Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. has found himself in legal trouble before even playing his first NFL snap.
Harrison is being sued by sports apparel and collectibles giant Fanatics, according to ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss. The lawsuit reportedly centers around Harrison’s alleged breach of a contract he signed with Fanatics in May 2023.
The Ohio State alum’s camp has maintained that the contract “does not exist,” per the report. The specifics surrounding Harrison’s alleged breach of contract have been redacted from the lawsuit.
The alleged deal was reportedly worth over $1 million and involved “autographs, signed trading cards, game-worn apparel, and other marketing opportunities.”
The lawsuit also lists “The Official Harrison Collection LLC” as a defendant. Harrison’s autographed and game-used merchandise is available for sale online for prices ranging from $79.99 to $549.99.
In the suit, Fanatics claims that Harrison was one of several college athletes that the company signed to a multi-year licensing deal in 2023. The two parties’ first agreement, signed in March of that year, was non-exclusive.
Fanatics asserts that negotiations on a longer-term deal began in April 2023 with the two sides allegedly signing a binding term sheet on May 16, 2023. Harrison’s camp received a “significant” payment on the deal finalized on May 18, 2023, per the suit.
The Cardinals selected Harrison fourth overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. In his final season at Ohio State, Harrison recorded 67 catches for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns across 12 games played.
