10 of the Most Valuable Football Cards Ever Sold

Football cards have passed through the hands of fans and collectors since the 1930s. These cards have been the prized treasures of both children’s collections and experienced collectors’ inventories. Between these and other sports trading cards, the market for these collectibles is expected to reach more than $98 billion by 2027.

Companies first began packaging football cards in cigarette packs. Manufacturers gradually focused more on improving the value of the cards, printing them on high-quality paper with a glossy finish and wrapping them in foil. As the quality of these cards has improved over time, some have become monumentally expensive. Below, learn about some of the most valuable football cards and what makes these collectors’ items so unique.

The top 11 most expensive football cards ever sold

With more than two million football cards in circulation, determining those with the most value is key to buying and selling quality cards. Over the years, collectors and grading services have assigned value to cards, leading many to now boast hefty price tags. Here are 11 of the most expensive football cards ever sold, in order from most to least expensive.

1. Patrick Mahomes 2017 Panini National Treasures Platinum

Patrick Mahomes received the title of NFL MVP during his second professional season and later led the Kansas City Chiefs to two Super Bowl victories. His autographed, one-of-one rookie card broke the record for the most expensive NFL football card sale. Selling for $4.3 million in 2021, this card broke the previous record for the most valuable card by more than $1 million.

We just brokered a record-breaking $4.3 million private sale for a 2017 National Treasures NFL Shield Patrick Mahomes Rookie Auto 1/1 to LJ’s Card Shop.

This is the highest price ever paid for a football card! pic.twitter.com/CQ7rQ3MWW5

— PWCC (@PWCCmarketplace) July 28, 2021

This card of the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback is highly regarded among collectors. It features the NFL shield’s bright red and blue colors, extending vertically across the card. This shield replaces the standard jumbo jersey patch that is often displayed on these types of cards. The card is in excellent-mind condition with a grade of 8.5 and a signature grade of 10.

2. Tom Brady 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Ticket #144

Between the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tom Brady won seven Super Bowls, contributing to this card’s value. This Brady #144 championship ticket autographed rookie card held the record as the most expensive NFL card before Mahomes’s card eclipsed it. Even then, this card remains notable for its sale, reportedly reaching a hammer price of $3,107,372 at a Lelands auction in 2021.

The card shows the former quarterback preparing to make a pass. On the right side of the card is an image of his Patriots helmet. The card is in near-mint-to-mint condition, with a rating of 10 for its centering and 8.5 for its surface and edges. Its grade for its corners is 7.5.

3. Tom Brady 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Ticket

This autographed Tom Brady 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Ticket sold for $2,252,854.80 via Lelands in 2021. The card is in near-mint-to-mint condition with a Beckett grading (BGS) of 8.5 and a grade of 9 for its authentic autograph. Its grades for its centering and corners are, respectively, 9.5 and 8.5.

4. 1935 National Chicle #34 Bronko Nagurski

As one of the first true gridiron cards, this type of collector’s item is one of the most valuable vintage cards. It is known to be a challenge to obtain, especially in good condition. 

In the nearly 90 years since its production, this card has become worn in some areas, mainly on its corners. As a result, the card has earned a “Good 2” PSA rating. However, the image of Bronko Nagurski crouching in a running stance while wearing bright gold pants remains the card’s focal point. This card last sold for $350,000 in a private transaction in 2011 making it – at the time – the most valuable football card.

Bronko Nagurski, a Hall of Famer, was one of the first notable names in the entire sport of football. His career began at the University of Minnesota where he was both a defensive tackle and an offensive fullback. He is also the only athlete to receive an All-American title for two positions within the same year. The brute force Nagurski used to barrel through his opponents helped him take the Chicago Bears to win three NFL championships in 11 years.

5. 1958 Topps #62 Jim Brown

This rookie card is the only official card of Hall of Fame inductee — and the most respected fullback in football history — Jimmy Brown. The face of the card shows a 22-year-old Brown, ball in hand, running across an open landscape. A brown border and white frame add contrast to the image, calling attention to Brown’s red jersey. 

There are more than 3,600 1958 Topps rookie cards of Brown, a former Cleveland Browns player. However, only this and four of Brown’s other cards received a grade of 9 from the Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA). This card occupies the third slot in the PSA’s Mount Rushmore of Football Cards. The PSA believes that the four cards in this set best represent the art of football and collectors cards.

