Last week, we learned that Disney and Champion NFL are collaborating to bring a collection of apparel representing all 32 teams and your favorite Disney characters. You may have noticed the characters and teams paired up nicely; here’s some insight into how they made those decisions.

Disney x Champion NFL

The collection will be available next month and features sweatshirts and T-shirts with all 32 NFL teams represented. In the preview, Toy Story characters Buzz, Hamm, and Woody and Bullseye are on the Jets, Commanders, and Cowboys shirts.

Beast is on the blue Bills shirt, Wreck-It Ralph is on the heather gray Giants sweatshirt, Captain Hook is on the Buccaneers shirt, Captain America is on the Patriots T-shirt, and Darth Vader is on the gray Raiders top.

How did Disney decide what the pairings should be? Sports Illustrated interviewed Bret Healey, Director of Graphic Design at Disney Consumer Products. He shared that “even with those matchups I wanted there to be a second story to them… The Jets are tied back and were founded during the kickoff of the space age.”

Furthermore, each pairing draws from a team’s history, city, and overall spirit, matching it with a character whose story and personality naturally align.

The first Disney NFL Fan Draft recently took place as part of  Fanatics Fest with the pairings officially announced:

Disney and ESPN unveiled the  “We’re Going,” a cameo-filled marketing campaign for ESPN’s inaugural Super Bowl, set for February 2027. This collaboration is just one of many moments this year, leading to the big game next year.

Are you excited for this collaboration? Let us know on social media.

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