The saga between Fanatics and Arizona Cardinals rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. continues as two recent affidavits from the player’s camp led a judge to rule Thursday that the company can refile its lawsuit.
Fanatics sued the former Ohio State wide receiver in May saying Harrison breached their signed agreement and that he falsely claimed the agreement didn’t exist. Harrison doubled down last month, claiming he personally never agreed to any Fanatics deal. According to a July 26 affidavit, Harrison said the agreement was between Fanatics and The Official Harrison Collection, signed by his father, Marvin Harrison Sr., as a representative for the company. In another affidavit, Harrison Sr. confirmed he signed the binding term sheet.
According to ESPN, however, the term sheet does include the initials of the younger Harrison in the same style he used on items in his company’s store, and does not include his father’s signature.
Fanatics called the positions in the new affidavits “surprises” and “astonishing” in a letter to Judge Anar Patel, per ESPN. The judge gave the apparel company two weeks to refile its case. Fanatics already refiled the suit Monday, including a detail that it had paid Harrison Jr. $110,000 for autographs in 2023. On Tuesday, Harrison Jr.’s attorneys contended that Fanatics hadn’t paid him anything, and, according to his affidavit, Topps paid The Official Harrison Collection. Fanatics bought Topps in 2022, and Harrison Jr. is the sole owner of his company.
“I believe that the Binding Term Sheet is not binding on anyone, not even The Official Harrison Collection LLC,” Harrison Jr. said in his affidavit.
Fanatics declined to comment on this story.
The NFL Players Association recently told the league, Cardinals, and Fanatics to not sell the rookie’s jerseys amid Harrison Jr.’s various licensing disputes.
Two attempts by Harrison Jr.’s attorneys to dismiss the case have been denied, most recently on Thursday. Both attorneys said in filings this week that they want to move toward a settlement through mediation.
