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2w ago

Shedeur Sanders Tops Tom Brady With $17.7 Million NFLPA Licensing Payout

The NFL Players Association report shows the rookie’s group-licensing royalties eclipse the prior record, signaling a sharp jump in collectibles revenue that is boosting players’ off-field income.

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Jan 4, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) rushes against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second half at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
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Overview

  • The NFLPA annual report filed with the Department of Labor on May 30, 2026, shows Sanders’ SS2Legendary LLC received $17.7 million in 13 group-licensing payments, including a roughly $9.24 million installment paid days after the 2025 draft.
  • Group-licensing payments are royalties from multi-player deals for jerseys, trading cards, video games and other licensed collectibles and also include certain player-marketing fees for appearances and hospitality.
  • The $17.7 million figure breaks Tom Brady’s prior single-season NFLPA record and does not include Sanders’ separate individual endorsement deals with brands such as Gatorade, Beats by Dre, Delta and Ralph Lauren.
  • When those individual endorsements are added to the NFLPA payout, reporting estimates Sanders’ rookie off-field earnings likely exceed $20 million even though his four-year Browns contract carries modest guaranteed money.
  • The NFLPA’s group-licensing pool jumped to about $297 million year-over-year, a surge driven by trading-card and collectibles demand that is reshaping how teams and the market value player brand power and pre-draft guarantees.