CFB world reacts to athletes’ shockingly small jersey profit (2024)

For several decades, college football players were unable to make money from jersey sales due to NCAA rules. Recent amendments to the NCAA’s name, image, and likeness rules have chanted that, allowing players to get a cut from their jersey sales, but that still doesn’t mean the players are making big profits.

According to a report from sports and IP lawyer Darren Heitner, some college football players may only receive $3.92 from the sale of a $140 jersey.

The #NIL group licensing biz is ripe for disruption.

Fanatics sells a replica college athlete jersey for $140. Athlete earns a 4% royalty rate ($5.60). But wait!

Then, OneTeam takes its cut of 30% for organizing the group licensing deal. The athlete is left with $3.92. Crazy.

— Darren Heitner (@DarrenHeitner) September 9, 2022

“The #NIL group licensing biz is ripe for disruption,” Heitner said in a Tweet. “Fanatics sells a replica college athlete jersey for $140. Athlete earns a 4% royalty rate ($5.60). But wait! Then, OneTeam takes its cut of 30% for organizing the group licensing deal. The athlete is left with $3.92. Crazy.”

That reported 4 percent royalty rate would already be quite low even if it weren’t for the additional 30 percent cut. By comparison, NFL players receive two-thirds of the money that is generated by selling jerseys, according to marketplace.org. So a college player’s revenue cut isn’t even in the same galaxy.

Naturally, the college football world had plenty to say about the shocking revelation.

Fanatics getting rich off the back of college athletes smh. Better option coming soon! https://t.co/Dd9SARweG7

— Anthony Raia (@anthonyraia_) September 9, 2022

Is anyone better than the @mden, @Jwangles2? https://t.co/FUMMRQUjtB

— Jordan Acker (@JordanAckerMI) September 9, 2022

Yeah this reeks 🦨🦨🦨🤢 https://t.co/3QAte2h6vu

— Daniel Vlosky  (@geauXedits) September 9, 2022

I'm not saying OneTeam shouldn't get a cut for organizing the deal… but 30%? Seems excessive, and I imagine it's only a matter of time before others get involved who take a lot less. https://t.co/HuUx09eOfs

— Zach Scott Gainous, Esq. (@EsqZach) September 9, 2022

Few in the NIL space are as informed as Darren. This type of deal is increasingly common and a key reason smaller agencies, like @Triumph_NIL, are valuable to student-athletes. Marketing packages shouldn’t overtly compromise the talent. https://t.co/h9CKF8B77d

— Doug Hicks (@DougHicksNIL) September 9, 2022

This is crazy!! https://t.co/HYDCPCOmAY

— Michael Seabrook Jr (@mikeseabrookjr) September 9, 2022

The NIL landscape is constantly changing. This is one area where athletes will undoubtedly hope to see changes sooner than later.

[Darren Heitner]

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CFB world reacts to athletes’ shockingly small jersey profit (2024)

FAQs

CFB world reacts to athletes’ shockingly small jersey profit? ›

Players get less than a 4% cut. For several decades, college football players were unable to make money from jersey sales due to NCAA rules.

Do athletes make money off jersey sales? ›

Yes, players do get paid for jersey sales. Professional sports leagues such as the NFL and NBA have revenue-sharing agreements in place that ensure players get a portion of money earned from jersey sales.

How much money do colleges make from jersey sales? ›

Schools generally make approximately 10 percent in royalties for sales of their jerseys. If a jersey is selling at retail for $60, the royalty comes off the gross cost, which is $30. That means schools make about $3 per jersey.

How much do athletes make off jerseys? ›

Do NBA players make money from jersey sales? Yes they do. According to sports.stackexchange.com, players receive around 45% of all jersey sales.

Do football players get money from jersey sales? ›

Jersey revenue is collected in terms of license fees and this is then shared between the league and players. In other words Reebok has paid the NFL for the right to produce jerseys. It's this fee that goes into a pool of revenue that is shared with players, akin to TV revenue.

How much do college football players make from jersey sales? ›

According to Heitner, athletes earn a 4% royalty ($5.60) from each $140 replica jersey sale. That's pretty terrible, and it gets worse. OneTeam, a group licensing company, takes a 30% cut for organizing the group licensing deal. This leaves the athlete making a whopping $3.92 from each jersey sale.

