Fanatics file suit against Cardinals WR Marvin Harrison Jr.

TEMPE, Ariz. — Fanatics filed a lawsuit against Arizona Cardinals rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. Saturday night in New York Supreme Court for breach of a contract the wide receiver signed with the retailer in May 2023.

In the lawsuit, Fanatics said Harrison refused to fulfill his obligations under the deal, while “publicly claiming” the contract did not exist.

The details of what Harrison’s contract with Fanatics required of the No. 4 pick in the NFL Draft have been redacted, as have the details of the financial agreement between the two. However, a source told ESPN earlier this month that the deal was for at least $1 million and that the contract was for autographs, signed trading cards, game-worn clothing and other marketing opportunities.

The suit also names “The Official Harrison Collection LLC” as a defendant. Harrison sells signed memorabilia on the official Harrison Collection website. Items include photos ranging from $99.99 to $149, a jersey for $299.99, and a helmet for up to $549.99. The site, which says, “Cardinals memorabilia coming soon,” says it is “the ONLY website to buy signed Harrison memorabilia.”

In the lawsuit, Fanatics claims Harrison told the retailer that a “larger competitor” had made him an offer while other trading card companies had also made “competing” offers. The suit claims Harrison “demanded” that Fanatics meet or exceed other alleged offers. However, the suit also claims that Harrison refused to provide Fanatics with the competing offers.

Fanatics also claims in the lawsuit that Harrison has “already begun negotiating competing agreements with other trading card or sports card companies.”

According to the suit, Fanatics’ relationship with Harrison began in 2023, when Harrison, then at Ohio State, was one of “several high-profile student-athletes, including numerous NFL prospects,” whom Fanatics has signed for a multi-year licensing deal. In March 2023, Fanatics signed Harrison to a limited endorsement and licensing agreement that was non-exclusive and ended in April 2024, ahead of last month’s NFL Draft.

In the lawsuit, Fanatics claims that after recognizing Harrison’s “potentially bright future and the limitations of the promotion and licensing agreement,” it contacted Harrison again about a “more substantial” deal. ” long-term. The two sides began discussing a new deal in April 2023, and the negotiations were “heavily negotiated,” according to the lawsuit. Harrison, who does not have an agent, was represented by his father, Hall of Fame catcher Marvin Harrison Sr. The two sides agreed to a binding term sheet on May 16, 2023, and it was finalized two days later.

The terms of the agreement were redacted in the lawsuit; however, the suit says the payment to Marvin Harrison Jr. was “significant.”

Fanatics said in the suit it paid Harrison in August and October 2023, but it claims Harrison “refused to fulfill his obligations” despite “multiple requests” from Fanatics in recent months. The suit claims Harrison “rejected or ignored each request.”

Fanatics also claims in the suit that Harrison disclosed confidential information about his contract to ESPN.

The suit also states that on April 23, 2024, Marvin Harrison Sr. asked Fanatics for a copy of the binding term sheet for his son. After the elder Harrison received it, the suit said he told the company that the Harrisons did not have an agreement with Fanatics.

Fanatics, which hopes the lawsuit will force Marvin Harrison Jr. to fulfill his obligations, according to the lawsuit, requested a jury trial and estimated damages at “millions of dollars.”

Harrison also has not yet signed the NFL Players Association’s group licensing agreement, which would allow the union to market his name, image and likeness to 85 companies.