NFL Players Association Lists Saquon Barkley as Top-Selling Player in the League
The Unstoppable Rise of Saquon Barkley:
In the thrilling world of the NFL, Saquon Barkley’s electrifying 2024 season sent shockwaves all around, turning him into one of the league's hottest commodities. And it wasn't just on the field where he shone—fans were eager to show their support off it too, as they opened their wallets to snap up merchandise bearing Barkley's name.
Ranked number one on the NFL Players Association's (NFLPA) end-of-year Top 50 Player Sales List, the annual ranking captured sales from March 1, 2024, to Feb. 28, 2025, encompassing all officially licensed NFL merchandise. The list includes sales from major licensors, like Fanatics, Fathead, and Funko, through online channels and retailers.
Ben Ruiz, the NFLPA's vice president of consumer products and strategy, described Barkley's meteoric rise: "Saquon had a perfect storm this season. He's a generational talent with star power, joined a team on the cusp of a championship, and delivered in spades."
Barkley's performance, including breaking the league's single-season rushing record, made him the first running back to lead the Top 50 player sales list since Ezekiel Elliott in 2017. After him on the list, four quarterbacks dominated the top five: Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes, Philadelphia's Jalen Hurts, Washington's Jayden Daniels, and Houston's CJ Stroud. Other running backs in the list included Baltimore Ravens' Derrick Henry, Detroit Lions' Jahmyr Gibbs, and Atlanta Falcons' Bijan Robinson.
Throughout the season, Barkley delivered some of the most unforgettable moments, such as the iconic reverse hurdle over a defender against Jacksonville in November, which made the cover of the Madden NFL 26 video game. After a disappointing 2023 season, Barkley made a comeback, winning the Super Bowl with the Eagles in his first season with the team and earning a $41 million contract extension that made him the highest-paid running back in NFL history.
Acknowledging Barkley's commercial power, the union believes it could mark a resurgence for running backs. Two rookies, Boise State Heisman Trophy finalist Ashton Jeanty (Las Vegas Raiders) and Arizona State powerhouse Cam Skattebo (New York Giants), could make it to the Top 50 list next year.
Ruiz also pointed to new media as a factor in raising player profiles, with two players from the Netflix series Receiver making the Top 10. Minnesota Vikings wideout Justin Jefferson (No. 10) and Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (No. 8) showed impressive jumps in popularity over the years.
Sixteen players have been on the list for five years in a row, but Barkley's rise to the top spot added another feather to his cap in an already bountiful 2024 season.
Note:The full Top 50 list is not provided in the available data, but the Top 10 includes Saquon Barkley, Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts, Jayden Daniels, C.J. Stroud, Josh Allen (No. 6), Aidan Hutchinson (No. 7), T.J. Watt (No. 16), and unlisted players at numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 11, 12, and 13[1].
People around the NFL world were captivated by Saquon Barkley's exceptional performance in the 2024 season, leading him to hold the top spot in the NFL Players Association's (NFLPA) end-of-year Top 50 Player Sales List. This list, which encompasses sales from March 1, 2024, to Feb. 28, 2025, includes sales through major licensors like Fanatics and Funko.
Saquon Barkley's achievements, including breaking the NFL's single-season rushing record, made him the first running back to lead the Top 50 player sales list since Ezekiel Elliott in 2017. After him, four quarterbacks dominated the top five: Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts, Jayden Daniels, and CJ Stroud.
With his successful season and commercial power, Saquon Barkley's rise could mark a resurgence for running backs in the NFL, as rookies Ashton Jeanty and Cam Skattebo might join the Top 50 list next year.
