Panini Inks Long-Term deal With NFL, NFLPA

Panini America announced that it has reached a long-term agreement with the NFL and the NFLPA, granting the company domestic and international rights for up to 18 product releases annually.

“We’re pleased to continue our relationship with the NFL and the NFLPA,” said Panini America CEO Mark Warsop. “The NFL and NFLPA are two of our most important licensors, and these new agreements will enable us to continue producing sought after products for NFL fans for years to come.”

The new agreement takes effect immediately and will be incorporated into Panini America’s first NFL product of the season, 2012 Prestige Football, which releases in June and will include the first licensed NFL rookie cards of anticipated draft prospects such as Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Justin Blackmon, Trent Richardson and more of the NFL’s newest players.

“We are pleased to continue working with Panini America to offer our fans more ways to connect with the NFL and the players they love,” said Leo Kane, NFL senior vice president of consumer products. “Panini America has been – and will continue to be – a great teammate for the NFL.”

“The NFLPA is pleased to extend our partnership with Panini, a proven industry leader and innovator of NFL player trading cards. Panini football product continues to be highly pursued by hobby enthusiasts and novice collectors alike,” said Keith Gordon, president of NFL PLAYERS INC., the marketing and licensing subsidiary of the NFLPA. “We, along with our players, look forward to Panini’s ongoing product development, hobby enrichment programs and support of our marquee events including the NFLPA Rookie Debut and Rookie Premiere.”