Adrian Peterson is no longer the biggest selling player on the Minnesota Vikings roster, with Teddy Bridgewater leading the way in the team’s merchandise sales.
There was a major surprise when the NFLPA announced the players who led the NFL in merchandise sales for 2015. Of course, the popular names at the top were quarterbacks, including Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Russell Wilson, and Aaron Rodgers. Then, some of the major stars for big market teams were included, like Dez Bryant, Odell Beckham Jr, J.J. Watt, and Rob Gronkowski.
Sadly, fans have to look all the way down to number 25 on this list to find the first name belonging to a player on the Minnesota Vikings franchise. And that name isn’t the one that most fans would have expected.
As long as fans can remember, Adrian Peterson has been the cash cow for the Minnesota Vikings. His merchandise is everywhere and fans seem to still buy his jerseys, shirts and banners like crazy. However, he has been replaced as the team’s highest-selling player by quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
Bridgewater is a very likeable guy. He’s got that friendly face and has helped bring the Minnesota Vikings to the NFC North championship last year. However, it’s still a surprise that he was able to unseat merchandise juggernaut Adrian Peterson so early in his career.
There is a bright future ahead of Bridgewater, but Adrian Peterson is likely a future Pro Football Hall of Fame member who has broken multiple rushing records and led the league in running yards three times in his career.
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While it’s possible this is a fluke, it may also be representative of the Minnesota Vikings fans embracing the youth movement that general manager Rick Spielman has instilled in the franchise. With the team having one of the brightest futures of any team in the National Football League, it’s great to see fans all around the world showing Teddy Bridgewater a lot of love.