Disney is assigning characters from Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar and its animated films to all 32 NFL teams for a new apparel collaboration with Champion, the league and Fanatics.
The Disney Champion NFL Collection made its debut at Fanatics Fest NYC, where the first eight character-team pairings were announced through a staged Disney Fan Draft hosted by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and sports journalist Taylor Rooks.
The opening selections include Darth Vader for the Las Vegas Raiders, Woody for the Dallas Cowboys and Captain America for the New England Patriots. Disney said the designs were developed around team history, regional culture, fan traditions and each character’s identity rather than simply matching familiar colors.
The remaining 24 pairings will be revealed in August, when merchandise representing every NFL team is scheduled to become available.
Darth Vader Heads to Las Vegas and Woody Joins Dallas
View this post on Instagram
The first eight picks placed Beast from Beauty and the Beast with the Buffalo Bills and Pixar’s Woody with the Dallas Cowboys. Darth Vader was drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders, while Marvel’s Captain America went to the New England Patriots.
Wreck-It Ralph represents the New York Giants, and Buzz Lightyear was paired with the New York Jets. Captain Hook joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while Hamm from Toy Story completed the first round as the Washington Commanders’ selection.
Dion Dawkins appeared for Buffalo’s Beast reveal, with CJ Mosley, Fernando Mendoza, Rob Gronkowski, Tom Brady and WWE star Alexa Bliss also participating in the event. Disney said the apparel will also contain smaller visual references and Easter eggs tied to the characters and football teams.
All 32 NFL Teams Will Get a Character in August
Fans attending Fanatics Fest received an early look at the first merchandise through the Disney Champion Fan Zone. The activation included character appearances, photo opportunities and access to an initial release of T-shirts, crewnecks and sweatshirts.
The launch is the first part of a broader collaboration among Disney, the NFL, Champion and Fanatics. Disney is also expanding its sports partnerships ahead of ESPN’s first Super Bowl broadcast in February 2027.
Merchandise for all 32 teams is scheduled to arrive in August through Fanatics, NFL Shop and the Disney Store, as well as selected Lids locations across the United States. NFL Shop has opened a waitlist for fans seeking updates about their preferred team’s character and release.