Donald Driver and the NFL's Most Marketable Stars

Sorry to the professional leagues of baseball, basketball, hockey and soccer, but the National Football League is this country's most popular and recognizable sport. 

Any evidence of that fact was on full display again Tuesday night, as Green Bay Packers receiver Donald Driver won the reality television show Dancing With the Stars. He was awarded the Mirror Ball Trophy, given to the annual winner of the grueling contest. 

With fan voting representing 50 percent of the final tally, Driver received a big boost from notoriety he has gained through professional football. But you could argue that Driver is also one of the game's more marketable players, given his underdog story and infectious smile.

Driver emerged from the slums of Houston as a seventh-round pick in the 1999 NFL draft, landing in Green Bay, Wisconsin—a place where Driver would later earn three Pro Bowl appearances and a Super Bowl ring as a member of the Packers. 

His mile-wide smile and the endless work he puts in to assist the state of Wisconsin have also helped him gain attention on the national scale. 

In the following slides, we'll run down more of the NFL's most marketable players. 

QB Tim Tebow, New York Jets

You knew Tebow was going to be on this list somewhere, so let's get the world's most famous backup quarterback/punt protector out of the way early. 

For a wider range of the world's consciousness, Tebow is known more for his Christian beliefs than his work done on the football field. His openness on religion has widened his appeal considerably more than anything he accomplished with the Denver Broncos over the last two seasons. 

Now in New York, Tebow has more opportunities to expand his brand. The endorsements (Jockey, Nike, FRS) aren't huge in terms of marketability, but Tebow doesn't need his face all over television commercials and magazine ads to be well-known globally. 

QB Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos

No football player over the last five-to-10 years has been as easily visible in marketing ventures as Manning, even despite the former Colts quarterback missing the entire 2011 season with a neck injury. 

If you have sat down for a night of television at all during that span time, you have surely seen Manning in a commercial for Sony, DirecTV, Gatorade, Oreo's, Pepsi, MasterCard, Sprint or Papa John's. He also hosted Saturday Night Live, which the personable Manning knocked out of the park. 

Overall, his Manning's face has been associated with more brands than just about any other player in the NFL since reaching stardom with the Colts. If he's back to his old self with the Broncos in 2012, expect to see plenty more of the Hall of Fame quarterback.

QB Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

One of the true rising stars in the NFL, Rodgers has translated his rather fast ascension in the football world to success in the marketing realm off the field.

Rodgers is probably most well-known as a marketer for his work with State Farm, who featured the Packers quarterback in a trio of commercials that parlayed his signature touchdown dance ("The Belt") into a ringer for its "Discount Double Check" insurance feature. The latter two commercials featured cameos from Rodgers' teammates B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews. 

But even outside of the State Farm commercials, Rodgers also has endorsement deals with Nike, Ford and Associated Bank.

As long as he keeps throwing touchdowns and the Packers continue winning, Rodgers will be one of the few NFL players in the marketing spotlight. 

QB Eli Manning, New York Giants

Eli may not be Peyton quite yet, but the younger Manning brother is certainly doing his best Peyton impression recently. 

Eli's endorsement deals span a wide array of products, from televisions to double stuffed Oreo's to DirecTV. He also hosted Saturday Night Live this spring after winning his second Super Bowl championship in February.

Peyton is still the more marketable brother in the family, but it's looking more and more likely that Eli will pass his older brother sooner rather than later.   

QB Tom Brady, New England Patriots

Arguably the game's best player at the game's most important position, with classic good looks to boot, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady could likely land just about any endorsement deal he wanted.

However, Brady represents just two brands nationally—Ugg Boots and Under Armour. Part of his marketing appeal may come from the fact that he is so exclusive with the brands he does put his face on. 

Still, Brady is one of the NFL's most recognizable names and faces, and he should be able to give New England three-to-five more years of sustained excellence at the quarterback position. His spot as one of the most marketable players is secure. 

Others

QB Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

Despite just one very successful year in the NFL, Newton has become one of the faces for Under Armour. 

QB Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

A player just about anyone can relate to, Brees has been featured in Pepsi and Vicks' NyQuil commercials recently. 

S Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh Steelers

His work with Head and Shoulders has gained Polamalu a regular television spot. 

LB Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers

Matthews has slowly but surely built his marketing brand, and he nailed his role on Rodgers' third and final State Farm commercial.