New Champion NFL x Disney collection pairs every team with a Disney character
Disney, Champion, the NFL and Fanatics debuted an apparel line matching all 32 NFL teams with Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars characters. The first nine pairings dropped at Fanatics Fest NYC, and yes, the Raiders got Darth Vader.
Disney just made a play for the one fandom as loud as its own: football.
On July 16, Disney Consumer Products teamed with Champion, the NFL, and Fanatics to launch the Disney | Champion NFL Collection. It’s an apparel line that pairs all 32 NFL teams with a Disney, Pixar, Marvel, or Star Wars character.
Not team logos slapped on a Mickey shirt. Actual matchups, one character per team, each picked to fit the team’s history, city, or vibe.
The line covers tees, crewnecks, and sweatshirts. It debuted at Fanatics Fest NYC, one of the biggest sports-fan gatherings of the year.
The Disney Fan Draft revealed the first nine team-character pairings
Disney rolled this out as a fake draft, which is a smart bit for a football crowd.
The Disney Fan Draft was hosted by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and journalist Taylor Rooks, with Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Emmitt Smith, and even WWE’s Alexa Bliss turning up to announce picks on stage.
Here are the first nine:
Buffalo Bills get the Beast, from Beauty and the Beast
Dallas Cowboys get Woody
Las Vegas Raiders get Darth Vader
New England Patriots get Captain America
New York Giants get Wreck-It Ralph
New York Jets get Buzz Lightyear
Tampa Bay Buccaneers get Captain Hook
Washington Commanders get Hamm
Philadelphia Eagles get Doctor Doom
Some of these are almost too perfect. Captain Hook for the Buccaneers is a pirate for a pirate team. Buzz Lightyear for the Jets nods to the team’s aviation roots. Woody for the Cowboys needs no explanation.
And the Raiders getting Darth Vader is the kind of pick that would start a real argument if it were a real draft. Silver, black, and the most intimidating villain Disney owns. Chef’s kiss.
Why Disney characters keep showing up on NFL gear
The timing isn’t random. This whole thing is riding shotgun with ESPN’s first-ever Super Bowl.
Disney-owned ESPN broadcasts Super Bowl LXI in February 2027, its first time producing the game. Disney’s been calling the whole stretch its “Year of the Super Bowl,” and a fan-facing apparel line is exactly the kind of thing you launch to warm people up for it.
There’s a bit of Easter-egg bait built in, too. Disney says each design hides details rewarding fans who know their team’s deep cuts, like Hamm the piggy bank tying to the Commanders’ old “Hogs” offensive line from the ‘80s.
When you can buy the Disney Champion NFL collection
If you weren’t in New York, you’re waiting a bit.
The remaining pairings drop in August, and that’s when merch for all 32 teams goes live, ahead of the NFL season kicking off September 9. You’ll be able to grab it at Fanatics.com, NFLShop.com, DisneyStore.com, and select Lids stores.
Disney hasn’t announced prices yet. Fans can join a waitlist through NFL Shop to get pinged when their team’s gear lands.
So the big question isn’t when. It’s who your team drew. Twenty-three of these are still under wraps, and if the first nine are anything to go by, somebody’s about to find out their squad got stuck with a sidekick while the Raiders walked away with a Sith Lord.
Article compiled with the help of the Pirates & Princesses newsroom.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
The Walt Disney Company (July 16, 2026), the official collection announcement, the Fan Draft, the first eight pairings, and the retail details
Laughing Place (July 16, 2026), the ninth pairing (Eagles) and the Fan Zone early-access details
ABC News (July 16, 2026), the Fan Draft host and celebrity lineup and the Super Bowl LXI broadcast date
House of Heat (July 16, 2026), the Doctor Doom / Eagles confirmation and the September 9 season kickoff
CrowdLevels (July 16, 2026), confirmation that prices and sizes have not been announced