NFL Partnership Management¶
NFLPA relationship management, partnership dynamics, and operational process for NFL ALL DAY.
Current Status (April 2026)¶
NFLPA opt-out has been exercised. Contract renegotiation in progress. Terms confidential.
May 1 = blackout date for player imagery. After this date, player likenesses cannot be used in new content until a new agreement is in place. Existing moments with player imagery remain — the blackout applies to new production.
Estimated resolution: Before the 2026 NFL season (September). Timeline could extend "weeks to months."
Partnership Structure¶
The Three Parties¶
| Entity | What They Control | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| NFL | League marks, team logos, game footage | Separate agreement from player rights |
| NFLPA (NFL Players Association) | Player name, image, likeness (NIL) | The agreement being renegotiated |
| Individual Players | Personal endorsement rights beyond NFLPA group license | Separate relationship via athlete relations |
Key Distinction¶
NFL league rights (team logos, game footage) and NFLPA player rights (NIL) are separate agreements. The current opt-out is NFLPA-specific. NFL league marks remain available.
Backup Plan: Team-Moments Only¶
If NFLPA negotiations are not resolved by season start, the backup product operates without player NIL:
| Aspect | Full Product | Backup (No NIL) |
|---|---|---|
| Player imagery | Yes | No — team moments only |
| Team logos | Yes | Yes |
| Game footage | Limited | Team-focused footage |
| Revenue target | Full season revenue | ~$2M target |
| Content | Player moments, challenges | Team highlights, play diagrams |
The backup plan is limited in scope but operationally viable.
Blue-sky deck (full product with new agreement) should be prepared in parallel so the team can move fast when agreement is reached.
Content Approval Process¶
When NFLPA Agreement Is Active¶
- Content selection — game highlights, player moments
- Player approval — ensure selected players are covered under NFLPA group license
- NFLPA submission — submit content for approval through standard pipeline
- NFL league review — separate track for team marks and game footage
- Production — renders, minting after dual approval
Approval Timelines¶
| Approval | Typical Timeline |
|---|---|
| NFLPA group license content | 1-2 weeks |
| NFL league marks | 1-2 weeks |
| Cross-licensing (both) | 2-3 weeks total |
Seasonal Calendar¶
NFL ALL DAY has a 5-8x seasonal revenue swing (F008). Understanding the calendar is critical:
| Period | Activity | Revenue Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Sep-Feb (In-Season) | Active drops, challenges, weekly game content | Peak revenue. In-season joiners spend 5x more. |
| Jan (Playoffs) | Highest revenue month. Must have content ready. | Peak of peak. |
| Feb (Super Bowl) | Major cultural moment. | Spike. |
| Mar-May (Off-Season) | Revenue drops 77-85% from peak. | Draft content, historical moments. |
| May-Aug (Off-Season) | Lowest activity. Whales migrate to NBA Top Shot. | Retention focus, not acquisition. |
| Aug (Preseason) | Ramp begins. | Preparation for season. |
Off-Season Whale Migration
NFLAD $5K+ whales spend MORE on NBA Top Shot during the off-season than they spend on NFLAD during the season (F009: $2.1M NBATS vs $254K NFLAD in July 2025). The off-season is where the product permanently contracts (-39-41% L/XL loss in 4 months). Off-season content is critical for preventing permanent whale downgrade.
DraftKings Conflict¶
DraftKings operates Autograph (NFT marketplace) and is winding it down. Potential conflicts arise in: - Fantasy sports integration with collectibles - Sponsorship overlap at NFL events - Regulatory classification (gaming vs. collecting)
Monitor DraftKings/Autograph status. Their exit from digital collectibles strengthens Dapper's position as the sole licensed provider.
Key Contacts¶
| Role | Person |
|---|---|
| External Marketing & Partnerships | Spencer Bogad |
| Executive Producer | Matt Schorr |
| VP Business Development | Ridhima Ahuja |
| VP Legal | Naeem Bawla |
| NFLPA primary contact | Sean (via CEO direct line) |
Common Failure Modes¶
| Failure | Cause | Prevention |
|---|---|---|
| Player imagery used post-blackout | Not tracking May 1 deadline | Calendar alert for all content creators. Audit pipeline. |
| Off-season revenue collapse | No engaging off-season content | Pre-plan off-season content calendar by May. Cross-product challenges. |
| Negotiation stalemate | Positions too far apart | CEO maintains direct relationship. |
| Content gap at season start | Agreement finalized late, no content pipeline ready | Blue-sky deck prepared in parallel. Production pipeline ready to activate. |