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The Patriots quarterback is the current undisputed retail champion, ranking No. 1 for the first time on the NFLPA Top 50 Player Sales List for the first quarter of fiscal year 2016.
The list is based on total sales of all officially licensed merchandise from March 1-May 31. The Super Bowl XLIX champion unseated Seahawks QB 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.
Brady’s ongoing Deflategate fight has kept him in the news, likely fueling his success on the retail front. But quarterbacks dominated during the fiscal year’s first quarter, which historically is the slowest quarter in terms of sales volume for licensees.
Brady, the 49ers’ Colin Kaepernick, Wilson, the Packers’ Aaron Rodgers and the Broncos’ Peyton Manning held the top five spots. Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman and 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: the Titans’ Marcus Mariota and the Buccaneers’ Jameis Winston.
Eagles running back DeMarco Murray, Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham, Browns cornerback Joe Haden, Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski and 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.
Licensed product categories include men’s, women’s and youth game jerseys and T-shirts, player murals and posters, figurines, matted and framed photos, bobbleheads, drinkware, socks, jewelry and electronic device accessories, among others.
Additional highlights from the NFLPA’s release:
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 5. Appearing for the first time on a Top 50 report was Haden (No. 13) and 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. Mariota, 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; 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).
NFLPA Top 50 Player Sales Rankings — FY16 Q1 (March 1-May 31, 2015):
Tom Brady, Patriots
Colin Kaepernick, 49ers
Russell Wilson, Seahawks
4. Aaron Rodgers, Packers
Peyton Manning, Broncos
J.J. Watt, Texans
Richard Sherman, Seahawks
Odell Beckham, Jr., Giants
Marcus Mariota, Titans
Jameis Winston, 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, Jets
Ndamukong Suh, Dolphins
Brandon Marshall, Jets
Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks
Drew Brees, Saints
Khalil Mack, Raiders
Johnny Manziel, Browns
Earl Thomas, Seahawks
Antonio Brown, Steelers
Derek Carr, Raiders
Tim Tebow, Eagles
Jason Witten, Cowboys
Calvin Johnson, Lions
Sammy Watkins, Bills
Julian Edelman, Patriots
Tony Romo, Cowboys
Eddie Lacy, Packers
Alshon Jeffery, Bears
Patrick Willis, 49ers (retired)
Luke Kuechly, Panthers
Teddy Bridgewater, Vikings
Kam Chancellor, Seahawks
Blake Bortles, Jaguars
Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins
Joe Thomas, Cleveland Browns
Kevin White, Bears
Eric Reid, 49ers
Philip Rivers, Chargers
Carlos Hyde, 49ers
Demaryius Thomas, Broncos