San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is seen before an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders in Landover, Md., Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
According to experts, the Commanders’ merchandise rankings have been negatively affected by rebranding, difficulties on the field, and a shortage of prominent players.
The Super Bowl-winning Kansas City Chiefs, along with high-profile teams like the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys, dominate NFL merchandise sales, while the Washington Commanders have significant room for improvement in this regard.
In its recent season-end review, the NFL highlighted top-selling items from its online store, with the Chiefs leading overall sales and San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey emerging as the most popular player.
The absence of the Washington Commanders among the league’s top-selling teams shouldn’t come as a surprise, given their disappointing 4-13 record in 2023. However, the NFL didn’t specify where the Commanders ranked in the merchandise sales list.
The NFL’s Season in Review reaffirms what Washington fans already know—their team lacks star power. According to a February report from the NFL Players Association, only one Commanders player, wide receiver Terry McLaurin, made it to the league’s top 50 most popular players, coming in at 38th based on sales data from official league partners.
The players’ union highlighted Jalen Hurts and Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles as the most marketable and influential players, followed by the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, based on sales data from September through November.
Lids, a sports apparel retailer, recently released its bestselling jerseys, featuring players from playoff-contending teams like the Cowboys, Chiefs, and 49ers. No Washington players were listed among Lids’ top sellers.
