Hasbro Teams Up With Nfl

G.I. Joe and Mr. Potato Head have some new teammates.

The National Football League, trying to draw younger fans, on Thursday announced a four-year contract with Hasbro Inc. to create action figures, board games, hand-held computer games and other toys based on pro football.

The first products, arriving in stores this month, include a series of 12-inch action figures of NFL stars such as Emmitt Smith, Dan Marino and Brett Favre. Next year, the NFL logo will be added to Hasbro’s popular Nerf footballs.

Neither the NFL nor Hasbro would disclose how much the nation’s second-largest toy company will pay under the agreement, said to be worth between $6 million and $10 million, plus royalties.

The NFL will continue some contracts with other toy makers, but Hasbro will control the largest group of such products.