Top Football Cards Worth Money 2022 & 2021
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Now that 2021 and 2022 are mostly in the rear view mirror, it’s always fun to take a glance back at some of the year’s heaviest hitters. And to truly hit hard, there’s one factor that is of the upmost importance. MONEY. So what were the top football cards worth money in 2022 & 2021? The answer isn’t as easy as it seems so we’ll break it down to a few different categories to help compare apples to apples. Whatever fruit you like to use as a comparison, rest assured there will be ZERO lemons on the following list! Let’s get down to it.
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Top Football Cards Worth Money 2022 & 2021: The Young Guns
Mac Jones
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When it comes to NFL rookies in 2021, Mac Jones is the clear cut winner here. He’s done all the Patriots could have asked for from their first round pick and is poised to make a deep run in the playoffs. While his cards are already quite valuable, this could push them up even further.
As far as money goes, some have already sold for north of $10,000! Not bad considering some of the most valuable sets haven’t even hit the shelves yet. The card above is a preview of the upcoming Panini Select collection pulled out of the Chronicles Draft Pick set. It’s got a print run of just 25 and is a must buy for anyone looking to dump some cash into a Mac Jones rookie card investment before the playoffs begin.
Kenny Pickett
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When it comes to the latest batch of NFL rookies, Kenny Pickett leads the way. Sure, he’s doesn’t come with the excitement as that of the 2021 rookie QB class. However, he doesn’t share the lofty expectations either. Which could be a good thing.
If Pickett can seize control of the starter role and run with it, WATCH OUT. Chances are you’ll be making truck loads of cash if you bought earlier enough in the season. Specifically if you bought before he became a successful NFL starting QB. Just think about how much green you’d be rolling in if you would have picked up the unheralded Tom Brady rookie card when he was playing back up to Drew Bledsoe. Talk about fear of missing out!
Ja’Marr Chase
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It only makes sense that the 2021 Offensive Rookie of the Year makes our Top Football Cards Worth Money 2021 list. Even if he’s not a quarterback. While non-QB positions often go over looked, Chases on field success and amazing Super Bowl run sure sent shockwaves through the collecting industry. His cards have been hot commodities all throughput the season and we don’t see thing slowing down anytime in the near future. Especially with Burrow feeding him the pig skin.
Justin Herbert
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Last season’s Rookie of the Year winner counts as a rookie on our Top Football Cards Worth Money 2022 & 2021 list as he was on the field as a first year player in 2021. Even if for only one game. At any rate, Herbert has shown no signs of slowing down in year two and neither have the prices of his football cards. For instance, the card shown above recently sold for more than $75,000. Take a moment to wrap your head around that one. If you think that sounds like a lot (it is), just imagine what his cards will be worth once he starts winning Super Bowls.
Joe Burrow
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Just like Herbert, Burrow saw plenty of on field success in 2021. Even if the season was shortened by an untimely injury. To say he bounced back nicely would be a drastic understatement. As you know, Burrow led the Bengals to their first playoff win in ages and also was a few questionable holding calls away from a Super Bowl victory. We fully expect Joe to go back and win it all in the very near future. As do many other hobbyists. Therefore, it’s no surprise Joe makes the list.
Top Football Cards Worth Money 2022 & 2021: The Superstars
Tom Brady
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When it comes to NFL superstars we needn’t say more than Tom Brady. Brady answered the final question of whether he could bring home a title without Belichick by winning a Super Bowl in his first year with Tampa. Something that made his legendary status almost seem more like a work of fiction. Another thing that seems like a work of fiction is the values some of his cards are worth. In March of 2021, his most valuable card ,the 2000 Playoff Contenders rookie, sold for over ONE MILLION. And that was for a BGS 8 grade. If you don’t have a cool mil to spend consider the card above. That one will only set you back around $150,000!
Patrick Mahomes
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While we don’t see the justice in the man who LOST the Super Bowl going on to set a record for the most valuable football card of all-time, that’s exactly what happened. In July of 2021, PWCC purchased a variation of the the card above for a mind-boggling $4.3 million. Not that Mahomes doesn’t deserve it as he could very well end up challenging Brady for Super Bowl wins at some point in his career. At any rate, Mahomes should enjoy it while he can as it’s only a matter of time before Brady takes the most valuable football card of all time title back. He is the GOAT after all.
Hot Topic: Hottest Football Rookie Cards 2022
Top Football Cards Worth Money 2022 & 2021: The Classics
Bronko Nagurski
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When we say classics, we mean it. Let’s go way, way back to 1935 when this monster of a player first appeared on a football card. An iron-man player who ran over both opposing offenses and defenses alike, Bronko is shown here in his famous bull charge pose. The card is incredibly rare and even more so in good condition. There is only one PSA 9 in existence and it’s estimated to be worth nearly a million bucks. Perhaps Ford should buy it to promote their newly revamped line of Broncos?? Just a thought!
