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.
Here are our choices for the 16 NFC teams, and make sure to check out our list for the AFC squads.
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys: 1997 Metal Universe Emmitt Smith Green PMG
Few franchises can match the Cowboys' list of all-time greats — from Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman to Tony Dorsett and Michael Irvin. However, it’s Emmitt Smith who has been a hobby favorite.
Smith’s 1990 Score rookie has secured a number of five-figure sales, but no card has matched the 1997 Metal Universe Green PMG on the secondary market.
A PSA 8.5 example holds Smith’s top public sale, selling for $49,200 at PWCC in 2021. The top eight public sales for Smith all belong to Red or Green PMGs.
New York Giants: 1982 Topps Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Taylor is considered the best defensive player of all time for many fans and collectors. The first set allowed by the NFL to use official team logos, 1982 Topps features the rookie card for the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
A PSA 10 example of Taylor’s rookie sold for $17,050 at PWCC in 2021, while a hard-signed copy graded PSA/DNA 10 fetched $36,000 at Goldin in 2021.
Philadelphia Eagles: 1986 Topps Reggie White
Jalen Hurts has pulled in higher prices during the ultra-modern era, but it’s hard to leave Reggie White, one of the greatest defensive linemen ever, off the list for a QB who still creates skepticism in much of the collecting community.
White’s rookie card is technically the 1984 Topps USFL, which has sold for as much as $23,700 publicly. For collectors looking for his first Eagles card, 1986 Topps is the place to go. A PSA 10 example sold for $7,950 on eBay in 2021.
Washington Commanders: 1948 Leaf Sammy Baugh
Sammy Baugh might not be the first name people think of for Washington, but the Hall of Famer is aided by the fact he appeared in what many football collectors believe is the most visually stunning set of all time.
Among the first football sets released after World War II, 1948 Leaf struts a simple design with stunning colors that are easy to spot. A Sammy Baugh PSA 8.5 example sold for $75,000 at Heritage in 2021.
NFC North
Chicago Bears: 1976 Topps Walter Payton
There are many collectors who might prefer to claim Bronko Nagurski’s 1935 National Chicle, but the majority of hobbyists still view Walter Payton’s 1976 Topps rookie among the most important cards of all time.
A tough grade with just 55 total PSA 10 examples, an SGC Gold Label Pristine 100 sold for $228,000 at Heritage in 2021.
Detroit Lions: 1997 Skybox Premium Barry Sanders Rubies
Calvin Johnson probably deserves to be part of the conversation for best player in franchise history more than he is, but the collectibles part of the discussion really doesn’t feature much of a debate.
The highest public sale for a Sanders card is his 1998 Metal Universe PMG Gem Master 1/1 PSA 7, which sold for $168,000 at PWCC in 2024. In terms of eye appeal, however, it’s almost impossible to beat the 1997 Skybox Premium Rubies PSA 8, which sold for $36,420 at Goldin in 2023.
Sanders' 1987 Score rookie is a great card, too, but with recent sales around $1,200 for PSA 10 examples, it has failed to carry the same prestige as other key cards.
Green Bay Packers: 1957 Topps Bart Starr
It’s not hard to make a case for Brett Favre here, especially because cards don’t look much better than his 1997 Metal Universe Green PMG. The reality, however, is Bart Starr’s best cards could always outsell Favre’s.
Starr’s 1957 Topps rookie has incredible eye appeal, especially for a horizontal card, with a PSA 9 example selling for $288,000 at Heritage in 2017. There are just three PSA 9 copies and zero PSA 10s — at this point, the hobby might never see one.
Minnesota Vikings: 1998 Fleer Brilliants Randy Moss 24KT Gold
Randy Moss is one of the few receivers who has been able to carry a strong premium on the secondary market for a number of years, and he has quite the selection of key '90s cards that have been able to woo collectors.
The highest public sale for a Moss card is a 1998 Metal Universe PMG at $24,000, but it’s hard to argue against the 1998 Fleer Brilliants 24KT Gold Rookie PSA 7, which sold for $19,200 at Goldin in 2022.
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons: 2001 Topps Chrome Michael Vick Black Refractor
While off-field issues have soured Michael Vick’s reputation among fans across the league, few athletes are more beloved in Atlanta than the former Falcons QB. One could make an argument for Matt Ryan or Julio Jones, but Vick impacted the game like few others have.
