Disney and sports have always had a special connection, but a brand-new collaboration is taking that relationship to the next level. Unveiled during Fanatics Fest NYC, the Disney | Champion NFL Collection brings together all 32 NFL teams with beloved Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, and Marvel characters in a collection designed by fans, for fans. More than just apparel, each pairing tells a story rooted in football history, team traditions, and Disney magic.
From Woody representing the Dallas Cowboys to Darth Vader standing alongside the Las Vegas Raiders, every selection was carefully crafted to spark conversations, celebrate fandom, and give sports fans something truly unique to wear.
Disney and the NFL Unite for a Fan-First Collection
At Fanatics Fest NYC, Disney, Champion, the NFL, and Fanatics officially introduced the Disney | Champion NFL Collection, an apparel line that blends football pride with iconic Disney storytelling.
To celebrate the launch, Disney hosted the first-ever Disney Fan Draft, revealing the first eight NFL team and character pairings in front of an enthusiastic crowd of sports fans and Disney lovers alike. Guests attending the event also got an early opportunity to shop the collection at the Disney | Champion Fan Zone before its nationwide release later this summer.
The complete collection featuring all 32 NFL teams will launch in August 2026 through Fanatics, NFL Shop, Disney Store, and select Lids locations.
The First Eight Disney Fan Draft Picks
The opening round of the Disney Fan Draft introduced some clever—and in some cases surprising—pairings.
- Buffalo Bills — Beast
- Dallas Cowboys — Woody
- Las Vegas Raiders — Darth Vader
- New England Patriots — Captain America
- New York Giants — Wreck-It Ralph
- New York Jets — Buzz Lightyear
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Captain Hook
- Washington Commanders — Hamm
While some selections seem obvious at first glance, many contain hidden references that longtime football fans will immediately recognize.
More Than Matching Colors and Mascots
According to Disney Consumer Products Graphic Design Director Bret Healey, the project wasn’t about placing Disney characters onto football jerseys.
Instead, every design began with one guiding principle:
Sports come first.
Healey and his team studied each franchise’s history, city identity, traditions, famous moments, fan culture, and even forgotten pieces of team lore before selecting the perfect Disney counterpart.
Their goal was to create apparel that football fans would proudly wear on game day—not simply because it featured Disney characters, but because the pairing genuinely represented their team.
Hidden References Reward True Fans
One of the most enjoyable aspects of the collection is discovering the subtle references built into each design.
Take the Dallas Cowboys and Woody.
At first glance, pairing a cowboy with the Cowboys seems obvious. But the design goes even deeper by placing Woody in a pose inspired by the franchise’s original logo before the famous star became the team’s iconic symbol.
Similarly, Wreck-It Ralph was paired with the New York Giants as a tribute to the legendary “Big Blue Wrecking Crew” defenses that helped define an era of Giants football.
Perhaps the most unexpected pairing belongs to the Washington Commanders.
Rather than choosing a military-inspired character, Disney selected Hamm from Toy Story as a playful nod to Washington’s legendary offensive line known simply as “The Hogs.”
These kinds of details are exactly what the creative team hoped fans would discover, debate, and appreciate.
A Collection Built for Conversation
Healey says the team actually expected fans to disagree with some of the selections.
After all, debating draft picks has always been part of football culture.
“If nobody argues about the picks, is it even a legitimate draft?” Healey joked during the feature story.
Some pairings immediately make perfect sense, while others encourage fans to think a little deeper about the connection. Those conversations are exactly what Disney hoped this collection would inspire.
Why Fanatics Fest Was the Perfect Launch
Fanatics Fest has quickly become one of the country’s biggest celebrations of sports fandom, making it the ideal venue to unveil a collection centered around passionate fans.
Visitors attending this year’s event were able to:
- Experience the first-ever Disney Fan Draft live
- Shop the first merchandise release
- Visit the Disney | Champion Fan Zone
- Meet Disney characters
- Take exclusive event photos
It was a fitting debut for a collection that celebrates the shared passion found in both Disney storytelling and NFL traditions.
More Teams Are Still Coming
The first eight teams are only the beginning.
When the full collection launches this August, every NFL franchise will receive its own Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, or Marvel pairing, giving fans across the league an opportunity to represent both their favorite team and favorite Disney stories.
Whether you’re a lifelong football fanatic, a Disney collector, or someone who proudly calls themselves both, this collaboration offers something unlike anything we’ve seen before.
The Disney | Champion NFL Collection proves that great stories aren’t limited to movies or football fields, they’re created wherever passionate fans come together. By weaving Disney characters into the rich history and traditions of NFL franchises, Disney has created a collection that goes beyond apparel and celebrates the communities, memories, and rivalries that make sports so special. As the remaining 24 team pairings are revealed ahead of the 2026 NFL season, one thing is certain: the conversation is just getting started. Can’t wait to see my Detroit Lions version, I’m guessing it will have Simba. If your team hasn’t been mentioned yet, what character are you hoping for?
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