What percentage of jersey sales go to the club? ›

The "club will make their money back on shirt sales line" is an oft-repeated myth. Clubs generally receive 10-15% on shirt sales - the manufacturer (Nike in this case) receive majority of income.

Do college athletes get a percentage of their jersey sales? ›

“Fanatics sells a replica college athlete jersey for $140. Athlete earns a 4% royalty rate ($5.60). But wait! Then, OneTeam takes its cut of 30% for organizing the group licensing deal.

How much do sports teams make off jersey sales? ›

Between 11 percent and 15 percent of the merchandise sales will go to the league and is then shared equally among the teams. The rest goes to the manufacturer.

Do colleges make money from athletes? ›

A select share of Division I college athletes produce billions of dollars of revenue every year for their schools. Almost all of this revenue comes from football and men's basketball.

Do NBA players profit from jersey sales? ›

In the NBA, they have percentages of revenue shared for the players — so, jersey sales, obviously their TV contracts. But that's because their CBA negotiates, where the owners are making certain types of money, they [the players] get that as well. In the WNBA, that's not the case.”

Why do jerseys cost so much money? ›

The jerseys' designs and finishes are detailed and unique, which can make them quite pricey. If there were more competition among jersey providers, they would have set prices higher than they are now, but there is little competition among them.

Who is the highest paid athlete off contract? ›

The list is topped by Lionel Messi, who signed a four-year, $674 million contract with FC Barcelona in 2017. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has the North American sports record with his 10-year, $503 million contract that he inked in 2020.

Do players get cuts of jersey sales? ›

When it comes to North American professional sporting leagues such as the National Hockey League and Major League Baseball, policies vary, however athletes generally get a cut of their specific jersey sales.

Do football teams get money from shirt sales? ›

Well, it is because the production of kits is essentially a licensing arrangement. Kit providers such as Adidas, Nike, Puma et al pay a club for the right to produce and sell merchandise. On top of the licensing fee, these providers then give the club a cut of the sales, usually once they pass a certain threshold.

Which football jersey is the most sold? ›

Josh Allen, Micah Parsons Top NFL's List of Bestselling Jerseys During 2022 Season. Josh Allen reigns supreme.

Is Jersey College for profit? ›

Jersey College is a private for-profit institution in Teterboro, New Jersey. Its campus is located in a suburb with a total enrollment of 3,179. The school utilizes a differs by program-based academic year.

Who sells the most merchandise in college football? ›

Texas leads in merchandise royalties.

What college football team sells the most merchandise? ›

But Texas was the big winner once again, continuing to dominate merchandise sales despite declining results. The football and men's basketball teams are both worse (record-wise) than they were at the start of UT's eight-year run, but their allure remains the same.

What is the highest selling sports jersey of all time? ›

A Jordan jersey sold September 15 for an eye-popping $10.091 million. It is the highest price ever paid for a game-worn jersey. It comes just four months after a Diego Maradona jersey worn in the iconic "Hand of God" 1986 World Cup game set the record.

Who has the most sold jersey in all sports? ›

(CNN) - Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin now has the most sought-after jersey in sports. Sports merchandise and memorabilia company Fanatics said the 24-year-old's jersey is now the most purchased one among all athletes across all sports on its website.

Who sold the most football jerseys in 24 hours? ›

Whilst not verified, it was suggested in Marca that PSG sold over 830,000 jerseys in the first 24 hours after Messi's signing was announced, breaking the previous record of 520,000 jerseys sold held by… you guessed it, Cristiano Ronaldo following his move to Juventus in 2018.

Do college players get to keep their jerseys? ›

Jerseys are generally considered "game worn" once they've been used in a game. And as long as the jersey is in good condition, most college football players will get to keep them. There are a few exceptions (like at Notre Dame), but for the most part, college football players get to keep their jerseys.

What college has the most sports revenue? ›

Top Sports by Revenue for 2023
School NameSportTop Sports by Revenue
The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleFootball$60,808,468 (33.6%)
Texas A&M University-College StationFootball$55,792,930 (28.5%)
University of UtahFootball$53,093,029 (15.2%)
University of ArkansasFootball$52,049,012 (25.9%)
6 more rows

Do athletes get a New jersey every game? ›

No, players in the National Football League do not repeat jerseys, and they haven't for a while. In-game worn jerseys aren't worn again by the players once they've been used in a match.

Do teams make money from jersey sales? ›

According to the NFLPA, the players' union, and the league, players will receive two-thirds of the revenue generated by jersey sales. Another third goes to the union, and some of that is put into an NFL players pool.

What is the most expensive sports team sales? ›

Washington Commanders Sale vs. Other Franchise Fortunes
RankTeamPrice
1🏈 Washington Commanders$6.1B
2⚽ Chelsea Football Club$5.3B
3🏈 Denver Broncos$4.7B
4🏀 Phoenix Suns$4.0B
6 more rows
Apr 22, 2023

Do players make money from shirt sales? ›

Not Generally. The income from the shirt sales primary goes to the maker like Nike, Adidas etc. with a small share going to the club as the club gets fixed amounts every year from these companies in exchange of the right to make and sell these jerseys.

How many NCAA athletic programs are profitable? ›

Of available data, a total of 18 of 229 public Division I athletics programs generated more money than they spent in 2020. This ranged from a whopping $270 million profit (thank you for the gift, Nike co-founder Phil Knight) at the University of Oregon to a massive $48.2 million deficit at James Madison University.

Which college football team generates the most revenue? ›

1. University of Oklahoma
  • 2019-2020 football revenue: $101,119,170.
  • Conference: Big 12.
Jan 9, 2023

Why do colleges pay athletes? ›

As a result, athletes frequently work outside of sports and academics to supplement their income, making this a primary argument for why should college athletes get paid. Paying them for their services would allow them to concentrate on their studies and athletics without being distracted.

What was Brittney Griner's salary? ›

According to a report from Business Insider, Griner signed for one year and $165,100, which represents a salary decrease of around 32% compared to what she was earning before her detention.

What is the biggest selling NBA jersey? ›

NEW YORK — The National Basketball Association (NBA) and National Basketball Players Association today jointly announced that LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers secured the top spots on the NBA's Most Popular Jersey and Team Merchandise lists.

What percent of NBA profit goes to players? ›

In the NBA, players receive 50% of all revenue. That means WNBA players share in only the revenue earned above the league's revenue target for that season. The revenue target goes up by 20% each season, but the actual numbers are unknown.

What is the most expensive game worn jersey? ›

A jersey that belonged to late basketball star Kobe Bryant, expected to fetch between 5-7 million USD, is displayed at Sotheby's auction house in New York on February 1, 2023. An iconic Kobe Bryant jersey from his MVP season sold for $5.8 million on Thursday, setting a new record.

What is the most expensive jersey right now? ›

Joe Montana 'The Drive' jersey sells for astonishing $1.21M, shattering 2022 record set by Tom Brady jersey. The record for most expensive football jersey ever sold at auction no longer belongs to a 2021 Tom Brady jersey.

Are sports jerseys a good investment? ›

Overall, autographed jerseys can be a great way to show off your fandom and can also increase in value over time. Be sure to do your research and understand the market before investing in such a collectible. With proper care, you can be sure that your autographed jersey will be an investment that will last a lifetime.

Who is the richest athlete in the world? ›

But on the financial scoreboard, MJ is still the clear champ—and the gap is growing. Since he was drafted in 1984, Jordan has earned an estimated $3.3 billion when adjusted for inflation, more than any other athlete in the history of sports; the tally is $2.37 billion unadjusted.

What is the $1 billion dollar sports contract? ›

Steph Curry is on the verge of inking one of the largest apparel contracts in NBA history. The four-time NBA champion is in the final stages of signing a lifetime agreement with Under Armour that will pay out more than $1 billion, according to Rolling Stone.

What is the richest sports contract ever? ›

Highest value global sports contracts 2022

The biggest sports contract of all time, worth an estimated 674 million U.S. dollars, belonged to soccer star Lionel Messi. However, these large contracts are not limited to just soccer, but are also seen in other sports such as basketball, baseball, and American football.

