Washington, D.C. – The National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) is excited to announce the NFLPA Player Passport Tour. This initiative will establish a strong connection between NFL players, brands, retailers, and fans in Germany and the United Kingdom, cementing the NFLPA as the primary resource for accessing players. The touring experience allows NFL athletes to showcase their unique personalities, build personal brands, and connect with new fans and businesses, all while capitalizing on the increasing demand in the market for international games.

The NFLPA is taking a big step towards expanding players’ business globally. From June 19-25, 2023, eight active NFL players will embark on a curated business and cultural journey across the cities of Frankfurt and London. Popular players including Michael Gallup (Dallas Cowboys), Gabe Davis (Buffalo Bills), Clyde Edwards-Helaire (Kansas City Chiefs), Josh Uche (New England Patriots), Kevin Byard (Tennessee Titans), Jamel Dean (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Marcel Dabo (Indianapolis Colts) and Efe Obada (Washington Commanders) will participate in the first NFLPA Player Passport Tour. Participants have the opportunity to strengthen their connections with the visiting NFL players through various activities such as business panels, meet-and-greet sessions, city tour stops, autograph signings, and flag football sessions.

The NFLPA, a top global sports licensor via its marketing and licensing arm NFL Players Inc., represents the exclusive player licensing rights for more than 2,000 active NFL players. With over 150 NFLPA licensees and global brand partners, including European-based companies, the NFLPA’s global licensing enterprise generated $2.75 billion in retail sales across licensing categories in 2022.

Brands partnering with the NFLPA gain unmatched access to NFL players, leveraging their marketing influence to diversify revenue streams and reach new audiences through licensed products. Steve Scebelo, President, NFL Players Inc., highlights the significance of the tour, stating, “The growth of American football in Europe has created unprecedented business opportunities for NFL players. Their personalities hold tremendous marketing and licensing power, fostering genuine connections between global brands and fans.”

Developed in partnership with NFLPA European licensing agent, Brandgenuity, the tour recognizes the vital role players have in fueling fandom, as fans proudly display their allegiance through merchandise such as jerseys, hats, t-shirts, and collectibles featuring players.

Highlights of the NFLPA Player Passport Tour:

• NFLPA Player Passport Showcase in Frankfurt: A dynamic NFL player business presentation featuring moderated athlete panel discussions, photo opportunities, and meet-and-greet sessions with business partners, media, and key stakeholders in the territory.
• Community Activities: In Frankfurt, players visit Stadion am Brentanobad for a youth flag football clinic. Meanwhile, in London, there will be a youth flag football event at HR Sports Academy, in partnership with global sports-based charity, Laureus.
• Tours and Local Market Athlete Engagement: NFL players will engage in cultural visits and connect with local athletes. In both destinations, they will immerse themselves in the history of European football and interact with Premier League athletes. Beyond sports, the players will explore the local cultures, visit landmarks, try local cuisine, and experience the arts scenes.

Recent statistics illustrate the rise of American football fandom in Europe, with the U.K. and Germany leading the way. In Germany, the #1 market for the NFL in Europe, there are 3.3 million avid fans, while in the U.K. there is a passionate fan base of 3.2 million. The NFL and players’ presence in these markets resulted in record-breaking attendance and product sales. In 2022, the three London games attracted a total of 209,000 attendees, and the NFL Munich Game sold 70,000 tickets, highlighting the sport’s immense popularity.

For media inquiries, please contact:
NFLPA: George Atallah george.atallah@nflpa.com
Germany: Markus Kuhn mk@kuhnsports.com