Card manufacturers often failed to prioritize quality when producing cards during this time, which is why the majority of Brown’s cards have centering issues. However, his rookie card is one of the closest cards of this time to achieve near-mint condition. This contributes to this card’s rarity and its sale price of $336,000 via Heritage Auctions in 2017.

6. 1957 Topps #119 Bart Starr

This is the only official rookie card for Bart Starr, a renowned quarterback for the Green Bay Packers. The card is one of three key cards in the 1957 Topps set. In PSA Mint 9 condition, this card sold in 2017 for $288,000 via Heritage Auctions. Its rarity is attributed to its high-grade condition amid its issues with centering, printing, and dull coloring.

As the Packers’ quarterback, Starr led his team to win six division titles and five NFL titles. Starr became the first — and only — quarterback to lead a team to win three successive league championships. He was also the MVP of Super Bowls I and II and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977.

7. 1965 Topps #122 Joe Namath

This rookie card for Joe Namath has a PSA grade of Mint 9. Only 16 percent of the nearly 1,900 versions of this card have received a respectable PSA rating. In 2018, the card sold at auction via Heritage Auctions for $264,000.

A quarterback for the New York Jets, Namath is an NFL legend, notably for his record-setting passes. Perhaps his most memorable game was Super Bowl III, when he led his team to one of the league’s greatest upsets. The Jets emerged victorious, 16-7, against the Baltimore Colts, the team favored to win.

8. 193 Goudey Sport Kings #6 Jim Thorpe

Often considered the greatest male athlete of the first half of the 20th Century, Jim Thorpe received accolades as a football, baseball, and basketball player. Thorpe led his team, the Canton Bulldogs, to win three championships. In 1920, members of the newly-founded American Professional Football Association (which would later become the NFL), designated Thorpe as the league’s president. 

One of Thorpe’s Sport Kings cards exists in mint condition with a PSA grade of 9. It’s just one of just four versions of this card that have earned the PSA’s highest rating. In 2020, the card sold via Heritage Auctions for $138,000. Experienced collectors believe the price of this card will rise further since it is among the most recognizable cards. Collectors value it due to its physical vibrancy and the meaning it holds as a collector’s item.

9. 2000 SP Authentic #118 Tom Brady Rookie Card

Another of Brady’s cards to reach the list of the most valuable cards, this authentic rookie card is one of his top desired memorabilia. In 2022, the card sold via Goldin Auctions for $69,000 (or $82,800 including fees). This particular card has a PSA rating of 10.

10. 1976 Topps #148 Walter Payton

This card of Walter Payton is in Gem Mint condition with a PSA rating of 10. It is the sole official rookie card of the NFL running back. This card has also become a collector’s dream. Many have been unable to find one of these cards with perfect centering. The card sold for $61,200.00 via Goldin Auctions in 2023.

As the NFL MVP in 1977, Payton led the Chicago Bears to achieve a 15-1 record and win the team’s first Super Bowl title. Until 2002, he led the league in touchdowns, rushing, and receiving yards. Payton played 13 seasons and received a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

What makes a football card collectible?

Several elements contribute to a card’s value, including the player the card features and the card’s condition, print year, and scarcity. Cards with lower numbers are often worth more than high-numbered cards. Cards with patches and signatures often have a higher value as well. Collectors often desire cards from a player’s rookie year due to the nostalgia associated with these cards, increasing their prices.

The importance of certified and graded football cards

Grading services assume the responsibility of judging cards, primarily based on their appearance and their player’s notability and achievements in the sport. The PSA and Beckett Grading Services are two examples of these services. They grade authentic sports and trading cards on a scale of one to 10.

The ratings that a reputable grading service assigns establish that card’s value. With these figures, you can accurately advertise and describe a card you want to sell. If you don’t intend to sell a card, then you can get it appraised to better estimate your collection’s value.

Record prices for representations of record-breaking players

While this article includes the top football card sales, it doesn’t represent a comprehensive view of the greatest names to play football. New cards can quickly become part of this list as players continue to set new records that football fans can hardly fathom. With every card a fan adds to their collection, they grow more connected to their beloved teams while becoming a part of the history that’s made through the sport of football.