Do NFL players make money off jersey sales? All you need to know about profit sharing

Dallas Cowboys v Kansas City Chiefs
Do NFL players make money off jersey sales? All you need to know about profit sharing

The NFL is one of the most popular leagues in the world, and it grows bigger each season. The league earns much from ticket sales, merchandising and special events.

In this article, we explore whether NFL players make money from their jersey sales.


Do NFL players get paid off jersey sales?

Yes, NFL players get paid off their jersey sales each season. According to a CBS report:

"If a jersey with a player's name is sold, a small cut of that money will go to the players' association as well as the player."

The report adds that in 2011, Nike paid $1.1 billion to officially license National Football League merchandise. Jonathan Jensen, an assistant professor of Sports Administration at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, spoke about this.

Jensen said:

"It only costs them a few dollars to make each of these jerseys, so they have to charge as high as possible prices in the hope that they can then recoup that investment.
"Any of these league deals are really not public, so it's hard to unpack how exactly the deal is structured and what those percentages have been agreed upon between the league and those teams."

Around 11-15 % of the merch sales go to the NFL, and that percentage is shared equally among franchises. The rest of the proceeds go to the manufacturer.

Hence, the total amount of money a player gets for jersey sales depends on their popularity and fan base. The more popular a player is, the more jerseys are sold and the more money they get at the end of the exchange.


The highest-selling NFL jerseys from 2023

As we countdown to the new NFL season. Here's a look at the best-selling NFL jerseys for last season:

  1. Micah Parsons, Linebacker, Dallas Cowboys
  2. Patrick Mahomes, Quarterback, Kansas City Chiefs
  3. Jalen Hurts, Quarterback, Philadelphia Eagles
  4. T.J. Watt, Linebacker, Pittsburgh Steelers
  5. Dak Prescott, Quarterback, Dallas Cowboys
  6. Christian McCaffrey, Running back, San Francisco 49ers
  7. Tyreek Hill, Wide receiver, Miami Dolphins
  8. Lamar Jackson, Quarterback, Baltimore Ravens
  9. Justin Jefferson, Wide receiver, Minnesota Vikings
  10. Aaron Rodgers, Quarterback, New York Jets

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Edited by Bhargav