From Brady to James, These Were the Bestselling Sports Jerseys This Fall

By Jami Farkas

December 16, 2021

Katelyn Mulcahy / Getty Images

When it comes to sports jerseys, fans prefer the classics.

The top-selling jerseys in the waning months of 2021 belong to the veterans. In fact, Fanatics reports that among the four major pro sports leagues – NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL – 13 of the bestselling jerseys from Sept. 1 through Nov. 1 belonged to players with at least nine years of experience. Three of the players are retired and already enshrined in their sport’s Hall of Fame.

The list of the five bestselling jerseys per sport includes several others who are sure-fire Hall of Fame selections, but until then, they have work to do on the field, court and ice as their teams pursue championships.

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So which players top the jersey sales charts in each league at the end of the year? GOBankingRates culled through the data to compile the top five for each. Read on to see the top-selling jerseys from the NHL, MLB, NBA and NFL.

Top Selling NFL Jerseys

5. Mac Jones

• Age: 23
• Years in league: 1
• Team: New England Patriots
• Jersey number: 10
• Position: Quarterback
• Latest contract, annual average value: $3.9 million
• Contract good through: 2024 season

4. Dak Prescott

• Age: 28
• Years in league: 6
• Team: Dallas Cowboys
• Jersey number: 4
• Position: Quarterback
• Latest contract, annual average value: $40 million
• Contract good through: 2024season

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3. CeeDee Lamb

• Age: 22
• Years in league: 2
• Team: Dallas Cowboys
• Jersey number: 88
• Position: Wide receiver
• Latest contract, annual average value: $3.5 million
• Contract good through: 2023 season

2. Josh Allen

• Age: 26
• Years in league: 4
• Team: Buffalo Bills
• Jersey number: 17
• Position: Quarterback
• Latest contract, annual average value: $43 million
• Contract good through: 2028 season

1. Tom Brady

• Age: 44
• Years in league: 22
• Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Jersey number: 12
• Position: Quarterback
• Latest contract, annual average value: $25 million
• Contract good through: 2022 season

Need To Know: Who’s Richer: These Sports Stars or Their Significant Others?

Top Selling NBA Jerseys

5. Giannis Antetokounmpo

• Age: 27
• Years in league: 9
• Team: Milwaukee Bucks
• Jersey number: 34
• Position: Forward
• Latest contract, annual average value: $45.6 million
• Contract good through: 2025-26 season

4. Allen Iverson

• Age: 46
• Years in league: 1996-2010
• Teams: Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies
• Jersey number: 3
• Position: Guard
• Hall of Fame: 2016
• All-Star teams: 11
• Career earnings: $154.8 million

3. Stephen Curry

• Age: 33
• Years in league: 13
• Team: Golden State Warriors
• Jersey number: 30
• Position: Guard
• Latest contract, annual average value: $53.8 million
• Contract good through: 2025-26 season

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2. Kobe Bryant

• Age: Died Jan. 26, 2020, at age 41
• Years in league: 1996-2016
• Teams: Los Angeles Lakers
• Jersey numbers: 8, 24
• Position: Guard
• Hall of Fame: 2020
• All-Star teams: 18
• Career earnings: $323.3 million

1. LeBron James

• Age: 36
• Years in league: 19
• Team: Los Angeles Lakers
• Jersey number: 6
• Position: Forward
• Latest contract, annual average value: $42.8 million
• Contract good through: 2022-23season

Top Selling MLB Jerseys

5. Shohei Ohtani`

• Age: 27
• Years in league: 4
• Team: Los Angeles Angels
• Jersey number: 17
• Position: Designated hitter/pitcher
• Latest contract, annual average value: $4.25 million
• Contract good through: 2022 season

Find Out: Athletes Who Got Rich for Something Other Than Sports

4. AJ Pollock

• Age: 34
• Years in league: 10
• Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
• Jersey number: 11
• Position: Left field
• Latest contract, annual average value: $12 million
• Contract good through: 2023 season

3. Mookie Betts

• Age: 29
• Years in league: 8
• Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
• Jersey number: 50
• Position: Right field
• Latest contract, annual average value: $30.4 million
• Contract good through: 2032 season

2. Aaron Judge

• Age: 29
• Years in league: 6
• Team: New York Yankees
• Jersey number: 99
• Position: Right field
• Latest contract, annual average value: $17 million*
• Contract good through: 2022season

*Arbitration eligible and under team control through 2022; $17 million is estimated value

Oh No: Pro Athletes Who Have Lost Millions of Dollars

1. Derek Jeter

• Age: 47
• Years in league: 1995-2014
• Teams: New York Yankees
• Jersey number: 2
• Position: Shortstop
• Hall of Fame: 2020
• All-Star teams: 14
• Career earnings: $249.5 million

Top Selling NHL Jerseys

5. Nathan MacKinnon 

• Age: 26
• Years in league: 9
• Team: Colorado Avalanche
• Jersey number: 29
• Position: Center
• Latest contract, annual average value: $6.3 million
• Contract good through: 2022-23 season

4. Brad Marchand

• Age: 33
• Years in league: 13
• Team: Boston Bruins
• Jersey number: 63
• Position: Left wing
• Latest contract, annual average value: $6.1 million
• Contract good through: 2024-25 season

3. Marc-Andre Fleury

• Age: 37
• Years in league: 18
• Team: Chicago Blackhawks
• Jersey number: 29
• Position: Goaltender
• Latest contract, annual average value: $7 million
• Contract good through: 2021-22 season

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2. Sidney Crosby

• Age: 34
• Years in league: 17
• Team: Pittsburgh Penguins
• Jersey number: 87
• Position: Center
• Latest contract, annual average value: $8.7 million
• Contract good through: 2024-25 season

1. Alex Ovechkin

• Age: 36
• Years in league: 17
• Team: Washington Capitals
• Jersey number: 8
• Position: Left wing
• Latest contract, annual average value: $9.5 million
• Contract good through: 2025-26 season

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Editor’s Note: For some of the athletes on the list, they are playing their current seasons under a lesser annual average value than listed. In those cases, contract extensions already signed have yet to take effect.

About the Author

Jami Farkas

Jami Farkas holds a communications degree from California State University, Fullerton, and has worked as a reporter or editor at daily newspapers in all four corners of the United States. She brings to GOBankingRates experience as a sports editor, business editor, religion editor, digital editor — and more. With a passion for real estate, she passed the real estate licensing exam in her state and is still weighing whether to take the plunge into selling homes — or just writing about selling homes.