NFLPI links up with Pop Warner Football, Penguin Young Readers Group, Funko

June 20, 2014 – In the last few days, NFL Players Inc., the licensing and marketing arm of the NFL Players Association, announced several new licensing agreements. It entered into new partnerships with Pop Warner Little Scholars Inc., Penguin Young Readers Group and Funko, LLC. The news was announced from Licensing Expo 2014 in Las Vegas.

Through the partnership between NFLPI and Pop Warner, officially licensed co-branded products featuring active NFL players will be created. More than 70 percent of 1,800 active NFL players competed on Pop Warner teams across the country. That football history will be highlighted through a broad scope of NFLPI-licensed co-branded apparel and merchandise including jerseys, trading cards, mobile game characters, toys, sporting goods and Pop Warner uniforms.

“A licensing partnership with NFL Players Inc. is a natural extension, since hundreds of active NFL players began their football careers playing Pop Warner,” said Jon Butler, Pop Warner Little Scholars Executive Director.

“Teaming up with Pop Warner Little Scholars makes sense as we look to provide younger fans and their families with new and different ways to support their favorite players,” said Steve Scebelo, NFLPI Vice President of Licensing and Business Development.

Penguin Young Readers Group, a global leader in children’s publishing, will create a series of amusing and entertaining NFL player inspired Mad Libs, chapter books, activity books and journals for children of all ages to enjoy. The agreement represents NFLPI’s first licensee in the children’s publishing category.

Funko, recognized for its popular lines of fan collectibles, will feature active NFL players as part of the company’s officially licensed Pop! Vinyl figures and bobbleheads.