TEMPE, Ariz. — About an hour before the Arizona Cardinals’ only preseason home game, fans slid into the team store inside State Farm Stadium to find some new apparel. The back wall was lined with jerseys of some of the Cardinals’ most popular players: Kyler Murray, Budda Baker, James Conner, Michael Wilson, Zaven Collins and Trey McBride.
There was one person who was noticeably absent: Marvin Harrison Jr.
His jersey hasn’t been available for purchase since the Cardinals made it the fourth overall pick on April 25, and fans likely won’t be able to purchase it until the season-opening game against the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 8 (1 p.m. ET, CBS) or in the near future.
This is the latest chapter in the offseason legal saga for Harrison, one of the most highly touted receivers in the 2024 draft.
On the field, Harrison looked like the type of receiver who would make an immediate impact on a Cardinals offense on the verge of a breakthrough. Off the field, Harrison has been dealing with a lawsuit from Fanatics, which could lead to a lengthy legal battle.
Here’s what we know:
Why can’t fans buy Marvin Harrison Jr. jerseys?
Harrison is the only first-round pick in this year’s draft with an unsold jersey. A league source told ESPN that the NFL Players Association has advised the NFL, Cardinals and Fanatics not to sell Harrison’s jersey.
The NFLPA’s recommendation comes as Fanatics, Harrison and now his father, Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison Sr., are involved in a lawsuit alleging breach of contract and fraud. The lawsuit and Harrison’s jersey sales are not directly related, but the situation is complicated because Fanatics is one of the NFLPA’s 85 licensees and is a plaintiff in the lawsuit against Harrison.
Fans will also not be able to customize the No. 18 “Harrison Jr.” or “Harrison” jerseys on the Official NFL Online Shop, as Fanatics currently does not have the rights to sell them. However, if they want to get creative, fans can design their own No. 18 “HarrisonJr” jerseys.
The black Harrison Cardinals jersey was available in the European NFL Shop on Monday night, but was removed from sale Tuesday morning.
Retailers, including the Cardinals and Fanatics, are on hold pending approval to sell Harrison’s jerseys.
For now, fans will have to buy an unofficial Harrison jersey if they want to wear Harrison’s Cardinals thread. His college jersey is not available for purchase on Ohio State’s official website, but can be found on other sites.
The two-time college All-American did not sign the NFLPA’s group licensing agreement at the NFL Scouting Combine, which most rookies sign. He did not join the GLA, which consists of 85 companies that provide access to players’ names, images and likenesses for their products.
After signing his rookie contract in late May, Harrison was automatically signed to the GLA. But that didn’t mean his uniform would automatically be produced and sold.
According to court documents related to the lawsuit, proceedings could last until June before a trial begins, meaning Harrison’s jersey may not be available until then.
What’s the latest on the lawsuit Fanatics filed against him?
The Fanatics lawsuit that has been circulating over Harrison’s jersey absence is the first time Fanatics has sued a player it has worked with since its founding in 2011, the company said in a statement in May.
On May 18, Fanatics filed suit against Harrison for failing to fulfill a contract to provide the company with merchandise for the next three seasons, according to a binding contract signed by both parties on the New York State Supreme Court website. The contract, which Harrison reportedly signed on May 16, 2023, was later sealed. Fanatics claims the contract is binding. Harrison disagrees.
According to court documents, the deal called for Harrison to be paid $1.05 million between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2026, in exchange for 30 game-worn jerseys and more than 35,000 autographs over the 2024, 2025 and 2026 seasons, with an option for Fanatics to receive 15,000 more. Harrison has already been paid $110,000 as part of the deal, according to the lawsuit.
In a statement from late July, Harrison said he had no intention of being personally bound by the terms.
“This is not a contract between Fanatics and me,” Harrison said in the filing. “I was never asked to sign, and have never signed, any document that obligates me personally to do anything related to a ‘binding agreement.’”
In that affidavit, Harrison also stated that his father signed the affidavit and that he did not sign it. Because of that statement, which Harrison and his father signed under threat of perjury, Fanatics refiled the lawsuit on Friday, listing Harrison as a defendant and claiming that Harrison fraudulently “led Fanatics to believe that Harrison Jr. had signed a binding affidavit.”
The Harrison brothers did not respond to text messages from ESPN, and Harrison’s attorney, Andrew Stolcup, declined to comment on the pending litigation.
Fanatics was led to believe, through Harrison’s father, that a binding contract was being negotiated with him, but it was Harrison who signed the contract.
In the amended lawsuit, Fanatics claims the signature on the binding terms and conditions is “strikingly similar” to the signature on a W-9 form Harrison was required to provide to his company, The Official Harrison Collection, and to the autograph sold on the company’s website.
What has Harrison been like during the offseason?
Even though there is still uncertainty off the field, Harrison has made sure it doesn’t affect him on the field.
His first NFL training camp was impressively good, and Harrison quickly earned the respect of his teammates, rising to WR1 before Arizona cut short minicamp in June. At the end of minicamp, Harrison was the first receiver lined up for drills, a turn decided by the players and the ultimate show of respect for the rookie.
Since then, his trajectory has been a straight line.
Harrison’s training camp showcased his Hall of Fame heritage, both in his performance on the field and in the way he prepared to build on it.
“Obviously, he’s evolved in the sense that he’s been groomed to do this from a young age,” wide receivers coach Drew Terrell said. “From the first time I talked to him before the draft, he’s been a pro. He knows what the expectations are. He’s very hard on himself and knows what’s expected of him.”
Harrison didn’t get a target in just three snaps in the preseason game against the Saints, but he’s already shown his teammates and coaches what he can expect going forward, whether it’s with his own team or in joint practices with the Indianapolis Colts.
“I think you just have to watch him,” Murray said. “You watch him and you can tell when a guy has it. He has it.”
Coach Jonathan Gallen has been impressed with Harrison since he arrived in Arizona, particularly his work ethic.
“He’s very detail-oriented,” Gannon said. “He adds a lot, maybe too much. I’d fight him about that.
“I like to do extra work. We have to be smart about it. You have to have a routine for it. What you do. You only have one cup a day. How are you filling your cup? And if you overfill it somewhere, it’s going to come from somewhere else or you might not progress like we want you to progress. So, he’s doing a good job with his routine and his plan, what he does.”
Harrison has not commented publicly on the lawsuit. When asked during a joint practice in Indianapolis whether his jersey would be available for sale soon, the rookie wideout said there was no update. In an Aug. 1 news conference, Harrison said he was focused on executing on the field.
“The team comes first, so whatever my goals are, I always try to put the team first,” Harrison said. “They brought me here to win, and obviously my No. 1 goal is to win. To help this team win football games. So I can share that one personal goal with you and help the team win.”
