Sports Cards: The Most Iconic NFL Rookie Card for Every Team
May 19, 2022Sports Cards: The Most Iconic NFL Rookie Card for Every Team
When it comes to sports card collecting, rookie cards reign supreme.
These days, most players have a wide variety of rookie card options, with everything from lower-end base cards to high-priced rookie patch autos, but there was a time when Topps was the only game in town. Even in the late 1980s and early 1990s when the market expanded, there were still only a handful of companies.
Taking a team-by-team approach, we have highlighted the most iconic rookie card in the history of each NFL franchise, with a healthy mix of retired legends, more recent stars and active players.
Iconic doesn't always mean most valuable, and for many players, their flagship Topps rookie card got the nod over short-printed premium cards that few will ever have an opportunity to own.
Included is a link to view each card, as well as some pertinent details about recent sales, grading history, and player background.
AFC East
Buffalo Bills: 1986 Topps #389 Bruce Smith RC
The No. 1 pick in the 1985 NFL draft, Bruce Smith spent 15 seasons in Buffalo, and he went on to rack up an NFL record 200 sacks over the course of his 19-year career. During his time with the Bills, he earned 11 Pro Bowl selections, eight All-Pro nods and two Defensive Player of the Year awards.
Miami Dolphins: 1984 Topps #123 Dan Marino RC
Who else? When he retired in 1999 after 17 seasons with the Dolphins, Dan Marino was the NFL's all-time leader in pass attempts, completions, passing yards and touchdown passes. He threw for 5,084 yards and 48 touchdowns to win MVP honors in 1984 while leading the Dolphins to their most recent Super Bowl appearance.
New England Patriots: 2000 Playoff Contenders #144 Tom Brady AU RC
There were 44 different Tom Brady rookie cards released in 2000 products, but none are as valuable as his 2000 Playoff Contenders rookie. With an on-card autograph and a print run of just 100, it is undoubtedly one of the most iconic rookie cards of the past 25 years, and one sold on eBay for over $50,000 just last month.
New York Jets: 1965 Topps #122 Joe Namath RC
The face of the AFL before its merger with the NFL in 1970, Joe Namath led the New York Jets to an unlikely upset of the heavily favored Baltimore Colts in the 1969 Super Bowl. He was the No. 1 pick in the AFL draft and the No. 12 pick in the NFL Draft in 1965, and he chose the AFL. His rookie card is one of the most valuable vintage cards of all-time.
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens: 1996 Bowman's Best #164 Ray Lewis RC
While Lamar Jackson has driven plenty of hobby buzz since breaking into the league, he still has a ways to go before he reaches the same iconic status as Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis. His 1996 Bowman's Best rookie card is his most sought-after early card, and it earned a spot on our list of the most valuable NFL rookie cards of the 1990s.
Cincinnati Bengals: 2020 Panini Prizm #307 Joe Burrow RC
With all due respect to Anthony Munoz who is widely regarded as the best player in franchise history, no one in a Bengals uniform has ever driven hobby interest the way Joe Burrow has in his short time under center. There are a handful of short-printed rookie autos that command a higher price tag, but his 2020 Panini Prizm rookie is his most recognizable with 8,582 of the base version submitted to PSA for grading.
Cleveland Browns: 1958 Topps #62 Jim Brown RC
This gets my vote for most iconic football rookie card of all-time. Despite playing only nine seasons, Jim Brown etched his place in NFL history with eight rushing titles, three MVP awards and 12,312 rushing yards in 118 games. Raw versions of his rookie card regularly sell for more than $2,000, and there are only six PSA 9 and zero PSA 10 among the 3,843 that have been submitted for grading.
Pittsburgh Steelers: 1971 Topps #156 Terry Bradshaw RC
It's a toss-up between this one and Walter Payton's 1976 Topps rookie card for No. 1 rookie card of the 1970s honors. Terry Bradshaw had plenty of help on those vaunted 1970s Steelers teams, but he was the face of the franchise and quarterbacks drive the hobby. The 1971 Topps set is a big one for Steelers fans, as it also features "Mean" Joe Greene's rookie card.
AFC South
Houston Texas: 2003 Topps #380 Andre Johnson RC
This one was tough. We could have gone with a J.J. Watt rookie card or even thrown it back to David Carr who was an important figure in franchise history as the expansion team's top pick. Instead, we went with All-Pro wide receiver Andre Johnson. His 2003 Topps base rookie card also has Topps Gold (/499), Topps Black (/150), Topps Chrome and Topps Chrome Xfractors (/101) versions.
Indianapolis Colts: 1998 SP Authentic #14 Peyton Manning RC
With a print run of just 2,000 for the checklist's rookie cards and a rookie class that included Peyton Manning, Randy Moss, Charles Woodson, Fred Taylor and Ahman Green, the 1998 SP Authentic release is one of the iconic sets of the 1990s. With none of his true rookie cards featuring an autograph, this is Manning's most sought-after rookie.
Jacksonville Jaguars: 1995 SP #147 Tony Boselli RC
Generally speaking, offensive lineman don't have much of a place in the football card market, but Tony Boselli stands apart in the Jaguars relatively short franchise history. The team's first-ever draft pick at No. 2 in the 1995 NFL draft, he was a five-time Pro Bowl selection, three-time All-Pro and he was chosen to the 1990s All-NFL team. Earlier this year, he became the first Jaguars player ever to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Tennessee Titans: 1989 Score #109 Bruce Matthews RC
Remember that thing we just said about offensive lineman rarely making a hobby impact? Here's another exception to the rule. With all due respect to Steve McNair, Eddie George and a handful of other memorable Oilers and Titans over the years, Bruce Matthews is the greatest player in franchise history. His 1989 Score rookie card is readily available for a couple bucks, but it's a must-own card for any fan of the team.
