Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season is here.
We've got games Thursday (Ravens-Chiefs), Friday (Packers-Eagles), Sunday (13 matchups) and Monday (Jets-49ers) as the new season kicks off with some scintillating showdowns.
At cllct, we're here to get you ready for some football with our list of the most iconic trading card for each of the 32 teams.
So, check out our selections for your squad as we pick the single card that a fan would want to own for each franchise.
Here are our choices for the 16 AFC teams, and you'll also want to read our list for the NFC squads.
AFC East
Buffalo Bills: 2018 Josh Allen National Treasures Gold RPA
Jim Kelly, Andre Reed, Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas — the Bills have a rich history of all-time greats, but none have compared to Josh Allen in terms of secondary-market pricing.
Despite mixed results in the playoffs, only a small number of players have captivated football collectors in the ultra-modern era the way Allen has.
A PSA 10 example of Allen’s 2018 National Treasures Gold RPA /10, which features an outstanding patch and on-card autograph, sold for $288,000 at Goldin in 2022.
Miami Dolphins: 1997 Metal Universe Dan Marino Green Precious Metal Gems
Marino is one of several players on this list where the hobby has decided a non-rookie card is the true grail. The Miami legend's 1984 Topps rookie shouldn't be ignored — a BGS 10 sold for $20,000 in 2021 — but collectors have voted with their wallets, and the 1997 Metal Universe Green PMG is the card people love.
A beloved set combined with a decent color match and an extremely low overall population, a PSA 7 sold for $27,600 at PWCC in 2023.
New England Patriots: 2000 Playoff Contenders Tom Brady Championship Ticket Autograph
It’s only fitting the greatest football player of all time has one of the most important cards ever to match. Tom Brady’s 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Ticket Autograph, numbered to just 100 with an on-card signature, has turned into one of the most coveted and expensive cards of the modern era.
Brady’s Topps and Bowman rookies are expensive, too, but a $3.8 million private sale for this card places it into a different category.
New York Jets: 1965 Topps Joe Namath
Few cards are more important to football collectors than the 1965 Topps Joe Namath rookie. The larger “Tall Boy” cards are always easy to spot in a crowd, and the set’s simple design has remained attractive decades later.
As of this writing, the Namath rookie has secured just five total PSA 9s with zero PSA 10s. A PSA 9 example holds the record for the card’s most expensive public sale, fetching $264,000 at Heritage in 2018.
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens: 2018 National Treasures Lamar Jackson NFL Shield 1/1 RPA
With Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, the Ravens have two of the most iconic defenders in NFL history. But like a number of teams, that history hasn’t equaled collectibility.
Even two-time MVP Lamar Jackson has gone somewhat under-appreciated across the hobby compared to his peers, though he certainly has a number of signature cards.
Among the best cards available for ultra-modern players, Jackson’s 2018 National Treasures NFL Shield 1/1 RPA PSA 7.5 sold for $192,000 at Goldin in 2022.
Cincinnati Bengals: 2020 National Treasures Joe Burrow Platinum NFL Shield 1/1 RPA
Joe Burrow has plenty to do to earn a Gold Jacket, but he’s among the most collected active players, and his secondary market has remained strong despite a number of injuries.
Similar to the example for Jackson, a Burrow 2020 National Treasures Platinum NFL Shield 1/1 RPA sold for $1.7 million in 2022 via private sale.
Cleveland Browns: 1958 Topps Jim Brown
To many, Jim Brown is not only the greatest football player ever, but among the greatest athletes ever. That narrative is certainly debatable, but the status of Brown’s 1958 Topps as one of the most important football cards of all time isn’t.
A number of issues from centering to registration make it a tough grade with zero PSA 10 examples more than 60 years after release. A PSA 8.5 copy holds the public record for any Brown sale after fetching $380,000 on eBay in 2022.
Pittsburgh Steelers: 1971 Topps Terry Bradshaw
A four-time Super Bowl champion, Bradshaw’s work on TV has helped keep him in front of the public years after retirement. The 1971 Topps set features Bradshaw’s rookie with wonderfully bold colors, and yearly stats on the back for the first time.
A PSA 10 example of Bradshaw’s rookie from 1971 Topps, one of just three copies at the grade, sold for $430,500 at Goldin in 2021.
