Top 10 Most Expensive Football Cards Ever Sold
The Thrill of Collecting the Highest Price Football Cards
For decades, football card collecting has been a beloved hobby, with fans and collectors seeking out the highest value football cards featuring legendary players. Whether it’s vintage Hall of Famers or modern superstars like Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes, the demand for rare football cards continues to grow.
In recent years, the market for the most expensive NFL cards has skyrocketed, with record-breaking sales reaching millions of dollars. High-grade rookie cards, autographs, and limited-edition releases have become the crown jewels of the collecting world, drawing interest from serious investors and casual enthusiasts alike.
In this article, we’ll explore the highest price football cards ever sold. These iconic pieces of sports history are not only rare football cards but also some of the most coveted collectibles in the hobby. Let’s start with the cheapest (if we can even call it that), and move our way onto the rarest NFL cards worth millions of dollars.
1965 Topps Joe Namath Rookie Card #122
- Sale Price: $264,000
- Sale Date: February 2018
- Auction House: Heritage Auctions
- Details: Only five PSA 9 copies exist, making this Joe Namath rookie card extremely rare and highly desirable among collectors of highest price football cards.
“Broadway Joe” was one of the most charismatic and talented quarterbacks of his era. His 1965 Topps rookie card, known for its oversized design, is one of the highest price football cards on the market today. Finding one in top condition is nearly impossible, making it a true rare football card.
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1957 Topps Bart Starr Rookie Card #119
- Sale Price: $288,000
- Sale Date: February 2017
- Auction House: Heritage Auctions
- Details: One of only three PSA 9 copies known, making it one of the most expensive vintage football cards ever sold.
Bart Starr led the Green Bay Packers to multiple championships, cementing his place in football history. His highest value football card from 1957 Topps is an iconic vintage collectible that remains in the top 10 most expensive NFL cards ever sold.
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2017 Panini Flawless Patrick Mahomes Rookie Card #4
- Sale Price: $312,000
- Sale Date: March 2021
- Auction House: Goldin Auctions
- Details: A 1/1 NFL Rookie Autograph, graded BGS 7.5.
Mahomes has quickly become one of the biggest names in football. This card features an on-card autograph, making it a must-have among rare football cards of modern superstars. Keep reading as he makes this list again to see his highest priced football card.
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2000 SP Authentic Tom Brady Rookie Card #118
- Sale Price: $312,000
- Sale Date: April 2021
- Auction House: Goldin Auctions
- Details: This limited-edition rookie card is numbered to 1,250 copies and was graded BGS 10, making it a premier investment among rare football cards.
Tom Brady’s impact on the sport is undeniable, and this SP Authentic rookie card is one of his most valuable. With a low production run and a sleek design, this highest value football card remains in high demand among collectors searching for rare football cards of all-time greats.
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1935 National Chicle Bronko Nagurski Rookie Card #34
- Sale Price: $350,000
- Sale Date: January 2011
- Auction House: Private Sale
- Details: One of the most expensive NFL cards ever, this pre-war classic is one of the rarest highest price football cards in existence.
As one of the earliest and most expensive NFL cards, this pre-war classic featuring Bronko Nagurski is a true collector’s gem. Vintage cards from the 1930s are nearly impossible to find in good condition, making this one of the highest price vintage football cards ever sold.
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1958 Topps Jim Brown Rookie Card #62
- Sale Price: $358,500
- Sale Date: November 2016
- Auction House: Heritage Auctions
- Details: A PSA 9 copy of Jim Brown’s rookie card, one of only five known in that grade, making it a top highest value football card.
Jim Brown is widely regarded as one of the greatest running backs in football history. His highest value football card is a 1958 Topps rookie, which remains highly sought after by collectors. Its value continues to rise as vintage rare football cards become harder to find in top condition.
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1971 Topps Terry Bradshaw Rookie Card #156
- Sale Price: $430,500
- Sale Date: October 2021
- Auction House: Goldin Auctions
- Details: A PSA 10 graded rookie card of Terry Bradshaw, one of the most iconic quarterback rookies in the hobby.
Terry Bradshaw led the Pittsburgh Steelers to four Super Bowl victories, making him an NFL legend. His highest price football card is a pristine PSA 10 rookie card from Topps. Due to its limited high-grade copies, this has become a holy grail for collectors of rare football cards.
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2000 Bowman Chrome Refractor Tom Brady Rookie Card #236
- Sale Price: $498,000
- Sale Date: October 2022
- Auction House: Goldin Auctions
- Details: This PSA 10 graded Refractor version of Tom Brady’s rookie card is one of the most coveted highest price football cards, due to its rarity and premium reflective finish.
Yet another Brady card makes the list, proving his dominance in the hobby. The Bowman Chrome Refractor rookie card is one of the most popular rare football cards, with a high-grade version fetching a massive price at auction. This Brady card rounds up the most expensive football cards under $1 million dollars. Now onto the Top 2 Most Valuable Football cards, each being valued into the millions of dollars each.
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2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Ticket Tom Brady Autograph Rookie Card #144
- Sale Price: $3,107,372
- Sale Date: June 2021
- Auction House: Lelands Auctions
- Details: Limited to 100 copies, this signed Tom Brady rookie card is BGS 9 with a BGS 10 autograph, making it one of the most expensive NFL cards ever.
Considered the GOAT of the NFL, Tom Brady’s rookie cards are among the most expensive NFL cards in history. This limited-edition, autographed Championship Ticket card is one of the rarest football cards of all time in high grade. Given its scarcity and historical significance, it remains a top investment in the hobby.
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2017 National Treasures NFL Shield Patrick Mahomes Autographed Rookie Card #161
- Sale Price: $4,300,000
- Sale Date: July 2021
- Auction House: PWCC Marketplace
- Details: This one-of-a-kind card features Patrick Mahomes’ autograph and the NFL Shield logo, graded BGS 8.5 with a BGS 10 autograph.
Patrick Mahomes has solidified himself as one of the greatest quarterbacks of his generation, and his highest value football card reflects that. This rare football card features the NFL Shield patch from his game-worn jersey, along with an autograph. With only one in existence, it holds the record for the most expensive football card ever sold in the sport.
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The Future of High-Value Football Cards
The world of football card collecting continues to thrive, with vintage legends and modern superstars driving the market. Whether it’s highest price football cards from decades past or new releases featuring the next generation of NFL stars, the demand for rare football cards shows no signs of slowing down.
With record-breaking sales and growing interest in sports memorabilia, investing in highest value football cards has become more than just a hobby—it’s a serious business. Rookies like Patrick Mahomes and rising stars continue to push the boundaries of what the most expensive football cards can be worth. Tom Brady making this list 3 times is huge.
As technology and digital collecting evolve, the future of football cards is bound to get even more exciting. Whether you’re a longtime collector or just starting, there’s never been a better time to dive into the world of rare football cards and chase the next big investment.
The one thing i’ve noticed though, is that Football Cards don’t demand the same high price value as other sports like Baseball and Basketball. Both of those sports dominate the high value sports card market with many over $1 million, whereas in Football, we just have 2 that have sold in the million dollar range.
Let us know in the comments what your dream football card is to own…or if you already own it, then what is it? Happy Collecting!
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