Is it OK to wear a jersey of a traded player? ›

While there is no definitive answer, it seems that it is generally accepted to continue wearing jerseys of former players. This is likely because jerseys represent more than just the player; they represent the team and the fans' connection to it.

Do players get to choose their jersey number? ›

The International Cricket Council does not specify criteria for numbering players, so players choose their own jersey number.

Do professional athletes keep their jerseys? ›

How often do professional athletes, such as NBA players, typically use one of their jerseys and change for a new one? A lot of them will change jerseys and shoes for every game. Some depend on the player as they are superstitious and some like Dwight Howard, who throws his jersey into the crowd at games.

Do football teams get new shirts every game? ›

Nowadays, the shirts are only ever worn once because the club get so many requests from charities for shirts to be donated. Some players keep their shirts, some swap them with opponents and some donate them via the club.

Who has the biggest shirt sponsor in football? ›

Football Teams with the biggest Sponsorship Deals
  • Here are the top five sponsorship deals: Real Madrid and Emirates. ...
  • Paris Saint-Germain and Accor. ...
  • Barcelona and Spotify. ...
  • Joint 4th: Manchester City and Etihad + Manchester United and TeamViewer. ...
  • Arsenal and Emirates. ...
  • Final thoughts.
Feb 27, 2023

What does the NFL do with the losing teams shirts? ›

The NFL works with nonprofit Good360 to keep the pre-made, unused apparel out of the landfill. The organization collects the clothing items and ships them to “vetted nonprofit partners” in undisclosed locations in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, Good360 said.

Is there a number 1 jersey in football? ›

The first-choice goalkeeper is usually assigned the number 1 shirt as they are the first player in a line-up. The second-choice goalkeeper wears, on many occasions, shirt number 12 which is the first shirt of the second line up, or number 13.

What NFL team has the biggest fan base? ›

Dallas Cowboys have the most fans in the NFL

With a history of 190 straight sold-out regular-season and postseason games (home and away), the proud Texas squad plays its home games at the AT&T Stadium, where fans pack the stands game after game.

What is the most expensive football jersey sold at auction? ›

A red San Francisco 49ers jersey worn by NFL Hall of Famer Joe Montana at Super Bowl XXIII sold for US$1.212 million at auction this week, making it the most expensive football jersey sold at auction.

Do NBA players get revenue from jersey sales? ›

In the NBA, they have percentages of revenue shared for the players — so, jersey sales, obviously their TV contracts. But that's because their CBA negotiates, where the owners are making certain types of money, they [the players] get that as well. In the WNBA, that's not the case.”

Do college players get money when you buy their jersey? ›

For several decades, college football players were unable to make money from jersey sales due to NCAA rules. Recent amendments to the NCAA's name, image, and likeness rules have chanted that, allowing players to get a cut from their jersey sales, but that still doesn't mean the players are making big profits.

What is the profit margin on Tshirt sales? ›

Average T-Shirt Profit Margins

Average custom t-shirt industry markups tend to fall between 30% to 50%. For example, if your total printing and shipping costs add up to $20 and you decide on a 30% profit margin, the retail price will be $20 + ($20 x 30%) = $26.

Who has the highest shirt sales in football? ›

Argentine forward Lionel Messi holds the record for the most shirt sales in a day. In August 2021, the world was shocked to learn of Messi's move to French giants Paris Saint-German from his boyhood club, Barcelona.

Do college football teams get new jerseys every game? ›

One might assume that teams have a new uniform for every game, and they do use special uniforms, like historic throwback uniforms, for special games. The reality is, however, they wear the same uniforms, either a home or away version, most games.

Can you buy a college jersey with a name on it? ›

97. Though N.C.A.A. rules prohibit colleges from selling jerseys with players' names on them, Ohio State fans understood what a scarlet jersey with a white 97 meant: a tribute to the star defensive end Joey Bosa, who wears the number when the Buckeyes play.

Does college football pay for itself? ›

Due to longstanding rules of amateurism, the athletes themselves do not receive a salary even though some have an estimated market value of several million dollars.

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