Football trading cards are close to fans’ hearts. So much so that the most expensive football cards of all time have fetched millions of dollars at auctions. Fascination with players, teams, rarity, and more contributes to these massive valuations.
Even as a small-time collector, your hobby gets elevated the more you learn about football trading cards. In this article, we’ll explore the most valuable football cards since the game’s genesis to learn which specific releases they are, what makes them special, and the astonishing sums buyers paid to add them to their collection.
Football fans have, over the years, shown a profound love for football card collecting as a hobby. More than just fancy cards with pictures to show your friends, they are prized possessions, especially when they have historical significance or depict a phenomenal player.
Similar to how Pokémon fans rave over the most valuable Pokémon cards, the same is true with football trading cards. So, what makes them so valuable, and why are some fans and collectors willing to splash millions on them?
A quick look at the most valuable football cards in the world and you’ll immediately notice something: it is a 1/1 card. These types of football cards command a premium because they give collectors a collectible that no one else has. The same applies to limited edition football cards like Tom Brady’s 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Ticket Autograph rookie card.
Even for the least sentimental football fans and card collectors, a rising player’s first season is something everyone buys into trading cards and watches. For that reason, rookie-year cards are some of the most treasured in the NFL collectibles world, far outshining the most valuable Yugioh cards at auctions and private sales.
Mint condition cards that have been graded by reputable organizations like Beckett command some of the highest prices among NFL cards. The industry generally tracks the ratings of available cards, and these factor into the overall pricing of the most expensive football trading cards.
Some cards trace their value back to their design, which also includes a match-worn relic by the depicted player. Patrick Mahomes’ 2017 NFL Shield Rookie Patch Autograph Card is one such card featuring a patch from a jersey he wore during his rookie year. The value of this particular card also stems from Mahomes’ autograph.
Players whose careers flourish early on in their career and go on to play crucial roles for their teams also have some of the highly priced football trading cards. Mahomes and Brady are two good examples. Their careers continued to grow, and they became important players for the Chiefs and the Patriots, respectively. As such, their cards are the most valuable in the football collectibles universe.
Most of the football cards you’ll encounter in your life will be affordable, and you may wonder what football cards are worth it. The answer comes when you look at the list of the most valuable trading cards. The table below shows some with mind-blowing valuations.
| Most expensive football trading cards | Player | Valuation |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 Panini National Treasures NFL Shield Rookie Patch Autograph (1/1) | Patrick Mahomes | $4.3M (private sale, 2021) |
| 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Ticket Autograph Rookie #144 | Tom Brady | $3.8M (private sale, 2021) |
| 2020 Panini National Treasures NFL Shield Rookie Patch Autograph (1/1) | Justin Herbert | $1.8M (public auction, 2022) |
| 2020 Panini National Treasures Platinum NFL Shield Autograph (1/1) | Joe Burrow | $1.7M (private sale 2022) |
Let’s explore what makes each card so expensive.
When Patrick Mahomes burst onto the scene for the Chiefs as a rookie, the world of football was watching and taking note. In 2018, the young QB threw for 5,000 yards in just 580 attempts. Even more impressive is that he’d achieved the feat two years earlier while in college, becoming the first player ever to throw 5K yards in NCAA Football and the NFL.
His 2017 Panini National Treasures Platinum Shield RPA 1/1 has thus been a sought-after card among elite trading card collectors. In 2021, the card sold privately for $4.3M, and though that is dwarfed by the most valuable basketball cards, it became the most expensive NFL card of all time.
Tom Brady’s football trading cards deserve a list of their own, especially the 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Ticket Autograph Rookie. At least eight of the 100 serialized cards have sold for $1M or more. The standout in this list is #144, which sold for $3.8M in 2021. Just months earlier, another card in the set had sold for $3.1M.
This card is special to collectors because it represents Tom Brady’s rookie year when he was drafted 199th overall by the New England Patriots, whom he’d go on to play for until 2019 and lift six Super Bowls in the process.
After being picked with the 6th overall draft pick by the LA Chargers, Justin Herbert went on to have a record-shattering rookie year. He recorded 31 touchdown passes in 2020, coupled with several 300-yard throw games that eventually saw him named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. His trajectory ever since has been nothing short of phenomenal. In 2021, he became the first-ever Los Angeles Chargers to throw for 5,000 yards or more in a season.
With his profile on the rise, die-hard collectors were not to be left behind. In 2022, his National Treasures NFL Shield RPA (1/1) sold publicly for $1.8M. It was graded BGS 8.5 with a 10 Autograph.
Burrow’s career trajectory has been one to watch for many football fans and will be even more exciting for you as a card collector. After an impressive 2019 NCAA season, in which he threw for 5,671 yards and had 60 touchdowns, Joe Burrow was the first overall draft pick in 2020 for the Bengals. In 2021, he led the Bengals to their first Super Bowl in 33 years.
As Joe Burrow’s star rose, so did the prices of his collectibles. Despite being a relatively small figure compared to the most valuable baseball cards, his 2020 Panini National Treasures NFL Shield RPA (1/1) sold privately for $1.7M.
Each year, the NFL and its partners print football card collections that get you buzzing if you are a collector. Even as a casual football fan, knowing about trading cards, collecting, and preserving them can help you engage with the game more. The list of valuable football cards we’ve explored above shows just how much fans are willing to pay for these cards.
Patrick Mahomes’ 2017 Panini National Treasures NFL Shield RPA 1/1 release is the most expensive NFL card of all time, having sold privately for $4.3M in 2021. The list is dynamic and keeps updating with each private or public sale. So, keep your eyes glued to this page to learn more about the most valuable football trading cards.
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Patrick Mahomes’ 2017 Panini National Treasures NFL Shield Rookie Patch Autograph (1/1) is the most expensive football card, selling for $4.3 million in a private 2021 transaction.
Tom Brady’s 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Ticket Autograph Rookie had a limited print run of just 100 copies. The most expensive sold for $3.8M in 2021.
Rookie Patch Autograph cards feature a player-worn matchday jersey whose NFL shield is clipped and added to the card display alongside an autograph. These releases are one-of-one, which makes them scarce and thus expensive.
