Disney4me Posted 1 hour ago Report Posted 1 hour ago Fandom can be found everywhere, from packed football stadiums to beloved Disney destinations. Around the world, millions of sports fans can likely recite the stats on the back of their favorite football card or relive a clutch touchdown from years ago as if it happened yesterday. In much the same way, Disney fans can often instantly name their favorite character or top attraction, recalling so many unforgettable stories and memories shared with family and friends over the years. Celebrating the spirit found at the core of both game-winning field goals and interactions with characters inside the parks, Disney, NFL, Champion, and Fanatics have unveiled a new collection at this year’s Fanatics Fest that pairs iconic Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, and Avengers characters with NFL teams in a way that feels like a perfect match. Football fans and merch lovers, you’re on the clock. The picks are officially in, and it’s time to see which characters were selected in the first round. Announced Today: The Disney I Champion NFL Collection at Fanatics Fest Today at Fanatics Fest NYC, one of the largest celebrations of modern sports fandom, the Disney | Champion NFL Collection made its debut, blending the passion of NFL fans, the nostalgia of classic sports apparel, and the power of Disney storytelling in a new way. To celebrate the launch, fans got a first look at the collection through the first-ever Disney Fan Draft, where the first eight teams were paired with iconic Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, and Avengers characters. The debut generated excitement across the show floor, with fans also able to shop the collection’s first drop at the Disney | Champion Fan Zone. The complete collection, featuring all 32 NFL teams and character pairings, will launch in August, with merchandise becoming available on Fanatics.com, NFLShop.com, DisneyStore.com, and Select Lids Locations Nationwide, giving fans new ways to celebrate their favorite teams as the 2026 NFL season approaches. Fans can join a waitlist to receive updates on their favorite team here. From the creative process behind pairing each team with iconic Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, and Avengers characters to the fan reactions surrounding the first-ever Disney Fan Draft, we’re taking a behind-the-scenes look at how this collection came to life. A Draft Board Full of Disney Characters The first eight Disney Fan Draft picks include: Buffalo Bills I Disney’s Beast Raw strength and duality — intensity with a loyal edge Dallas Cowboys I Disney and Pixar’s Woody Character, confidence, and timeless appeal – rooted in classic cowboy iconography Las Vegas Raiders I Star Wars’ Darth Vader Edge and mystique — a natural alignment of legacy power and presence New England Patriots | Avengers’ Captain America Heritage and heroism — a modern take on an enduring symbol of leadership and patriotism New York Giants I Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph Big, bold, and unstoppable — strength balanced with heart New York Jets I Disney and Pixar’s Buzz Lightyear Speed, flight, and confidence — anchored in aviation roots Tampa Bay Buccaneers I Disney’s Captain Hook Pirate legacy with attitude — expressive and unmistakable Washington Commanders I Disney and Pixar’s Hamm Grounded strength — a tribute to “The Hogs” Meet the Fan Behind the Picks Behind the collection is Bret Healey, Director, Graphic Design at Disney Consumer Products, one of the creative minds behind the pairings, the collection aesthetic, and someone who approached the project as both a designer and a lifelong sports fan. Or, as Bret puts it, “first and foremost, I’m a sports junkie.” Bret grew up surrounded by sports, with both sides of his family connected to fandom and athletics. His dad played football through college, and his earliest memories of sports turned into a lifelong love of teams, cities, fan traditions, and naturally, fan apparel, of which he is an avid collector. His first sports love was baseball around age nine, but that quickly opened the door to football and a much bigger fascination with the culture of sports. For him, sports have never been just about the final score. “It’s the jerseys, the city identities, the nicknames, mascots, stadiums, the fan signs in the stands, the niche pieces of team history and moments that your family and friends never forget,” Bret says, “That’s the stuff I truly love. The culture around the teams.” That passion became the starting point for the Disney | Champion NFL Collection. Walking through Disney Parks, Bret frequently noticed guests showing off either their Disney fandom or their favorite teams. It sparked a question: What would it take for him, as a fan himself, to wear a Disney product connected to his team? That question changed everything. Rule #1: Sports First For Bret Healey and his creative team, the challenge was never simply putting Disney characters on NFL apparel. Pulling from Disney’s full portfolio of beloved characters, the team’s goal was to create pieces that fans would be proud to wear, whether they were enjoying a visit to the parks, catching the latest film release, or lounging at home on a football Sunday. Every pairing needed a reason, a connection, and a story, and it had to look great. The creative team looked at franchise history, city identity, team colors, fan traditions, nicknames, famous eras, and the kinds of details fans know by heart before making each pairing. That meant that Bret and his team wanted NFL fans and beyond to discover products that they would ultimately be proud to wear, highlighting their fandom for both of these meaningful cornerstones that have connected so many people around the world for decades. The process itself was anything but simple. In fact, the team described the creative process as a bit like trying to move the ball against the #1 defense in the league. With a goal of not repeating characters, each pick had to hold its own while still fitting into a much larger picture. Some connections are understood immediately, while others take a beat, an intentional choice that Bret was pushing for during the creative process. “My favorite ones are the picks that make you pause for a second,” Bret says. “Then it clicks, and you think, ‘Okay, I see what they did there.’ That little moment of recognition is the fun part.” For the Fans Who Know On top of being the perfect piece to complete your Sunday outfit to the parks, the collection rewards fans who know their teams inside and out. Take the Dallas Cowboys, for example. At first glance, Woody might feel like a clear pick but take a closer look and you’ll notice that the connection goes deeper than just cowboy meets Cowboys. One of the designs places Woody into a pose inspired by the original Cowboys logo (yes, before the legendary ‘star’ that so many of us instantly recognize today), adding a layer of sports history and nostalgia that diehard fans will pick up right away. Then, there’s Wreck-It Ralph and the New York Giants, a pairing inspired in part by the team’s famous “Big Blue Wrecking Crew” defenses, connecting Ralph’s larger-than-life personality and tough-guy persona to one of the most memorable eras in franchise history. And for Washington, the connection came from one of those moments that lives on in sports culture. “After a long internal search for a match to the Commanders, I was driving around town and “The Hogs!” popped into my head. Once that happened, it had to be Hamm,” Healey says. “I like the humor aspect, it’s a little unexpected, and a perfect example of the tone we want to set with this collection.” These kinds of details are the ones that Bret Healey and the broader creative team really tried to focus on throughout the process, scheming up new ways to connect with fans across Disney and the NFL and creating pairings that fans could debate, defend, and discover. If you’re a sports fan, you know your team. You know the eras, the heartbreaks, the comebacks, the chants, the personalities and the inside references that make being a fan feel like belonging to something bigger. This collection embraces just that. The Picks Are Meant to Be Debated Like any good draft, the creative team knew some selections may spark immediate reactions. “If nobody argues about the picks, is it even a legitimate draft?” Bret says. “Sports fans debate everything rigorously. That’s part of the fun. It keeps us all connected with each other when the games aren’t on.” Some fans may see Beast and the Bills and get it right away. Others may need a minute with Buzz Lightyear and the Jets or Darth Vader and the Raiders. But that initial pause, that second look, and that inevitable group chat debate are all part of the experience. The Disney Fan Draft was designed to feel playful, passionate, and a little competitive, just like sports fandom itself. The characters themselves offer a playful extension of team identity while celebrating the passion that makes fandom special. “Sports can be very serious, but being a fan should still be fun at its root,” Bret says. “If these pieces make people smile, debate, discover details or tell a story about their team, then they’re doing exactly what they’re supposed to do.” Why Fanatics Fest Was the Place to Kick Off Fanatics Fest brings together athletes, collectors, creators, families, and superfans all under one roof, making it the right place to introduce a collection built around modern sports fandom. At this year’s event, the first-of-its-kind, on-stage Disney Fan Draft put the first picks on the board, giving fans a first look at the Disney | Champion NFL Collection and the stories behind each team and character pairing. The experience continued at the Disney | Champion Fan Zone, where guests could shop the first drop, get up close with the collection, snap photos, and celebrate alongside Disney characters. Take a look above at a few surprise appearances across this year’s Fanatics Fest. More Teams, More Picks, More Stories The first eight picks are only the beginning. The Disney | Champion NFL Collection is part of a broader collaboration between Disney, the NFL, Champion, and Fanatics, bringing together brands with deep connections to sports, storytelling, and fan culture. The launch also represents another exciting moment in Disney and ESPN’s “Year of the Super Bowl,” a landmark, yearlong celebration building toward ESPN’s first Super Bowl production in February. This launch builds on Disney Consumer Products’ growing presence across sports, as Disney continues finding new ways to meet fans where they are. Fans can look forward to additional team-character reveals and more fan experiences as the collection continues to roll out ahead of the 2026 NFL season. And if the first round is any indication, the conversation is just getting started. Whether you agree with every pick or have a few trades you would make yourself, the Disney Fan Draft was built around the same thing sports fans have always loved: great stories, passionate opinions, and a little friendly debate. So, consider this the first round. There is a lot more on the draft board. Disney Store Times Square: New Arrivals, Exclusives, and Events READ MORE Disney and Formula 1 Shift Into High Gear for the 2026 Season READ MORE Seattle Seahawks Celebrate Super Bowl Win at Disneyland READ MORE The post Every Pick Has a Story: How the Disney Fan Draft Brought NFL Teams and Disney Characters Together appeared first on Disney Parks Blog. View the full article Quote
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