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Last Updated On: September 24th, 2024
If you’re a football fan, you’ve probably noticed an interesting trend emerge over the last few seasons. While our parents might have collected cards of legendary running backs like Barry Sanders’ 1989 Score card or Bo Jackson’s 1990 Score card, we’re in an altogether different era of football.
In short, we’re in the age of the receiver. You don’t have to look far to see how prevalent the wide receiver (and even tight end) position has become. Heck, even Netflix can’t get enough of them. The 2024 draft promised to bring in a host of elite receiving talent, but one prospect stands above the rest: Marvin Harrison, Jr.
In this post, we’re talking all about Marvin Harrison Jr. cards, his recent contract dispute with Fanatics, what it means for collecting his cards and memorabilia and, perhaps more importantly, what it means for the hobby writ large.
Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
Introduction to Marvin Harrison Jr.
One of my favorite lines a professional scout will give goes something like this: Player X would have been the top pick in any other draft if Player Y wasn’t also in the draft.
Why do I love this refrain? It indeed underscores how talented Player X is and how elite Player Y is. And in the 2024 draft, there were plenty of Player X receivers but only one Player Y: Marvin Harrison Jr. (who we’ll call MHJ for the rest of the post).
If the name sounds familiar, it’s because it should. MHJ’s dad (we’ll give you one guess as to his name) was a Super Bowl champion, perennial Pro Bowler with the Indianapolis Colts, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016.
Not only does MHJ have strong receiving genes, but he played college ball at Ohio State, a program known for churning out superb wide receivers in recent years. In the last three drafts, four Ohio State wide receivers have gone in the first round: Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and, most recently, MHJ. Here’s a blurb from NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein’s scouting report on MHJ:
Harrison is a touchdown champ with a variety of ways to excel, and that characteristic figures to follow him into the pros. He has the traits and tools to win in all three phases of the route and on all three levels of the field. He’s a pedigree prospect and a Day 1 starter with high-end production expected.
Still another scout heralded MHJ as the “best wide receiver [they had] seen in college football since Randy Moss.”
The Arizona Cardinals jumped on the opportunity to select MHJ fourth overall in the 2024 draft, the first non-quarterback to be taken and the highest draft spot for a wideout since AJ Green in 2011. Hype is a crucial X-factor in a player’s card or memorabilia taking off, so naturally we’d expect MHJ’s products to fly off the shelves.
Fanatics Feud
Back when we put up our NFL Preseason Buyer’s Guide, you may have noticed MHJ’s name conspicuously missing from the bunch of touted rookie receivers. That’s because, for now, MHJ is locked in a lawsuit with Fanatics over whether the receiver is contractually obligated to provide autographed cards, apparel, and appear at promotional events.
According to a lawsuit filed by Fanatics, MHJ was set to earn over $1 million from April 1, 2024, through March 31, 2026, from the company “in exchange for game jerseys and more than 35,000 autographs.” By signing a contract with Fanatics, the company would maintain the “exclusive, worldwide trading card (physical and digital) and trading card autograph right” related to Marvin Harrison Jr. cards.
Harrison, however, denies there being any such binding agreement. The crux of Harrison’s claim lies in two factors. First, the initial contract (called a “binding term sheet”) he (may or may not have) signed included a provision to “negotiate an agreement to combine, amend, and restate” the deal.
Second, MHJ claims his father signed the licensing agreement for MHJ’s L.L.C. “The Official Harrison Collection Company.” As the sole employee and owner of the Collection Company, MHJ claims that any contract his father (who MHJ admitted is an agent of the company) signed does not extend to him.
Potential Fallout
Due to the ongoing litigation, the NFLPA has advised the Cardinals against selling any officially licensed Marvin Harrison, Jr. gear. It’s a definite sting to Cardinals fans (and general football fans) who want to support and revel in MHJ’s greatness.
But should we be surprised? MHJ’s Fanatics lawsuit appears to be in stride with player-first movements in other sports, most notably basketball. On the plus side, basketball players are using their status to leverage better deals with teams and sponsors. On the down side, players are far more transient than they once were, roving from franchise to franchise in search of “the right fit.”
Truthfully, I can’t blame MHJ for wanting to eke out every penny he can. After all, his career window is strikingly shorter than the vast majority of the workforce.
But I don’t think that’s the main story here. I’m no legal expert, but my inclination is that Fanatics will prevail. What’s more important is that someone is taking on Fanatics and its recent near-monopolistic takeover of the hobby. I don’t think MHJ has any grand, ideological visions of a David vs Goliath battle with Fanatics.
I also wouldn’t take MHJ’s lawsuit as a sign of what’s to come. Every other rookie signed the licensing agreement, every other rookie will have their jerseys for sale, and every other rookie will see their cards printed.
The most lasting impression this could make would be to force athletes to think twice before signing licensing agreements. Perhaps they could negotiate specific terms (beyond dollars and cents) to ensure their product is well-looked. Could there be more negotiation on the types or quantities of cards printed to provide a player’s card doesn’t suffer from overprinting? It’s a long shot, but it’s worth considering. Especially as players are collecting sports cards now more than ever.
