Patrick Mahomes supplants Tom Brady as NFL’s top-selling player

At least in one category, Tom Brady has already stepped aside and handed a torch as the NFL’s best-selling player in terms of merch to Patrick Mahomes.

According to a press release from the NFL Players Association, Patrick Mahomes is now the top-selling player in terms of licensed merchandise in the entire National Football League. He supplants Tom Brady at No. 1 overall in a measure of sales taken from March 1, 2019 through November 30, 2019.

The final list will be revealed in April to show a full year’s worth of movement, but given the current run of Chiefs success and Mahomes’ big play ability, it’s very likely that Mahomes will wear the crown of the NFL’s most marketable player.

In case you’re wondering what exactly is counted in terms of merch, the NFLPA’s survey defines it as:

"NFLPA-licensed product categories include video games; men’s, women’s and youth game jerseys; T-shirts and hoodies; backpacks; wall decals; pennants; collectible figurines; matted and framed photos; bobbleheads; plush; drinkware; and pet products, among others."

This is a very nice feather in the cap for Mahomes at the ideal time, right before the Kansas City Chiefs were supposed to enter into deep negotiations for a long-term contract extension that will keep him in place as the franchise’s quarterback and face for the foreseeable future. Leigh Steinberg, Mahomes’ agent, will no doubt leverage this information to earn a better deal for his client knowing that employing Mahomes not only raises the team’s profile but makes them a lot of money at the ticket counter and in the pro shop.

Mahomes, who was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in his first full season as the starter, is now ready to add Super Bowl winner to his list of accomplishments after just three years in the league. The Chiefs will face the San Francisco 49ers in two weeks and the big-game exposure will only cement Mahomes’ standing as the league’s face. Given that he’s already in high-profile commercials and has made the cover of Madden football, it’s hard to imagine how much brighter the spotlight on Mahomes can be.

Here are the top 10 selling players through the aforementioned period:

1. Patrick Mahomes II, QB, Kansas City
2. Tom Brady, QB, New England
3. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas
4. Baker Mayfield, QB, Cleveland
5. Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Cleveland
6. Khalil Mack, LB, Chicago
7. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay
8. Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas
9. Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants
10. JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, Pittsburgh