Marcus Mariota Leads NFL in May Jersey Sales

For the first time in a long time, the Tennessee Titans are relevant in the offseason. But it isn’t because of a monster trade, free agency splash or off-field scandal. Instead the Titans are enjoying the cash boost that has come from one of their newest signees, Marcus Mariota, whose number eight Tennessee jersey has topped all NFL jerseys sales for the month.

Despite having yet to play a single meaningful – or even non-meaningful – snap in the professional leagues, Mariota has become the first player in franchise history to reach the feat. And while the Titans’ front office might like to attribute the surge to a rapid influx of diehard new fans, the truth is that Mariota’s image and influence spreads far across the land, enticing many out-of-state fans to part with their money.

Mariota’s success at Oregon and prominence in Hawai’i is surely much more cause for the accomplishment. Couple that with a squeaky-clean image that appeals to children and bandwagoners, as opposed to Jameis Winston’s more chequered past, and you’ve got yourself a license to print money.

Whether or not Mariota’s off-field hype will live up to fan expectations is another matter, but as the likelihood that he will be named the Titans’ starter increases by the day, we won’t have to wait long to find out.