Collecting Marvin Harrison Jr. Cards
Practically speaking, MHJ has the benefit of playing in an era where receivers rule. We’ve seen other high-profile wideouts – Justin Jefferson, JaMarr Chase, Tyreek Hill, and CeeDee Lamb – push fairly strong sales in recent years.
| Player | Card | Last Sale Price |
| Justin Jefferson | 2020 Prizm Justin Jefferson #398 Purple /125 PSA 10 | $1,530 |
| CeeDee Lamb | 2020 Optic CeeDee Lamb #DT36 Downtown PSA 10 | $1,200 |
| Ja’Marr Chase | 2021 Optic Ja’Marr Chase #DT-36 Downtown PSA 10 | $1,150 |
| Tyreek Hill | 2016 Prizm Tyreek Hill #296 Gold /10 BGS 9.5 | $4,495 |
That chart doesn’t even list the exciting crop of non-MHJ rookies in the 2024 class: Malik Nabers, Rome Odunze, Brian Thomas, Jr., and Xavier Worthy, among others.
There’s certainly a flip side to the era in which MHJ plays: the dearth of talent. As new receivers continue setting the bar high, it may be difficult for MHJ to truly separate himself from the pack. MHJ is a player who should be able to meet and crash through whatever ceiling is placed on him, but the point remains: in a crowded field, he’ll have to seriously shine.
Current Card Market
There are several options fans have to own a MHJ card. For now, they’re something akin to a player’s early Topps Now card – the first look, but likely not the most valuable. As Panini continues manufacturing cards before the final year of their contract expires, licensed NFL rookie cards of MHJ should hit the market assuming no legal hurdles (it’s our understanding there are no obstacles between MHJ and Panini-produced cards at this time).
Score
Score, a Panini Company, printed its own MHJ card as part of its Score-a-Treat set. The Halloween-themed set includes 300 veterans and 49 “rising star” rookies. While the design may not be for everyone – Beckett likens it to Topps’ winter Holiday parallels – the rookies come with a Trick or Treat parallel numbered /99.
Score also released multiple MHJ cards in its 2024 football checklist (click Full Checklist to see them all), including inserts such as “Emerged”, “Hot Rookies”, and “Intergalactic.” All the cards feature Harrison in an Ohio State jersey, however.
Bowman University
After Score, Bowman U cards are another way at attaining a MHJ card. Each season Bowman, known more for its baseball rookies than football players, prints sets featuring college players (hence the “U” in “Bowman U”). Bowman U cards, while not as valuable compared to a player’s professional cards, nonetheless come in a variety of parallels.
As we covered in our deep dive on WNBA and Caitlin Clark cards, collegiate cards can sometimes rise in popularity when a player is more closely affiliated with a college team than a professional one, or when a collector wants to get ahead of the market and invest in any card featuring that player.
Additional Products Coming Soon
Panini will roll out 2024 products throughout the NFL season that should feature MHJ cards. The releases below are tentatively scheduled for the following dates:
- 2024 Panini Gold Standard Hobby (9/18/2024)
- 2024 Panini Luminance Hobby (9/20/2024)
- 2024 Panini Donruss Elite Hobby (10/02/2024)
- 2024 Panini Prizm Draft Picks Collegiate Hobby (10/4/2024)
- 2024 Panini Origins Hobby (10/4/2024)
- 2024 Panini NT Collegiate Hobby (10/16/2024)
- 2024 Panini Absolute Hobby (10/23/2024) – Kabooms!
- 2024 Panini Certified Hobby (10/30/2024)
Memorabilia
We noted above that MHJ’s purported deal with Fanatics was done via his LLC “The Official Harrison Collection Company.” For those looking to score on signed MHJ memorabilia, this company offers a website stocked with several tantalizing options.
A word to the wise, however: the site also appears to have autographed gear from Marvin Harrison, Sr., as well. The two autographs are extremely similar, so it’s incumbent upon each buyer to ensure that the product they purchase was signed by the intended player.
Current Marvin Harrison Jr. Cards on eBay
Whether you’re looking to add a MHJ card today, or come back later as new releases hit the market (or the feud with Fanatics plays out), the following list is a real-time snapshot of current eBay auction listings. The results are sorted by cards ending soonest and can be adjusted to order by price or cards with the most bids.
Summary
Keep in mind, the lawsuit over Marvin Harrison Jr. cards isn’t Fanatics’ lone legal battle. Fanatics is also in a fight against Panini over the former’s alleged “antitrust” behavior.
What we can say for certain is that MHJ’s lawsuit represents a stark departure from the conduct typically expected of rookies. Fortunately, there’s plenty of time for the lawsuit to be settled and for fans to get their hands on a licensed MHJ product. After all, most highly sought-after football cards don’t hit the market until the season’s over. Case in point: Panini’s 2023 National Treasures set isn’t schedule for release until late September 2024.
Ultimately, time will tell whether Marvin Harrison, Jr.’s lawsuit against Fanatics was a harbinger of things to come or merely a flash in the pan. My guess? MHJ and Fanatics settle and the world moves on.