Cowboys' Ezekiel Elliott, Dak Prescott set record for NFL merchandise sales
The running back became the first rookie to lead the league in sales
By
Will Brinson
•
2 min read
The Cowboys business is football and business was good in 2016. Business was even better for Ezekiel Elliott, Dak Prescott and merchandise sales, as the Cowboys' starting running back and quarterback became the first players in NFL Players Association history to lead the league in sales as rookies.
The NFLPA announced the news Wednesday as part of a year-end update to the top-50 jersey sales, based on total sales of merchandise from March 1, 2016, through Feb. 28, 2017.
Elliott led the league in total merchandise sales, the first rookie ever to do that.
"It's pretty humbling," Elliott said. "When you're a rookie, you're just looking to put your head down, help the team, and learn the ropes. To accomplish this level of success off the field shows just how passionate football fans are in Dallas, Ohio, my home state of Missouri and all around the world. And to be up there with Dak and Dez, alongside great players like Tom Brady and Odell Beckham, is very special to me."
Following behind Elliott was his quarterback, Prescott, who finished second overall. It's a perfect storm if you think about it: two rookie players (so no previous jersey sales) on the most popular franchise in football, helping that club become the best team in the NFC by playing really well, with Elliott leading the league in rushing and both guys becoming entertaining personalities. It shouldn't be that surprising.
But, again, they toppled Tom Brady of the Patriots in this category, in a year where Brady led the league in jersey sales despite having been around destroying defenses for a decade and a half. Who the hell is scooping a Brady jersey that didn't have one before? It helped that the NFL suspended Brady for Deflategate and he still went out and won the Super Bowl. Patriots fans relished it.
These Cowboys fans, though, they are out there buying stuff in droves. The No. 4 player, behind Elliott, Prescott and Brady was Dez Bryant.
Odell Beckham Jr. of the Giants rounded out the top five. The top 10 was slammed full of quarterbacks, with Russell Wilson of the Seahawks (No. 6), Carson Wentz of the Eagles (No. 7), Aaron Rodgers of the Packers (No. 8) and Cam Newton of the Panthers (No. 10) joined by Rob Gronkowski.
Notable among the rest of the top 50:
- Jason Witten at No. 12. He is ageless and timeless apparently. The Cowboys are an unstoppable merchandise machine.
- Derek Carr (No. 16), Khalil Mack (No. 17) and Amari Cooper (No. 19) show the increasing popularity of the Raiders and the importance of winning.
- Kirk Cousins (No. 39) was more popular than Jared Goff (No. 40) despite the Rams' move to Los Angeles.
- More quarterbacks (19) than any other position were in the top 50. Wide receivers (17) were next.
