Arizona Cardinals rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is now involved in a legal battle with Fanatics.
The clothing company filed a lawsuit against Harrison in New York Supreme Court on Saturday evening, alleging he breached a contract they agreed to last May. Fanatics said Harrison has refused to fulfill his obligations under the contract, and has “publicly claimed” that the contract does not actually exist.
Fanatics said that despite paying Harrison twice, he “refused to honor his obligations” after “several requests.” The company even claimed that Harrison “denied or ignored every request sent.”
The details of the deal are not yet known and were taken from the lawsuit, according to ESPN. However, the deal was reportedly worth at least $1 million and included autographs, trading cards, game-worn apparel and more.
Fanatics alleges in the lawsuit that Harrison at one point said a “major competitor” made him an offer, and that he received “competing” offers from other trading card companies while demanding that Fanatics match the other offers or would exceed – what the company said. never actually provided proof of this. They said he had also begun “negotiating competitive agreements with other collectible or sports card companies.”
Harrison signed his deal with Fanatics in 2023. According to the report, he does not have an agent and was instead represented by his father – who played Hall of Fame wide receiver Marvin Harrison Sr. is. According to the lawsuit, they agreed to the contract in May 2023, and it was set to expire just before last month’s NFL Draft. Harrison also has not yet signed the NFL Players Association group licensing agreement.
Fanatics is seeking a jury trial with its lawsuit and seeking damages in the “millions of dollars.”
It was in the draft last month. He was widely considered one of the best receivers available in the draft after an incredible run at Ohio State, where he racked up more than 1,200 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns in each of his final two seasons with the Buckeyes.
