Marcus Mariota Has Top-Selling NFL Jersey For /4/

Marcus Mariota Has Top-Selling NFL Jersey For /4/

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Marcus Mariota’s jersey was the NFL’s top-seller for the period of /4/1-31, per ESPN sports business reporter Darren Rovell.

Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota’s jersey was the NFL’s top-seller for the period of /4/1-31, per ESPN sports business reporter Darren Rovell.

Marcus Mariota’s jersey is the NFL’s top seller for May.

Mariota, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft, edged No. 1 overall selection Jameis Winston of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the honor, per ESPN’s Darren Rovell. The ranking is based on the sales of the league’s online store covering the period of /4/1-31.

“It’s surreal for me, it’s such an honor,” Mariota told Nashville’s The Midday 180 (via ESPN). “For me it’s one of those deals, looking back on it in the future, it’s a crazy, crazy deal for sure.”

Top selling @NFL jerseys in May: 3) Tom Brady 2) Jameis Winston 1) Marcus Mariota http://t.co/AsDoSn2s2N pic.twitter.com/dEcXiS7WN5— Pac-12 Networks (@Pac12Networks) June 3, 2015

Aside from Mariota and Winston, the only other rookies who made the top 25 were the San Diego Chargers’ Melvin Gordon (24th) and the Oakland Raiders’ Amari Cooper (25th), per ESPN.

Rovell says New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s jersey locked up the third spot. He says this “suggests strong support for Brady over the past month.” The NFL suspended Brady for four games without pay on /4/11 for his alleged involvement in the infamous “DeflateGate” scandal.

Brady has worn the same No. 12 since his rookie year in 2001, representing the longest streak for players who landed in the top 15 selling jerseys for /4/2015, per Rovell.

The ESPN update also says Johnny Manziel’s No. 2 Cleveland Browns jersey was not in last month’s top 25. It was the top seller a year ago.

Houston Texans star J.J. Watt’s No. 99 jersey was the highest-rated for a defensive player, checking in at No. 12, per Rovell.

Returning NFL quarterback Tim Tebow, who signed with the Philadelphia Eagles last month, placed 15th, per ESPN.

Top 25 best selling NFL jerseys in May: 1. Mariota, 2. Winston, 3. Brady. Complete breakdown http://t.co/NmhOqoRNAR pic.twitter.com/IXUgR1X1ra— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) June 3, 2015

Rounding out the the Top 10 were Tom Brady of the New England Patriots (third), Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks (fourth), Odell Beckham, Jr. of the New York Giants (fifth), Rob Gronkowski of the New England Patriots (sixth), Colin Kaepernick of the San Francisco 49ers (seventh), Dez Bryat of the Dallas Cowboys (eighth), Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers (ninth) and Peyton Manning of the Denver Broncos (10th), per ESPN.

According to The Tennessean’s Jim Wyatt, the NFL did not divulge the actual number of jerseys sold in May.

Wyatt says around 2,000 Mariota jerseys were sold at the Titans Locker Room Store at LP Field and the team’s online store.

In a related development, Titans kicker Ryan Succop challenged Mariota to an arm-wrestling competition for the right to wear the Titans’ No. 8 jersey on Instagram on /4/1.

However, Succop told Wyatt on /4/29 he was only joking:

“I think some people thought it was serious, that it was real. People were tweeting at me and sending me messages on Instagram, ‘Bro, just let (Mariota) have it. He’s the Heisman Trophy winner. He’s the first-round pick. C’mon, give it up.

A video posted by Ryan Succop (@ryansuccop06) on /4/1, 2015 at 7:50am PDT

“Basically, it was Marcus needs to have that number, it’s important for him. And there will be a lot of people wearing No. 8 this year that are not fans of the place-kicker, Mariota fans.

Hey, being our quarterback we want him to be in a number he is comfortable in.”

Wyatt stresses many people fell for the prank, similar to how they fell for quarterback Charlie Whitehurst’s claim on social media which says he lost to punter Brett Kern for the No. 6 jersey a year ago.

Titans head coach Ken Whisenhunt actually approached Succop before the draft on April 30 to inform him the team was leaning toward Mariota, who wore No. 8 as quarterback of the Oregon Ducks, per The Tennesseean.

In addition, Titans general manager Ruston Webster told Wyatt the team informed the NFL about a possible change in Succop’s jersey number in advance.

In the end, Succop had no regrets about giving up his no. 8 to Mariota, per The Tennessean:

“But seriously, I feel good about (giving up No. 8) before I met him, and after meeting Marcus, man, he is a first-class guy. He’s an awesome guy and awesome teammate. I’m looking forward to having him as a teammate for a long, long time. And I think he’ll do No. 8 proud.”

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