In professional sports, a franchise player is an athlete who is both the best player on their team and one that the team can build their " franchise" around for the foreseeable future.
In the United States, outstanding players were referred to as "franchises" at least as far back as the 1950s. [1] By the 1970s, the concept of a "franchise" player who single-handedly generates success was commonly understood in the sporting trade. [2] [3] The term franchise player was in widespread use by the early 1980s to describe both star rookies like John Elway [4] and Kelvin Bryant [5] and veterans like George Brett. [6] While the term is primarily associated with North American sports, [1] [7] it is sometimes used in reference to athletes in sports outside the United States, such as rugby league. [8] [9]
In professional sports, a franchise player is an athlete who is both the best player on their team and one that the team can build their " franchise" around for the foreseeable future.
In the United States, outstanding players were referred to as "franchises" at least as far back as the 1950s. [1] By the 1970s, the concept of a "franchise" player who single-handedly generates success was commonly understood in the sporting trade. [2] [3] The term franchise player was in widespread use by the early 1980s to describe both star rookies like John Elway [4] and Kelvin Bryant [5] and veterans like George Brett. [6] While the term is primarily associated with North American sports, [1] [7] it is sometimes used in reference to athletes in sports outside the United States, such as rugby league. [8] [9]