Fanatics has escalated its legal battle by including Hall of Fame wide receiver Marvin Harrison Sr. in a lawsuit originally filed against his son, Marvin Harrison Jr., a rookie for the Arizona Cardinals. The apparel company refiled its lawsuit on Friday, claiming that Harrison Sr. “aided and abetted” his son’s alleged fraud, according to ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss
The conflict began in May when Fanatics first sued Harrison Jr., alleging that he breached a contract they had agreed to in 2023. According to the lawsuit, Harrison Jr. has publicly denied the existence of the contract. However, in the updated suit, Fanatics claims both Harrison Jr. and his father “deliberately misled Fanatics into believing there was a binding contract between Harrison Jr., his company, and Fanatics.” The company further alleges that Harrison Sr. “led Fanatics to believe that Harrison Jr. had signed the Binding Terms Sheet.”
Fanatics asserts that during the negotiation of the initial contract, they believed they were dealing with Harrison Jr. through his father. The company expected Harrison Jr. to sign the contract, but they claim it was Harrison Sr. who ultimately signed it. Adding to the confusion, Fanatics noted that the signatures of the father and son bear “a striking resemblance.”
The original deal between Fanatics and Harrison Jr. was valued at over $1 million and was supposed to include autographs and game-worn apparel, among other items. Fanatics maintains that Harrison Jr. has failed to fulfill his obligations under the contract. In a July affidavit, Harrison Jr. claimed that he “never intended to be personally bound by the ‘Binding Term Sheet’ and I am not personally bound by it.” Both father and son have stated in affidavits that it was Harrison Sr. who signed the agreement.
Harrison Jr., who does not have an agent, was represented by his father throughout the negotiations. Despite being selected as the No. 4 overall pick in the NFL Draft earlier this year, Harrison Jr. has not signed a licensing deal with the NFLPA, meaning his jerseys are still unavailable for fans to purchase.
The younger Harrison had an impressive college career at Ohio State, racking up over 1,200 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns in each of his last two seasons. He briefly appeared in the Cardinals’ preseason games but did not record any catches. The Arizona Cardinals, who finished last season with a 4-13 record, are set to open their season against the Buffalo Bills on September 8.