AFC South
Houston Texans: 2023 Prizm C.J. Stroud Gold Shimmer
For many fans and collectors, it would be nice to see an iconic J.J. Watt card — there just simply aren’t that many out there. C.J. Stroud, however, has immediately become a hobby darling and his secondary-market prices are among the highest in the NFL currently.
Though this example is just shy of Stroud’s highest public sale, few cards will be more important than his 2023 Prizm Gold Shimmer /10. A PSA 10 example sold for $33,690 in July at Alt.
Indianapolis Colts: 1998 Playoff Contenders Peyton Manning Ticket Autograph
Similar to Brady, there are a number of key autographs for Manning, though their rookie releases arrived well before the emergence of ultra high-end sets such as National Treasures. Despite the lack of stunning patches, it’s hard to beat Manning’s 1998 Playoff Contenders Ticket Autograph.
Featuring an on-card signature, a PSA 10 example sold for $71,988.88, Manning’s second-highest public sale, in 2019 at PWCC.
Jacksonville Jaguars: 2021 National Treasures Trevor Lawrence Platinum NFL Shield 1/1 RPA
Among the newest teams in the NFL, the Jaguars don’t quite have the history that many other franchises do. Standout players such as Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew might come to mind for many, though neither has been exceptionally collectible.
To date, it’s fair to say current QB Trevor Lawrence has been the most important player in Jaguars history among collectors, and his secondary market prices back that up. A 2021 National Treasures Platinum NFL Shield 1/1 RPA BGS 8/10 sold for $336,000 at Goldin in 2022.
Tennessee Titans: 1979 Topps Earl Campbell
Though Earl Campbell debuted in 1978, his rookie card didn’t arrive until 1979 Topps — a set stacked with a number of key rookies for other all-time greats. Considered one of the most punishing runners in NFL history, Campbell remains a highlight of the set decades later.
To date, a PSA 10 example of that card holds the mark for highest public Campbell sale after securing $18,999 at PWCC in 2021.
AFC West
Denver Broncos: 1984 Topps John Elway
The Broncos have a deep roster of all-time greats, but none stack up to former MVP and two-time Super Bowl champion John Elway. Along with Dan Marino and Eric Dickerson, Elway’s rookie is a major highlight for 1984 Topps.
Like Marino, one of Elway’s best cards is the 1997 Metal Universe Green PMG, though his true 1984 Topps rookie has topped it in price with a $50,000 sale at PWCC in 2021.
Kansas City Chiefs: 2017 National Treasures Patrick Mahomes Platinum NFL Shield 1/1 RPA
It’s not an exaggeration to say that Patrick Mahomes could be the most important football player of the modern era. Tom Brady is still currently the best football player ever, but Mahomes is closing that gap, and he’s already topped Brady in price, too.
Arguably the most important football card of all time, Mahomes’ 2017 National Treasures Platinum Shield 1/1 RPA, graded PSA 8.5, sold privately for $4.3 million in 2021, the most ever paid for a football card.
Las Vegas Raiders: 1990 Score Bo Jackson
Based on price, the most important card for a Raiders player might belong to Ken Stabler. But to many collectors, the best card for a Raiders player is actually in a baseball set, and it’s the iconic two-sport shot of Bo Jackson.
Featuring Jackson with a baseball bat and shoulder pads, the 1990 Score features one of the most iconic photographs of any trading card. No, it’s technically not a football card, and it’s not terribly expensive either — PSA 10s can be had for around $200 right now.
Just don’t try to get it signed. Jackson does not sign this card or pictures of it due to the photo's photographer, who is very litigious, having successfully sued Nike.
But when people think of the Raiders, they often think about Bo Jackson. And when collectors think of Bo Jackson, this is the card they picture.
Los Angeles Chargers: 1975 Topps Dan Fouts
Considering only secondary-market value, the most iconic card for any Chargers player is something from Justin Herbert’s lineup. Once a hobby favorite, the sentiment around Herbert has cooled significantly as his path to a Super Bowl seems more difficult than ever.
An argument could be made for Junior Seau as well, but it’s Dan Fouts who gets the nod here, with his 1975 Topps PSA 10 selling for $8,000 on eBay in 2023.
Ben Burrows is a reporter and editor for cllct.