Seahawks’ Wilson overtakes Manning in NFL product sales

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson overtook Peyton Manning of the Denver Broncos as the highest-selling National Football League player last season.

Wilson, who led the Seahawks to a 43-8 win over Manning’s Broncos in the Super Bowl in his second season, jumped 18 spots on the NFL Players Inc. list, which includes sales of all licensed products from March 1, 2013, through Feb. 28, 2014.

Former Indianapolis Colts QB Manning, the 2013 retail sales leader, ranked second this past fiscal year, ahead of fellow quarterbacks Colin Kaepernick (San Francisco), Robert Griffin III (Washington) and Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay).

Nine of the top 10 players on the list are quarterbacks, including six Super Bowl champions: Wilson, Manning, Rodgers, New England’s Tom Brady (No. 6), New York Giants’ Eli Manning (No. 8), and New Orleans’ Drew Brees (No. 10).

Colts quarterback Andrew Luck finished ninth on the list.

The only other Colts player among the top 50 was running back Trent Richardson, who finished 37th.

Individual sales figures weren’t disclosed in a press release from the NFL Players Inc., which said licensed product sales exceeded $1 billion during the fiscal year.

Wilson, 25, is joined on the list by his teammates, running back Marshawn Lynch (No. 7) and cornerback Richard Sherman (No. 12).

Lynch, the only non-quarterback in the top 10, jumped 22 spots from No. 29. Sherman wasn’t in the top 50 at the start of the year, NFLPI said.

Top 50 NFL player sales rankings:

1. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
2. Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos
3. Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers
4. Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins
5. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
6. Tom Brady, New England Patriots
7. Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks
8. Eli Manning, New York Giants
9. Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts
10. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

11. J.J. Watt, Houston Texans; 12. Richard Sherman, Seattle Seahawks; 13. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings; 14. Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers; 15. Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys; 16. Patrick Willis, San Francisco 49ers; 17. Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh Steelers; 18. Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots; 19. Arian Foster, Houston Texans; 20. Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions;

21. Victor Cruz, New York Giants; 22. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys; 23. Wes Welker, Denver Broncos; 24. Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins; 25. LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles; 26. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers; 27. Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers; 28. Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens; 29. DeMarcus Ware, Dallas Cowboys; 30. Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys;

31. Brandon Marshall, Chicago Bears; 32. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers; 33. Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders; 34. Austin Miles, Dallas Cowboys; 35. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens; 36. Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears; 37. Trent Richardson, Indianapolis Colts; 38. Andre Johnson, Houston Texans; 39. A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals; 40. Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs;

41. Jimmy Graham, New Orleans Saints; 42. Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers; 43. Jordy Nelson, Green Bay Packers; 44. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons; 45. Von Miller, Denver Broncos; 46. Eric Decker, Denver Broncos; 47. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers; 48. Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons; 49. Matt Forte, Chicago Bears; 50. Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers.