Disney has launched a new apparel line that pairs its characters, including Star Wars and Marvel figures, with all 32 NFL teams, unveiled at Fanatics Fest in New York's Jacob Javits Center. The event, dubbed the "Disney Fan Draft," saw Darth Vader named as the first pick alongside NFL figures including Tom Brady and Commissioner Roger Goodell, reflecting Disney's push to expand its brand presence across sports ahead of ESPN's "Year of the Super Bowl" coverage.

The "Disney | Champion NFL Collection" launched with eight team pairings, with the remaining 24 due in August. Darth Vader was matched with the Las Vegas Raiders, while other pairings include Beast with the Buffalo Bills, Woody with the Dallas Cowboys, Captain America with the New England Patriots, Wreck-It Ralph with the New York Giants, Buzz Lightyear with the New York Jets, Captain Hook with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Hamm with the Washington Commanders. Disney's design team said each character was deliberately matched to a team's personality, colours and fan culture rather than chosen at random.