Marvin Harrison Jr., Fanatics End 10-Month-Long Legal Battle

Marvin Harrison Jr. jerseys will soon be for sale. 

The Cardinals wide receiver and Fanatics ended their 10-month legal battle over a contract dispute on Thursday in an out-of-court settlement, which indirectly prevented the former Ohio State star’s jersey from being sold. Terms of the settlement are not yet available. 

“The dispute between Fanatics and Marvin Harrison Jr. has been resolved,” Fanatics wrote in a statement. “The parties are pleased to have resolved this matter, and looking forward to a productive working relationship going forward.”

In May 2024, Fanatics sued Harrison, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, in the Supreme Court of the State of New York over a breach of contract with the sports apparel giant. Fanatics claimed Harrison Jr. in May 2023 agreed to provide the company with autographed cards and to participate in promotional events. Fanatics said it paid Harrison, but he never fulfilled his end of the deal. Harrison claimed he did not have a binding contract with Fanatics. 

Fanatics said Harrison’s actions caused a loss of profit of “millions of dollars” and reputational harm among other damages. In July 2024, Harrison Jr. said his company, The Official Marvin Harrison Collection Company, signed with Fanatics, but he personally didn’t sign anything, which made him free of the deal’s obligations. He added that his father, Hall of Fame wide receiver Marvin Harrison Sr. negotiated and signed the deal with Fanatics without the intention of his son being bound by the agreement, which the elder Harrison confirmed in a signed affidavit. 

In August 2024, Fanatics refiled its lawsuit to include Marvin Harrison Sr. as a defendant alongside his son.

“Harrison Sr. intentionally signed the Binding Terms Sheet in such a manner in order to lead Fanatics to reasonably believe that Harrison Jr. was the true signatory when in fact he was not,” the refiled lawsuit said.

Throughout the lawsuit, Harrison tried to retaliate against Fanatics in his own ways, initially refusing to sign the NFL Players Association licensing agreement that allows products such as his jersey to be made. He eventually relented and signed the agreement, but still had the NFLPA tell the Cardinals, Fanatics, and NFL not to produce his jersey. 

On Jan. 21, the court denied Harrison’s motion to dismiss the case. The decision to settle came roughly seven weeks later. Harrison Jr. ‘s attorney, Andrew K. Staulcup declined a request for comment from Front Office Sports.

As a rookie, Harrison had 62 receptions for 885 yards and a team-high eight touchdowns. He was a two-time All-American at Ohio State and won the Fred Biletnikoff award in 2023, which is given to the best wide receiver in college football.