NFLPI Honors Top Licensees (exclusive)

NFLPI, the licensing and marketing arm of the NFL Players Association, launched the awards program to honor the most successful and creative NFLPI licensees that demonstrated the best use of group player rights within the past year.

A judging panel comprised of NFLPI executives took into account the number of unique players featured within the licensees’ product lines, the marketing and promotional activations that featured players throughout the year, exceptional creativity and innovation in product development and the companies’ positive stewardship of the players’ intellectual property, as well as the range of distribution and growth in annual financial performance.

“Through some great ingenuity, innovation and diligence, these companies captured the spirit and personalities of the players in unique licensed

Hardlines winner Oyo Sports creates building block minifigures with the likenesses of NFL players; Apparel winner FBF Originals manufactures premium sock and footwear products; and EA Sports, winner in the Digital category, products top-selling video games and apps including "Madden NFL" and "Madden Ultimate Team."

NFLPI is ranked No. 46 among licensors worldwide, according to

License! Global's

exclusive Top 150 Global Licensors report and recently announced its top player sales for fiscal year 2015, based on total overall sales of all licensed products from online and traditional retail outlets as reported by more than 80 NFLPI licensees.