Most expensive rookie NFL card is 2017 Panini National Treasures Platinum #161 Patrick Mahomes II NFL Shield Rookie Autograph 1/1 with a value of $4.3 million.
The rookie card with an 8.5 condition grade showcases the young player in his red and gold uniform with his signature.
It was sold privately at an exorbitant price of $4,300,000 in July 2021 after he won the biggest championship, Super Bowl against the San Francisco 49ers the previous year.
This is an unprecedented record in the history of the NFL. Since his rookie year, Patrick was regarded highly. But its value elevated exponentially after 2020.
Mahomes is clearly one of the top players of this generation. He debuted in 2017 as a quarterback after getting drafted in the first round by Kansas City Chiefs.
It has been just 6 years into the league, but he has given outstanding performances. His NFL records include total yards by a quarterback in a season, 5614, and a career playoff passer rating of 107.4.
If the 27-year-old continues to garner success at this rate, his football cards will surely become priceless.
NFL Cards Worth Money
NFL football cards worth money to have is the 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Ticket #144 Tom Brady Rookie Autograph 8/100 priced at $3.1 million.
The trend of collecting football cards began back in the 19th century as the sport gradually took over the world. Simply, these rectangular printed cards flaunt the image of the player along with their important information.
If one grabs a card today, its price can be worth millions in the coming years if their chosen players continuously perform exceptionally. So, it can be a good means of investment.
Among the NFL cards, rookie cards have more value. On the other hand, the most eminent sportsmen have high demands for cards as well as high prices.
2000 Tom Brady Autographed Rookie Card
Most expensive NFL cards list includes the 2000 Tom Brady Autographed Rookie Card which was sold at $3,107,372 in June 2021. It stands behind the Patrick Mahomes rookie card of 2017.
However, Tom Brady’s name comes in first place in the world of American football cards. Not only his rookie card but many others are regularly sold in lakhs.
In 2022, during an auction, his gem-mint-graded card was sold at $2.4 million. It is believed that the card will be even more valuable in the coming years.
The recently retired quarterback commenced his unparalleled journey in American gridiron in 2000 after getting picked by the New England Patriots. Lastly, he served for Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Brady won 7 Super Bowls during his tenure with the Patriots and the Buccaneers. He is the most accomplished player in the history of the league as mentioned by NBC Sports in an article.
Besides the above-mentioned top 2, other premium NFL cards along with the price are mentioned below:
- 1971 Terry Bradshaw Rookie Card – $430,500
- 1958 Jim Brown Rookie Card – $358,500
- 1957 Bart Starr Rookie Card – $288,000
- 1965 Joe Namath Rookie Card – $264,000
- 2005 Aaron Rodgers Shield Patch Card – $229,200
Most Valuable Football Cards From The 1980s
Most valuable football cards 1980s would not be complete without the 1981 Joe Montana Rookie Card and 1986 Topps Jerry Rice. 1984 Topps Dan Marino is also on the list.
The period from 1980 to 1989 is remembered as an era of extremely dedicated football athletes, who left no stone unturned to perform well in the field.
Some of the best NFL players from that time are Reggie White, Walter Payton, Jerry Rice, Joe Montana, Dan Marino, and so on. So, the football cards of these players are highly priced as their worth.
1981 Joe Montana Rookie Card
The 4 Super Bowl champion has only 1 rookie card and it holds a high value among football fanatics. The gem mint version was sold at $87,000 in 2022.
Since the cost of the card may vary based on several factors like time, condition of the card, and recent demand, Joe’s cards can range from $1000 for near-mint cards to $100,000 for gem-mint cards.
Super Bowl Most Valuable Player (3 times) and NFL Most Valuable Player (2 times), Montana is clad in his 16-number jersey and is about to throw the rugby ball in this 1981 card.
Montana has been regarded as one of the top 10 quarterbacks of all time by Bleacher Report. Born on 11 June 1956, Joe was drafted in the third round of the 1979 Draft process by the San Francisco 49ers.
1986 Topps Jerry Rice
This is the only rookie card of the former wide receiver of the San Francisco 49ers who emerged victorious in the Super Bowl XXIII, XXIV, and XXIX.
Jerry’s mint card has green borders with white stripes at a certain angle. He is sporting his 80-numbered red and white Jersey.
There are only 110 of them with a perfect grade of ISA 10 which may be priced beyond $50,000 while the cards with lower ISA grading can be available at $2500.
The record-breaking player with the most career all-purpose yards, 23,546 is regarded as the best wide receiver In NFL history.
Rice was a promising college athlete who was honored as the First-team I-AA All-American in 1983 and 1984. Being drafted in the first round as the 16th overall pick also shows that he was a player who was highly expected of.
