![\"Patrick](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2026\/01\/10\/19\/105405801-15451625-image-a-49_1768072848059.jpg\")
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By JAKE FENNER, US SPORTS WRITER<\/p>\n
Published: 14:23 EST, 10 January 2026 | Updated: 16:57 EST, 10 January 2026<\/p>\n
For years, Patrick Mahomes has been one of the NFL\u2019s most marketable and best-selling athletes<\/strong>, with his jersey ranking consistently among the top across the league and fans clamoring for his iconic No. 15 Chiefs uniform.<\/p>\n However, after a season plagued by injury and unexpected team struggles, Mahomes can no longer claim the same dominance in jersey sales<\/strong>, signaling a sharp decline in both his on-field impact and merchandise appeal.<\/p>\n The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback, who suffered a season-ending torn ACL in a pivotal game<\/strong>, was sidelined just as the team\u2019s playoff hopes fell apart, leaving fans and analysts alike stunned at the sudden turn of events.<\/p>\n Historically, Mahomes has been a juggernaut in the NFL Shop rankings, often trailing only elite stars like Saquon Barkley during standout years<\/strong>, and consistently selling more jerseys than most other players in the league.<\/p>\n Last year, Mahomes had held the second-highest spot in NFL Shop jersey sales<\/strong>, finishing just behind Barkley, who was in his first year with the Philadelphia Eagles and immediately captured fan attention nationwide.<\/p>\n This season, however, Mahomes dropped dramatically in popularity<\/strong>, with fans struggling to buy jerseys amid injuries and a challenging season for the Chiefs that failed to meet expectations.<\/p>\n According to official NFL Shop data, Mahomes finished No. 22 in 2025 for jersey sales<\/strong>, a staggering fall from the previous year\u2019s top-tier ranking and one of the steepest declines among all quarterbacks.<\/p>\n He finished just ahead of Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown<\/strong> and narrowly behind Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, reflecting a competitive market for fan merchandise in 2025.<\/p>\n The fall of 20 spots in the NFL Shop ranking illustrates how both performance on the field and visibility off the field can dramatically impact merchandise sales<\/strong>, even for players as renowned as Mahomes.<\/p>\n The quarterback\u2019s difficult season culminated in a torn ACL<\/strong>, one of the most severe injuries a professional athlete can endure, which has cast uncertainty over his participation in the 2026 campaign.<\/p>\n Recovery from an ACL tear is notoriously demanding, often requiring surgery, extensive physical therapy, and a timeline of several months<\/strong> before athletes can return to full-speed competition, raising concerns among fans and team staff alike.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Mahomes\u2019 chief rival in the AFC, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, surged from No. 6 in 2024 to claim the top spot in jersey sales for 2025<\/strong>, showcasing how a combination of performance and team success drives merchandise popularity.<\/p>\n Allen\u2019s rise demonstrates the influence of winning records, highlight-reel plays, and playoff appearances<\/strong> in shaping fan demand, particularly when juxtaposed with Mahomes\u2019 injury-shortened season.<\/p>\n Behind Allen, New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye climbed to second place<\/strong>, reflecting his remarkable leadership in taking a previously struggling team to the AFC\u2019s second seed, a transformation that energized fans and boosted jersey sales.<\/p>\n Rounding out the top three is San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner<\/strong>, a testament to the growing visibility of defensive stars in the merchandise market, particularly those who play crucial roles in championship-contending squads.<\/p>\n The fourth and fifth spots were occupied by Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba<\/strong> and Saquon Barkley<\/strong>, reaffirming Barkley\u2019s consistent popularity despite being edged out of the No. 1 spot by Allen\u2019s breakout year.<\/p>\n Additional top-ten finishers included Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams<\/strong>, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb<\/strong>, and a trio of 49ers standouts: Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and Brock Purdy<\/strong>, showing a mix of veteran and emerging talent capturing fan attention.<\/p>\n While Mahomes\u2019 current rank of 22 is a dramatic drop, analysts emphasize that such shifts are not uncommon following significant injuries<\/strong>, particularly in a league where visibility, performance, and media presence drive merchandise sales.<\/p>\n The quarterback is expected to miss a portion of the 2026 season<\/strong> due to his ACL recovery, which could further impact jersey sales and fan engagement in the early weeks of the campaign.<\/p>\n He successfully underwent surgery, but the rehabilitation process may force him to miss multiple games<\/strong>, creating challenges for the Chiefs as they aim to maintain competitive momentum without their star quarterback.<\/p>\n Despite the injury, Chiefs staff remain cautiously optimistic that Mahomes could be ready by the start of the 2026 season<\/strong>, aiming to balance a careful rehabilitation program with the need to return their franchise cornerstone to the field.<\/p>\n Mahomes\u2019 situation underscores the delicate balance NFL stars must navigate between on-field health, performance, and commercial popularity<\/strong>, highlighting how even elite athletes are vulnerable to sudden shifts in public perception.<\/p>\n The sharp decline in Mahomes\u2019 jersey sales also emphasizes the hyper-competitive environment of NFL merchandise<\/strong>, where emerging stars, breakout seasons, and playoff narratives can dramatically reshape fan interest year to year.<\/p>\n Ultimately, Mahomes\u2019 2025 season will be remembered more for adversity than accolades<\/strong>, a rare turn of events for a player whose name had been synonymous with elite quarterbacking and top-selling jerseys.<\/p>\n As the 2026 season approaches, both fans and analysts will be watching closely to see whether Mahomes can rebound on the field and in merchandise rankings<\/strong>, reaffirming his status as one of the league\u2019s defining figures.<\/p>\n Recovery, performance, and market appeal are all intertwined, and Patrick Mahomes now faces a challenge that goes beyond football \u2014 reclaiming his stature as one of the NFL\u2019s most beloved and marketable stars<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By JAKE FENNER, US SPORTS WRITER Published: 14:23 EST, 10 January 2026 | Updated: 16:57 EST, 10 January 2026 For years, Patrick Mahomes has been one of… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":137793,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-137792","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2026\/01\/10\/19\/105405829-15451625-image-a-48_1768072843609.jpg\")
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