Being a football enthusiast doesn’t always come cheap. We’ve already shown youhow to stream NFL games liveafter you cut the cord, but today we’ll share additional ways to save. We’ll walk through how to reduce the cost of one of the most desired items for NFL supporters: officially licensed jerseys.
Though authentic NFL jerseys are adored by supporters, they can be painfully pricey. Here’s how to make that purchase easier on your budget.
Earn Extra Cash to Cover Your Official NFL Jersey
Wearing a jersey is a classic method to display team loyalty. But jerseys often carry hefty price tags — pricier than many expect. Whether the jersey you want is for yourself or as a present, you can offset the cost by trying some of our top quick-earn ideas so you can represent your team without breaking the bank.
Pick the Jersey Tier That Fits Your Budget
There are different tiers of officially licensed NFL jerseys. While none qualify as “cheap,” some tiers are less expensive than others.
Pro Line Jerseys
Pro Line jerseys are the only ones sold by the NFL Shop that are officially licensed but aren’t produced by Nike; Fanatics manufactures them. They’re easy to identify because they lack the Nike swoosh. These are the lowest-quality jerseys on NFLShop and are made from 100% polyester. You canfind them for $194.99on NFLShop.com (when not discounted) or on theFanatics site.
Nike NFL Game Jerseys
Game jerseys are the least expensive officially licensed option made by Nike. Features include:
- Mesh side panels
- A tagless neck
- Screen-printed graphics
- Standard clothing sizes
- An available tailored women’s fit
They retail for $129.99 via theNFL Shop. (If youpurchase directly from Nike, the price is usually a cent higher.) So if the Nike Swoosh matters to you, it won’t necessarily cost more. The quality is a step above Pro Line jerseys.
Nike NFL Limited Jerseys
Limited jerseys are a level up. They more closely resemble what players wear on the field and offer:
- Dri-FIT chainmail mesh construction
- Tagless neck
- Heat-sealed twill letters and numbers
- Back seam design mirroring real game-day jerseys
- Traditional clothing sizes
- Tailored women’s fits available
There are technically three design styles — Vapor Untouchable, Speed Machine and Classic — depending on your team. Jerseys for active players typically cost$149.99 – $174.99 on NFLShop.comwhen not on sale. Nike’s site often has a smaller assortment and tends to feature retired players when Limited jerseys are available there.
Nike NFL Elite Jerseys
These are the premium, top-of-the-line officially licensed NFL jerseys. They most closely match what’s worn on the field and carry the highest price tag: $334.99 – $384.99 through theNFL ShoporFanatics. Here’s what you get for the price:
- Durable, water-repelling nylon/polyester blend built for game movement
- Tagless neck
- Sewn twill letters and numbers
- Back seam design matching real game-day jerseys
- Numbered sizing system
- Ventilation across heat zones of the body
Depending on your squad, you’ll see Vapor Untouchable, Speed Machine and Classic choices. A few Elite jerseys can be found on Nike’s site if you look, but their price generally mirrors other retailers.
Where to Buy Officially Licensed NFL Gear
You’re likely aware you can purchase officially licensed NFL items at NFLShop.com, Fanatics or Nike. But jerseys also show up at other stores. I’ve found authentic NFL jerseys and more at retailers such as:
- Kohl’s: Often discounts inventory as the season progresses, leading to lower prices. For instance, you can score aPatrick Mahomes Game jerseyfor $99.99 at the time of writing.
- JCPenney:Generally matches NFL Shop pricing unless the local store is clearing stock. For example, the CeeDee Lamb Game jersey lists for $129.95.
- Target: Sells lower-cost jerseys advertised as officially licensed, but you can distinguish them from higher-tier versions by the “NFLPA” label on the lower-left front of the torso. They’re lower grade and quality, but come at a cheaper price. At one point you could get aCeeDee Lamb Jersey for $49.99.
When to Buy Officially Licensed NFL Gear
NFL jerseys aren’t as strictly seasonal as you might expect. If you buy directly from the NFL or Nike, prices generally remain steady year-round, with some exceptions like Black Friday. If you shop at other retailers, however, you can time purchases for better savings.
Mid-October Through Black Friday
If you shop at stores like Kohl’s, you’ll find discounts beginning a few weeks into the season. Those discounts often increase as Black Friday approaches, when even the NFL Shop runs significant sales.
If there’s a particular player’s jersey you want, you might not want to wait until December. Sales can leave selection thin, and retailers are less inclined to restock deep into the season. The NFL Shop runs out of stock less frequently, since jerseys are its core business year-round, but sale prices generally don’t decline as much as a retailer’s — you’ll depend on holiday sales and promo codes for discounts.
During the Off-Season
If you don’t care which player’s jersey you buy, you can find rock-bottom prices on last year’s styles during the off-season. This typically happens only if a retailer still has leftover stock after theSuper Bowl.
When a Player Leaves Your Team
When a player is traded or retires, their jersey price can fall up to 60%. For example,Dalvin Cook’s Limited jerseyfor the Minnesota Vikings is just $81.99 on the NFL Shop — a substantial drop from the original $174.99 price.
There are exceptions, though. Highly sought-after items — likeTom Brady’s Patriots jersey— may remain at full price even after the player departs, whether he moved teams or retired.
Other Ways to Save on Officially Licensed NFL Gear
Don’t stop at timing and store choice — there are additional tactics to get a better deal when buying officially licensed NFL merchandise.
Sign Up for Emails and Save 10% at NFLShop.com
New customers can get 10% off at the NFL Shop just by signing up with an email address. If you already have an account, consider registering with a different email to see if you’re offered a new coupon.
Use the Military Discount at the NFL Shop
If you’re active duty, a veteran or a first responder, you qualify for 15% off at the NFL Shop. (Spouses and dependents can qualify too.) To use themilitary discount, fill your cart, then at checkout click the “First Responder ID” or “Troop ID” button before entering payment details. The NFL Shop leverages ID.me for verification, so you’ll be prompted to create an account if you don’t already have one.
After signing in, the 15% reduction will be applied to your order.
Check NFLShop.com’s Promo Code Page
When the NFL Shop has coupon codes, they list them on their promo code page. At the time of writing, deals included free shipping and $10 off orders of $49+. This page is particularly helpful during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, when the NFL Shop runs some of its best promotions.
Maximize Your Kohl’s Cash
Kohl’s not only discounts jerseys as the season progresses, it also lets you earn and redeem Kohl’s Cash. There’s an earning window and then a redemption window.
For instance, there was an earning period from Nov. 9 through Nov. 10, where shoppers earned $10 in Kohl’s Cash for every $50 spent. The printed Kohl’s Cash showed the redemption window: Nov. 17 through Nov. 22.
Say you spent $100 on the 10th. You’d receive $20 in Kohl’s Cash, which you could use on a jersey on the 18th. That $20 would reduce a sale price of $103.99 to $83.99 — about 35% off the original $129.99 list price on a Limited jersey.
Buy Your NFLPA Jersey with a RedCard
While Target’s NFLPA jerseys aren’t the top-tier options listed above, you can still save on their lower price. For example, using a RedCard gives you 5% off every purchase. That would shave $2.50 off a $49.99 jersey, bringing it down to $47.49.
Pittsburgh-based writer Brynn Adams is the founder of the Femme Frugality blog and author of “The Feminist Financial Handbook.” She contributes regularly to Savinly. The Savinly staff also contributed to this article.
