Fanatics sues Marvin Harrison Jr. for breach of contract

The fight between Fanatics and Marvin Harrison Jr. has been taken to the next level.

Via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, Fanatics filed a complaint for breach of contract lawsuit against Harrison in New York state court.

Harrison’s camp says they have no contract with the Fanatics. The lawsuit alleges that the two parties signed an autograph agreement dating back to May 2023.

There are many potential defenses in a case based on the alleged existence of a contract. Regardless of how it plays out, this is the first known legal dispute between a player and the company that aspires to be a one-stop shop for sports fans — wearable memorabilia, trading cards, betting and media.

Harrison has not yet signed the NFLPA licensing agreement, which prevents Fanatics from selling his Cardinals jersey. It was reported that refusing to sign the licensing agreement was part of Harrison’s effort to redo the deal with Fanatics.

This report, if true, implies that there is a deal between Harrison and Fanatics.

Without seeing the complaint itself, it’s unclear whether Fanatics wants a financial recovery, an order requiring Harrison to comply, or both.