Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has suffered a dramatic fall from grace in the NFL's official merchandise rankings, following a season marred by poor performance and a serious injury.
A Stunning Drop in Popularity
After years of being one of the league's most marketable stars, Patrick Mahomes has plummeted 20 places in the NFL Shop's annual jersey sales ranking. The former MVP, who once consistently featured in the top two, has crashed to a lowly 22nd position for 2025. This places him just behind Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and one spot ahead of Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.
The decline marks a stark contrast to his previous standing. Just last season, Mahomes held the second spot, only behind Saquon Barkley during the running back's debut year with the Philadelphia Eagles. This year's result underscores a significant shift in fan sentiment and commercial appeal.
New Kings of the NFL Shop
Taking the crown as the NFL's new jersey sales leader is Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Allen surged from sixth place in 2024 to claim the coveted top spot in 2025, capitalising on both his team's success and Mahomes' misfortune.
In second place is New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, whose remarkable performance lifted the Patriots from one of the league's worst records in 2024 to the AFC's second seed in 2025. The top five is completed by San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner in third, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba in fourth, and Saquon Barkley in fifth.
The remainder of the top ten features a mix of established and emerging talent:
- Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams
- Dallas Cowboys wideout CeeDee Lamb
- A trio of San Francisco 49ers stars: Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and Brock Purdy
Injury Clouds Future Recovery and Sales
The Chiefs' difficult season concluded with a devastating blow for Mahomes: a torn ACL. The quarterback has already undergone surgery, but the standard recovery timeline suggests he could miss a significant portion of the upcoming 2026 season. While team staff remain hopeful he could be ready for the season opener, the prospect of multiple missed weeks is very real.
This injury casts a long shadow over his potential to rebound in next year's sales rankings. A prolonged absence from the field in 2026 could see his commercial stock fall even further, as fans gravitate towards active, high-performing players. The dramatic reshuffle in the jersey sales chart highlights the fickle nature of sports stardom, where on-field success and physical fitness are directly tied to marketability.
