Marvin Harrison Jr., hailing from Ohio State, recently made the leap to the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals. However, his transition into the professional football league comes with a cloud of uncertainty surrounding his trading card and autograph rights. While Harrison Jr. inked a multi-year deal with Fanatics before his final college season, there’s a snag in his NFL merchandising rights as a crucial agreement with NFL Players Inc. stays unsigned.
News circulating from ESPN reveals that Harrison Jr. is in a stalemate as he has not yet finalized a contract with NFL Players Inc., the entity responsible for managing the joint marketing initiatives for NFL players. This particular contract is vital for players to feature in a wide array of NFL-licensed merchandise, ranging from trading cards to team jerseys. The delay stems from Harrison seeking a more lucrative financial package to extend his association with Fanatics, adding layers to the negotiations.
His previous contract with Fanatics encompassed various aspects of merchandising, including autographs, trading cards embellished with his likeness, and even apparel worn during games. In the last season, admirers could find Harrison Jr.’s sticker autographs in the Topps’ Bowman U line, showcasing his popularity and market demand.
Should Harrison Jr. and Fanatics reach a fresh agreement, the industry anticipates Topps, which is now under the Fanatics umbrella, to take charge of producing his NFL trading cards and autographs. However, this move could potentially mean his autographs might be absent from Panini’s trading card assortments, given Fanatics’ inclination towards negotiating exclusive contracts.
This narrative strikes a familiar chord with the trajectory of another Ohio State alum, CJ Stroud, presently a quarterback for the Houston Texans. Stroud opted for an exclusive deal with Fanatics, paralleling Harrison Jr.’s journey, while also striking a chord with the NFLPA’s marketing arm. Consequently, Panini was able to incorporate Stroud in their card collections, but only Fanatics/Topps had the privilege of featuring his autograph cards upon his NFL debut.
In the midst of this merchandising limbo, Harrison Jr. is not deterring from engaging with his devoted fan base. He continues to offer autographed memorabilia directly through his personal website, providing enthusiasts with access to coveted items like jerseys, helmets, and footballs. This move showcases his commitment to staying connected with supporters, even as the official status of his NFL merchandising rights hangs in the balance.
