fathead, McFarlane Toys, Oyo Sports, Bleacher Creatures, FBF Originals, Forever Collectibles, FanPrint and Photo File. Licensed product categories include men's, women's and youth game jerseys and t-shirts, player murals, figurines, matted and framed photos, bobbleheads, drinkware, socks, jewelry, electronic device accessories, among others.
NFLPA Top 50 Player Sales Rankings – FY16 Q1 (March 1-May 31, 2015):
- Tom Brady, New England Patriots
- Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers
- Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
- Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
- Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos
- J.J. Watt, Houston Texans
- Richard Sherman, Seattle Seahawks
- Odell Beckham, Jr., New York Giants
**
- Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans**
- Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- DeMarco Murray, Philadelphia Eagles
- Jimmy Graham, Seattle Seahawks
- Joe Haden, Cleveland Browns
- Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots
- LeSean McCoy, Buffalo Bills
- Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts
- Jordy Nelson, Green Bay Packers
- Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys
- Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers
- Navorro Bowman, San Francisco 49ers
- Darrelle Revis, New York Jets
- Ndamukong Suh, Miami Dolphins
- Brandon Marshall, New York Jets
- Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks
- Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
- Khalil Mack, Oakland Raiders
- Johnny Manziel, Cleveland Browns
- Earl Thomas, Seattle Seahawks
- Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders
- Tim Tebow, Philadelphia Eagles
- Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys
- Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions
- Sammy Watkins, Buffalo Bills
- Julian Edelman, New England Patriots
- Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys
- Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers
- Alshon Jeffery, Chicago Bears
- Patrick Willis, San Francisco 49ers*
- Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers
- Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota Vikings
- Kam Chancellor, Seattle Seahawks
- Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars
- Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins
- Joe Thomas, Cleveland Browns
- Kevin White, Chicago Bears
- Eric Reid, San Francisco 49ers
- Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers
- Carlos Hyde, San Francisco 49ers
- Demaryius Thomas, Denver Broncos
Additional highlights:
• Brady outsold all players in Oyo Sports mini-figures, Forever Collectibles bobbleheads (followed by teammate Gronkowski), Fatheads and Lids custom player headwear.
• Kaepernick and Brady ranked first and second, respectively, in Nike jerseys.
• Wilson was most popular among kids in hardlines and apparel – followed by Rodgers, Watt, Manning and Kaepernick – which includes licensees Bleacher Creatures, Outerstuff and Oyo Sports.
• In women's apparel, Kaepernick reigned supreme with Brady, Wilson, Rodgers and Watt rounding out the top five.
• Appearing for the first time on a Top 50 report was Haden (No. 13) and Miami Dolphins defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh (No. 22).
• From Q3 to Q1, new Seahawk Jimmy Graham vaulted from No. 40 to No. 12, while Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr jumped 20 spots to No. 30.
• A pair of surprises on the collegiate co-brand list included Washington Redskins quarterback Colt McCoy and Eagles quarterback Tim Tebow in the 10th and 11th spots, respectively. Tebow returns to the Top 50 report for the first time since 2012.
• Despite missing the 2014 season to injury, Giants receiver Victor Cruz was the top-selling sock from FBF Originals.
• Joe Thomas of the Browns was the first offensive lineman to appear on the report (No. 45) since the NFLPA began compiling in 2012.
• New faces in new places drove sales with Murray (Philadelphia), Graham (Seattle), McCoy (Buffalo), Darrelle Revis and Brandon Marshall (New York Jets), Suh (Miami) and Tebow (Philadelphia) all among the best sellers.
• Beckham jumped from the NFLPA "Rising 50" List, which projects future top sellers of licensed merchandise, into eighth place on the overall Q1 list. Other Rising 50 players who moved from prospects to emerging retail stars included Raiders linebacker Khalil Mack (No. 26), Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (No. 29), Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (No. 35), Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (No. 38), Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (No. 43) and 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (No. 49).
