Shedeur Sanders shatters record with $17.7M in group licensing income

Field Level Media|published: 05/30/2026, 5:17pm EDT

Shedeur Sanders throws at the Browns OTA in Berea on May 27, 2026.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders earned a record $17.7 million in group licensing income, according to an annual report filed by the NFL Players Association.

Sanders shattered the previous single-season record, which was held by Tom Brady in 2021-22 ($9.5 million).

According to Front Office Sports, Group licensing accounts for deals that involve six of more players. Common examples include jerseys and trading cards.

As a result, that $17.7 million figure does not even include his personal endorsement deals with Beats by Dre, Gatorade and others.

The rookie quarterback played in eight games (seven starts) for the Browns last season, throwing for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also rushed for 169 yards and a touchdown.

The next-highest earner for group licensing was fellow rookie Travis Hunter ($12.8 million) of the Jacksonville Jaguars, who was teammates with Sanders in college at Jackson State and Colorado. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes earned $8 million.

--Field Level Media