While the Cleveland Browns have a quarterback brewing between Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson, one of these players has an advantage in one part of the NFL business.
Sanders, entering his second season in the NFL and with the Browns, is one of the most volatile and polarizing players in the NFL amongst his own fanbase and Cleveland’s fanbase. That has paid dividends for the Browns’ quarterback, however, as he now holds the NFL’s record for the highest amount of licensing revenue earned in a single season.
He not only broke the record, but he shattered it. During the 2024 season, Minnesota Vikings quarterback earned $4 million in generated licensing revenue for jerseys and other NFL-licensed merchandise purchased. Last season, Sanders earned a whopping $17.7 million in revenue from licensed material purchased during his rookie season.
BREAKING: Shedeur Sanders earned a record $17.7 million in group licensing income last NFL season, according to the NFLPA’s annual report examined by FOS.
By comparison, J.J. McCarthy led all players with $4 million in the prior season.
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) May 30, 2026
Even if the football thing does not work out for Sanders, who is in a fight to maintain the starting job as mandatory minicamp approaches, he at least knows how much he can make off of his name alone.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns QB Shedeur Sanders shatters an NFL record during rookie season