With the new NFL season on the horizon and Madden 23 about to launch across the world, football is the talk of the town and Fortnite might be looking to take advantage.

The Item Shop has had a couple of crossovers with the NFL and other popular sports but with a new season on the way, rumours have begun swirling about another crossover on the horizon.

Here’s what we know so far.

Rumour – NFL Items Returning

Reliable Fortnite leaker and news source FN_Assist posted some of the encrypted NFL-themed items currently in the game files for Fortnite.

This suggests that these items will eventually make their return to the Item Shop.

While there is no confirmed date for these items, the most realistic date will fall around the start of the season on Thursday, 8th September 2022.

While these items aren’t crossovers with specific teams, this leak doesn’t mean that there won’t be any more NFL-related items, though we won’t know until more information is revealed.

Rumour – Patrick Mahomes Icon Skin

One of the major rumours surrounding the return of the NFL-themed items comes from ShiinaBR who suggests this could see a new Icon skin for star Quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

The skin has apparently been in the works for quite some time, and could potentially also be hidden amongst the encrypted cosmetics.

This icon skin would follow the return of the LeBron James skin that was brought back to the Item Shop earlier in the year.

This and the return of NFL items could be Fortnite continuing its massive expansion of crossovers into the world of sports more consistently.