The majority of the cards on this list are either ultra high-end patches or record-high sales — this Vick card is neither, but it remains among his best.
His 2001 Topps Chrome Black Refractor rookie is simple yet elegant, and the Black color match with a hint of red suits the card perfectly. A PSA 10 example sold for $3,000 at PWCC in 2022.
Carolina Panthers: 2011 National Treasures Cam Newton Gold RPA
There are arguments to be made for Steve Smith and Luke Kuechly, but collectibility is important, and neither saw the peak Cam Newton had — though it’s probably not as high as many might think.
Card designs don’t get much better than Newton’s 2011 National Treasures Gold RPA, even though it has a horizontal layout. That card is Newton’s highest public sale, fetching $6,750 at PWCC in 2021.
New Orleans Saints: 1972 Topps Archie Manning
It’s tempting to put Drew Brees here, but his Chargers rookie card feels out of place. A better fit is Archie Manning’s 1972 Topps rookie, which outsells most solo cards of Brees with New Orleans anyway.
Featuring a simple portrait and a clean blue border, a PSA 10 example has sold publicly for as much as $6,900 at PWCC in 2022.
Sons Peyton and Eli — and even grandson Arch — have outsold Archie on the secondary market, but this card remains a classic.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 1998 Metal Universe Warren Sapp PMG
The Buccaneers have had plenty of great players over the years, but stars such as Derrick Brooks, Ronde Barber, John Lynch and Mike Alstott just aren’t hobby favorites.
Truthfully, the best player in terms of secondary-market price is Tom Brady, but he’s already representing New England, and doubling up is boring.
Mike Evans has a number of five-figure sales on the secondary market, but it’s simply impossible to talk about the franchise and not consider Warren Sapp.
Sapp’s 1998 Metal Universe PMG PSA 8 sold for $2,000 in Feb, and while it isn’t the most expensive card, it’s among the best for arguably the best player in franchise history.
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals: 2004 Playoff Contenders Larry Fitzgerald Rookie Ticket Autograph
Selecting Larry Fitzgerald for the Cardinals is about as easy as it gets. Though Fitzgerald was deadly on the field and likable off of it, he hasn’t carried the collector base he probably deserves — though he did see some major sales during the hobby’s price run-up in 2020 and 2021.
Among Fitzgerald’s best cards, a 2004 Playoff Contenders Rookie Ticket Auto PSA 10 sold for $52,800 at Heritage in 2020.
Los Angeles Rams: 2014 Panini Prizm Aaron Donald Black Finite
There are several players who could fit here — Eric Dickerson comes to mind immediately as one of the greatest running backs ever. One of the core pieces — Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk, Isaac Bruce or Torry Holt — from that "Greatest Show on Turf" offense could be good, too.
It’s also hard to pick against Aaron Donald, who was one of the most dominating players in the history of the NFL. Defensive players aren’t popular among collectors most of the time, but Donald has commanded fantastic secondary-market prices for his key cards.
Donald’s 2014 Panini Prizm Black Finite sold for $28,800 at PWCC in 2022.
San Francisco 49ers: 1986 Topps Jerry Rice
Few selections were more difficult than Joe Montana or Jerry Rice. Both are among the greatest ever at their positions, and both have delivered extremely high prices on the secondary market.
It’s simply hard to beat Rice’s 1986 Topps rookie. The card is extremely condition sensitive and its green border highlights damage, making the card an incredibly difficult grade.
Though a 1997 Metal Universe Green PMG holds the record for the highest public Rice sale ($150,000), the 1986 Topps rookie is often the first card many football collectors think of when considering the greatest for the sport. The high sale for Rice’s 1986 Topps is $125,655 at PWCC in 2021.
Seattle Seahawks: 1977 Topps Steve Largent
Among ultra-modern collectors, the Seahawks are likely most associated with Marshawn Lynch, Russell Wilson or Richard Sherman, though none have really commanded much interest among collectors as a whole. D.K. Metcalf had a stretch where he was among the most popular receivers in the hobby, though that has cooled.
Overall, it’s hard to pick anything other than the 1977 Topps Steve Largent rookie card, which fetched $10,739 on eBay in 2023.
Ben Burrows is a reporter and editor for cllct.