Jim Brown
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No surprises here as you can’t bring up classic football cards without speaking the name Jim Brown. Like Bronko, Brown simply mauled over defenders with a hard nosed brand of running that is truly a thing of legends. So it’s no wonder why his rookie card above is the epitome of legendary. There are only five PSA 9 grades in existence and they’re estimated to be worth more than $300,000 each. Seems like a lot but here’s a hot take: SMALL price to pay for one of only 5 existing MINT cards of a true gridiron legend!
There will never be another quarterback that will come close to Brady status and I’m sure a lot of his records will never be broke. If I had to pick one quarterback that has the best chance to become a top 5 greatest all-time only one name stands out above the rest, that man is Patrick Mahomes. He has the skill, potential and will still be playing in 10 years unless injuries derail his career. If the question didn’t say in 10 years then I’d say Aaron Rodgers, he’s without a doubt the closest someone will ever get to Brady. I don’t know if it’s Green Bay or his inability to win on the biggest stage ( I know he has won 1 super bowl but he should have at least 2 more rings) but he doesn’t have the same level of Star power as other less talented and accomplished quarterbacks. In my opinion hes the most physically gifted quarterback to ever step on the football field, his raw talent is unmatched. Mahomes on the other hand not only has the talent to be one of the best but he also has that IT factor that makes him stand out above the rest. When you combine the physical talent with his high football IQ and likable personality you get a super star. There’s plenty of gifted quarterbacks that have the potential to become stars but they never will because they lack the other essential characteristics that only a few players have. Talent will only get you so far and then when your gifts begin to regress with age you become an average professional. Players like Brady and Lebron understand this so they dedicate their whole life to taking proper care of their bodies, they consume as much knowledge as possible to give them an edge over less dedicated athletes. You will never catch them unprepared for a game or practice, that preparation is detrimental to their historic and unparalleled dominance for 2 decades. They have an inner drive inside them that very few people have and that drive fuels them to work harder, longer, smarter than anyone else. It’s basically like one day during their childhood they told themselves they’re going to be the best at whatever their dream was and from that day on they had one singular goal and have focused all of their energy on accomplishing it everyday since. Some people might call it an obsession but in reality it’s dedication, it’s setting a goal and doing whatever is necessary to achieve it. They know what they want and nothing will prevent them from accomplishing it. They sacrifice relationships, miss out on alot of their children’s events because they understand to become the greatest there’s no such thing as a day off or vacation. You don’t become the GOAT from skill alone, you become the GOAT when you’re willing to do what no one else is and when you don’t think you have any fight left you get up and push a little harder. So back to the original question. I don’t know a whole lot about the rookies from 2021 but what I do know is there is only one Tom Brady and I don’t believe anyone in the league is as dedicated to greatness as him. Some will become superstars but their reign at the top will be shortlived unless they’re willing to sacrifice partying, girls and all of the other temptations that come with fame and wealth especially in their 20s and focus solely on football for the next 15 years and do everything necessary to reach their full potential. Proper nutrition, sleep, exercise, studying, constantly learning, practicing and the ability to to constantly adapt to new challenges especially as they age lose speed and strength. Brady’s always adapted his game to compensate for his physical limitations. He’s slow and lost arm strength so he adopted the short game. To prevent getting sacked all game he throws the quick slant up the middle or short button hooks and screens. He acknowledged his shortcomings and instead of allowing his ego to get in the way he adapted and turned what essentially was considered a non threat into what could be considered the greatest seasons of his career. I’m sure defences were happy when he started throwing the ball 5-10 yards every play. They probably thought they would shut the offense down and instead he completely shreds them 5-10 yards at a time. Although since his move to Tampa he has thrown down field way more often than he did in New England after Moss left. Can you imagine his stats if he had this talented of receivers in New England? Sure he’s had a few Hall of famers over the years but never anything close to the group he has in Tampa. Most of his career has been spent turning his receivers into stars, before him and even after no one even knew their names.
When I hear Goat I think Brady, Jordan, Kobe, I can’t stand him but Lebron Verlander, Peyton and what do they all have in common. A competitive fire inside them that literally makes them out work everyone else. They didn’t just want to win they want to destroy everyone else because they believe deep down that no one is their equal. They’re so confident in their ability because they know no one has worked harder to get where they’re at and that preparation is why they thrive on the biggest stages while others fold. Wow this answer started as a couple sentences and turned into a novel. I do this every time Tom Brady is mentioned, I’m starting to think I have a man crush on him or he quite possibly turned me. Shit I’d switch teams for him who am I kidding. Being from Chicago and growing up with Jordan I didn’t think I’d ever like an athlete more than MJ but honestly I think Brady’s surpassed him as the greatest athlete of all time.
Which QB in your opinion could come “close” to Tom Brady status in say 10 yrs
Totally agree patrick is the only contender there are some promising new prospects but they’re far too green