NFL Players Inc., the marketing and licensing arm of the NFL Players Association, has teamed up with FanPrint to create an apparel line that will benefit the Gene Upshaw Player Assistance Trust Fund for former NFL players in need.

FanPrint has worked with a group of graphic artists to create original designs for current NFL players. Fans can choose the artwork they like from different collections (including caricatures, player names/numbers, catchphrases, and more) and order specific designs on apparel items of their choice.

"Licensed sports gear is an $18 billion a year business, and I felt with all the passion fans have for their favorite teams and players, there had to be a way to put some of those dollars to good use through charity," says former NFL player Darren Woodson who is director of partnerships at FanPrint and one of the company’s founding investors. "The Professional Athletes Foundation grant assistance arm, known as the Gene Upshaw Players Assistance Trust Fund, does such important work and was a logical beneficiary since it links directly to the players who have helped make the NFL so popular that there is this amazing demand for player affinity apparel.”

The line is available now on the FanPrint website.

“When Darren and FanPrint approached NFLPI with a proposal to create licensed apparel that would directly benefit former players, they provided a unique benefit and point of differentiation that made this partnership very appealing,” says Steven Scebelo, vice president, licensing and business development, NFLPI. “In addition, FanPrint’s portfolio of new player designs is a very creative addition to the assortment of NFLPI licensed apparel.”