Jersey sales in 2023 proved 49ers embarrassed Seahawks off the field too
By Lee Vowell
There was a time, not long ago when the Seattle Seahawks had their way with the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers have been challenging for a championship more recently than Seattle, sure, but between 2014 and the end of 2021, Seattle won 15 of 17 matchups versus the southern rival. (And no, Geno Smith has not been the issue; blame the terrible Seattle defense).
San Francisco, as much as we hate to say it, has had a good team. This, of course, means they have good players. Moreover, those good players get more attention because their team is making deep runs in the playoffs and appearing on national television well into January. Seattle has not given itself that same chance.
People watching games are more likely to buy the jerseys of the players on teams that are doing well and that everyone will know. Wearing a jersey means one of two things: One either intentionally wants to fit in among a group of people, or one buys a jersey to peeve off a lot of people. Either way, the groups of people need to know whose name is on the jersey.
San Francisco 49ers dwarf Seattle Seahawks in jersey sales
Some players are able to transcend their team's performance, of course. If a player is effervescent enough and productive enough, football fans are going to follow them. The issue is that the number of players on a team that is less successful than a perennial Super Bowl contender has a smaller number of popular players. One or three players might be well-known and well-liked, but otherwise...not so much.
The NFLPA recently released the top jersey sales for NFL players between March 1, 2023, and February 29, 2024, and the 49ers crushed the Seahawks, sadly. DK Metcalf was the top-selling Seahawk at number 24 overall - not bad! - but he trailed four 49ers. That included Nick Bosa (23), George Kittle (16), Brock Purdy (8), and Christian McCaffrey (5).
The next best player for Seattle is not even with the team anymore. Bobby Wagner ranked 35. Tyler Lockett was next-best at 49. Between Metcalf and Lockett were two other 49ers, Deebo Samuel (26) and Fred Warner (40).
Next. Andy Reid says one former Seahawks head coach is the GOAT. Andy Reid says one former Seahawks head coach is the GOAT. dark
At least Seahawks fans can feel a bit better in the fact that of the top 50 jersey sales, the Los Angeles Rams only had one (Cooper Kupp - 39), and the Arizona Cardinals only had one (Kyler Murray - 47).
Seattle can beat San Francisco in 2024 the 12s can control. Spend more money on jersey sales. Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Devon Witherspoon need to rank in the top 50 when the rankings are announced next year.
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