Here is a list of the other 5 football cards from the 1980s that are widely popular and treasured:
- 1986 Topps Steve Young
- 1989 Score Barry Sanders
- 1984 Topps John Elway
- 1989 Score Troy Aikman
- 1982 Topps Lawrence Taylor
1990 Football Cards Worth Money
1990 Pro Set football cards worth money consists of 1990 Pro Set Emmitt Smith and 1990 Pro Set Junior Seau. 1990 Pro Set Barry Sanders is also on the list.
Pro-set football cards are comparatively more affordable than cards manufactured by other brands. What made them distinct from other brands is their vibrant color and unique action shots.
1989 was the year in which their set was released for the first time after its inception in 1988 by Ludwell Denny.
1990 Pro Set Emmitt Smith
Most valuable football cards 1990s is completed by 1990 Pro Set Emmitt Smith in the first position. Emmitt is widely celebrated as one of the most efficient running back of the Dallas Cowboys.
His card with Grade PGA 10 is priced at $120. The 53-year-old who was recruited in the 1st round had a 15-year-long journey in the American Football League.
Smith broke the National Football League record for Most career rushing yards, 18355, and rushing touchdowns, 164.
In addition, he holds the name as one of the two non-kickers in the American football league to record over 1000 career points, except for Jerry Rice.
In order to celebrate his success as the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1990, Pro Set manufactured a card with a horizontal layout, unlike the usual vertical ones.
1990 Pro Set Junior Seau
Junior Seau is a linebacker who is famous as The Tazmanian Devil among ardent football lovers. Seau had a long and illustrious career of 20 years in the National Football League.
In his official NFL card created by Pro Set, he is wearing his blue and white uniform with hints of gold in his jersey number 55 from the Los Angeles Chargers.
The strong build of the 1st round 5th pick of the 1990 NFL draft is clearly visible there. The Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee also served for other franchises like Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots before retiring in 2009.
Except for the aforementioned cards, these are football cards worth the price from 1990:
- 1990 Pro Set Jim Jeffcoat
- 1990 Pro Set Dan Marino
- 1990 Pro Set Herschel Walker
- 1990 Pro Set Joe Montana
- 1990 Pro Set Jerry Rice Super Bowl 160
1991 Football Cards Worth Money
Most valuable Topps football cards 1991 comprise 1991 Topps #360 Emmitt Smith, 1991 Topps #73 Joe Montana, and 1991 Topps #81 Jerry Rice.
Emmitt Smith, Joe Montana, and Jerry Rice continued to rise as the years passed. All of these players gave spectacular performances and increased the worth of their football cards.
Apart from them, these are the cards from 1991 that are worth the money:
- 1991 Topps #554 John Elway
- 1991 Topps #415 Barry Sanders
- 1991 Topps #99 Bo Jackson
- 1991 Topps #16 Lawrence Taylor
- 1991 Topps #582 Deion Sanders
1991 Topps #554 John Elway
John Elway is a former quarterback of the Denver Broncos who spent a glorious 16 years of his life playing in the NFL.
The first round first pick of the 1983 NFL draft has a card with an estimated PSA 10 Value of $60. As John’s career started in 1983, he went on to win 2 Super Bowls.
In 1987, he became the NFL Most Valuable Player, and in 1992, he was named NFL Man of the Year. Elway was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
1991 Topps #415 Barry Sanders
Like Elway, Sanders’s estimated PSA 10 Value stands at $60. Per Sports Illustrated, Barry is one of the best running backs of all time.
In the football card decorated with a green lining, he can be seen donning his blue and silver uniform as he holds the rugby with his right hand.
Even Sanders was drafted in the first round as the third overall pick in 1989. Since he was named the first-team All-Pro in 1989, 1990, and 1991, his card has ‘ALL PRO’ written at the top.
The Pro Football Hall of Famer had a stunning record as a college athlete as well. Barry bagged three trophies including Heisman Trophy, Walter Camp Award, and Maxwell Award in 1988.
Football Cards That Are Worth Money
Topps football cards worth money consists of the 1958 Topps Jim Brown Rookie Card priced at $358,500 and the 1957 Topps Bart Starr Rookie Card priced at $288,000.
1976 Topps Walter Payton Rookie Card #148 and 1957 Topps Johnny Unitas are also worth the money. They can be bought at $228,000 and $167,300 respectively.
1958 Topps Jim Brown Rookie Card
To be on this list dominated by QBs although Jim Brown is non-quarterback, but a fullback says a lot about his abilities as an athlete.
In this trading card, he can be seen in a running position as he takes the ball with one hand. Brown’s full name in yellow is written above his position and team name.
In 2016, the retired fullback’s card was sold at an auction at the price of $358,500. It had a PSA grade of 9.
Jim was recruited in the first round of the 1957 NFL drafting process held at Warwick Hotel in Philadelphia by the Cleveland Browns.
During his tenure from 1957 to 1965, he achieved titles like NFL champion, NFL Rookie of the Year, and NFL scoring leader.