Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders earned a record $17.7 million in group licensing income last season, according to the NFLPA's annual report obtained by Front Office Sports' Daniel Kaplan.
Sanders shattered the previous record, nearly doubling Tom Brady's $9.5 million in group licensing income during the 2021-2022 season.
For comparison, Minnesota Vikings' J.J. McCarthy led all players during the 2024-25 campaign, taking home $4 million.
The bulk of player royalties through the NFLPA comes from group licensing deals, which compensate players for jersey sales, trading cards, video games, and other collectibles.
Once considered a potential first-round pick in the 2025 draft, Sanders instead slid to the fifth round before the Browns selected him. Initially buried on the quarterback depth chart behind Joe Flacco and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel, Sanders waited until Week 11 to make his regular-season debut. He recorded his first career NFL start the following week against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Sanders led the Browns to a 3-4 record in seven starts, finishing his first NFL campaign passing for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns, 10 interceptions, and a 56.6% completion rate.
Despite a modest start to his pro career, Sanders quickly emerged as one of the more popular figures in the NFL after becoming a fan favorite during his collegiate career at Colorado.
Sanders, the son of Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders, will enter his second season in a battle with Deshaun Watson for the Browns' starting QB role under new head coach Todd Monken.
