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Seattle Seahawks Players, Led By Russell Wilson, Power Retail Sales For NFLPI Licensees

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NFL Players Inc. licenses racked up more than $1.4 billion in retail sales during fiscal year 2015, which ran from March 1, 2014 through February 28, 2015.  Seattle Seahawks players, including quarterback Russell Wilson, were largely responsible for powering the surge in sales.  Wilson retained the top spot for the second straight year on the list of athlete endorsees based on total sales of all officially licensed products.  He was joined by teammates Richard Sherman (#7), Marshawn Lynch (#9), Earl Thomas (#29) and Kam Chancellor (#30) on the top 50 player sales year-end list.

No player sold more items than Wilson when it came to ugly sweaters and Nike jerseys .  Wilson was also in the top five for sales of Fathead products and led all players in vinyl collectible figurine sales from Funko, which was the company's first year as an official licensee with NFL Players Inc.  Additionally, Wilson was one of four NFL players on the top 50 player sales year-end list to be featured as a runner in Imangi's Temple Run 2.

While Wilson led the way for sales among all NFL players and helped carry the baton for the Seahawks, he was not the only Seattle player at the top of the list.  Richard Sherman was the top-selling defensive player, just one spot ahead of Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, who recently terminated one of his agents.

The Seahawks were the team with the most individual player retail power during fiscal year 2015.  It is largely based on the Seahawks' consistent success for multiple years as well as having players who perform at high levels on the field while maintaining a certain level of a controversial demeanor off the field.

Marshawn Lynch is well aware that his antics such as avoiding questions from the media by saying "I'm just here so I won't get fined" leads to enhanced attention, which in turn generates interest in the player and items bearing his name and/or likeness.  Similarly, Sherman has made his distaste for certain NFL policies, as well as forced endorsements, well known.  In November 2014, Sherman had a conversation with a cardboard cutout of teammate Doug Baldwin during a news conference, which attacked league-wide sponsorships.  Sherman used the opportunity to concurrently publicize the personal endorsements that he was able to choose for himself.

Wilson, the leader of the pack, has been much less of a controversial figure.  Instead, Wilson can largely credit his rise to the top of the NFL Players Inc. list to him being in the most marketable position on the field (quarterback) and performing for a team that plays with force and has a fervent fan base.  Earlier this year, the Seahawks were ranked sixth among all NFL teams in followings within their respective home markets.  According to the study conducted by Nielsen Scarborough, 71% of the Seattle market tuned into a Seahawks game within the past year.

Darren Heitner is a lawyer and the Founder of South Florida-based HEITNER LEGAL, P.L.L.C., which has a focus on Sports Law and Entertainment Law.