In September 2000, NFL PLAYERS and the NFL entered into a historic partnership to provide player group licensing rights to NFL sponsors. With this deal, NFL sponsors are given the right to utilize players as part of their sponsorship agreements. The sponsors understand that associating the qualities of NFL players -- passion, personality and authenticity -- with their brands is a successful formula to effectively reach consumers and drive incremental sales. They also recognize the value in associating their product with players through the NFL PLAYERS brand, which creates a unique and positive image that is unmatched in today’s marketplace. As a result, unprecedented numbers of NFL players are currently being used in a variety of sponsor marketing efforts, including player appearances, promotions and full scale endorsements.

NFL PLAYERS provides numerous licensing and marketing services to companies interested in using the names and likenesses of NFL players. Any program utilizing six (6) or more NFL players in conjunction with consumer products, marketing, advertising or sales initiatives requires a license from NFL PLAYERS. These may include products that are sold at retail or used as promotional or premium items. The players may be depicted individually as a part of a series or collectively with other players. Some NFL PLAYERS group licensing programs utilize as few as six players and others as many as 1,800 league-wide. NFL PLAYERS works with more than 65 licensees whose products include: Trading cards (1,000+ players), Video games (1,500+ players), Apparel (1,000+ players), and Collectibles (75+ players). See the licensees page for a list of companies with whom NFL PLAYERS works.