AFC West
Denver Broncos: 1984 Topps #63 John Elway RC
Included on our list of the 10 football cards every 90s kid should own, John Elway's Topps rookie card is an easy choice for this list. Originally drafted No. 1 in 1983 by the Baltimore Colts, Elway used his potential pro baseball career as leverage to force a trade to Denver where he earned nine Pro Bowl selections, took the team to five Super Bowls and won back-to-back titles to close out his career.
Kansas City Chiefs: 2017 Donruss #327 Patrick Mahomes II RC
For many just getting back into the hobby, Patrick Mahomes will stand out as the biggest rookie card on the market, and his 2017 Donruss "Rated Rookie" is one of the most recognizable cards of the past decade. He has more valuable rookies, but this stands out as the most iconic, and it has proved to be condition sensitive with only 1,233 of the 6,826 submitted to PSA coming back with a PSA 10 grade.
Las Vegas Raiders: 1988 Topps #327 Bo Jackson RC
He may have only played four NFL seasons, but that hasn't stopped Bo Jackson from reaching legendary status. One of the most gifted athletes in sports history, he is still the only person to ever be named to the NFL's Pro Bowl and MLB's All-Star Game, and his 1988 Topps "Super Rookie" is a must-own card for Raiders fans, NFL fans in general and really any sports fan.
Los Angeles Chargers: 2001 Topps #350 LaDainian Tomlinson RC
Tip of the cap to quarterbacks Dan Fouts and Phillip Rivers, but when I think Chargers football, I still think LaDainian Tomlinson. The mid-2000s fantasy juggernaut's 2001 Topps rookie card features a great action shot, and the Topps Chrome (/999) and Topps Chrome Refractors (/100) versions both fetch a pretty penny.
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys: 1990 Score Supplemental #101T Emmitt Smith RC
The No. 17 pick in the 1990 draft, Emmitt Smith rushed for 937 yards and 11 touchdowns in his debut to win Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. That stellar debut playing for "America's team" made him a hot commodity when his rookie card first hit the market, and despite massive overproduction, clean raw copies of his 1990 Score Supplemental rookie can still fetch $50 or more on eBay.
New York Giants: 1982 Topps #434 Lawrence Taylor RC
A three-time Defensive Player of the Year, eight-time All-Pro and 10-time Pro Bowl selection, Lawrence Taylor is widely regarded as the greatest defensive player in NFL history. He also won NFL MVP honors in 1986 when he racked up 20.5 sacks for a Giants team that won the Super Bowl over the Denver Broncos.
Philadelphia Eagles: 1996 Finest #344 Brian Dawkins RC
One of the greatest safeties in NFL history, Brian Dawkins was a second-round pick in the 1996 draft, and he spent the first 13 seasons of his 16-year career in Philadelphia. He only has six different rookie cards, with Bowman and Topps both failing to include him in their flagship products, leaving his 1996 Finest as his most sought-after early card and a frequent target for Hall of Fame collectors.
Washington Commanders: 2004 Topps #347 Sean Taylor RC
Wide receiver Art Monk (1981 Topps) and cornerback Darrell Green (1984 Topps) are both no-brainer additions for any Washington football collector, but the team's most iconic rookie card belongs to safety Sean Taylor. A budding superstar who tragically died at the age of 24 in a home invasion, he has a wide variety of different rookie cards as the No. 5 pick in the 2004 draft, but his Topps flagship rookie is a great place to start.
NFC North
Chicago Bears: 1976 Topps #148 Walter Payton RC
A prime candidate for a spot on the NFL's Mt. Rushmore, Walter Payton rushed for 16,726 yards and 110 touchdowns during his 13 seasons with the Chicago Bears while becoming one of the most beloved players in the history of the sport. A PSA 9 version of his rookie card sold for $6,300 earlier this month on eBay, and of the 10,339 that have been graded by PSA, the PSA 9s (685) and PSA 10s (53) account for less than 10 percent of submissions.
Detroit Lions: 1989 Score #257 Barry Sanders RC
There were a lot of difficult choices in this exercise, but this was not one of them. Legendary running back Barry Sanders has three different rookie cards in the 1989 Pro Set, 1989 Score and 1989 Topps Traded sets, and the Score rookie is by far the most sought-after and valuable of the bunch. A PSA 10 version of the card sold for $1,401 on eBay earlier this month.
Green Bay Packers: 2005 Topps #431 Aaron Rodgers RC
Since Brett Favre began his career with the Atlanta Falcons and is pictured with them on his rookie card, Aaron Rodgers is the no-brainer choice to represent the Packers. A four-time NFL MVP, including each of the past two seasons, Rodgers has climbed into the top 10 all-time in passing yards (55,360, 10th) and passing touchdowns (449, fifth). He has a handful of high-end autographed rookies, but his Topps flagship is the iconic pick.
Minnesota Vikings: 1998 SP Authentic #18 Randy Moss RC
The 1962 Topps rookie card of quarterback Fran Tarkenton is a great vintage choice for Vikings fans, but the enduring popularity of Randy Moss makes him the choice here. The electric wide receiver ranks among the all-time leaders in receiving yards (15,292, fourth) and receiving touchdowns (156, second), and his 1998 SP Authentic rookie card is one of the chase cards in an epic set alongside Peyton Manning.
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons: 1989 Score #246 Deion Sanders RC
There is no slam-dunk choice for the Falcons, though recent stars Matt Ryan and Julio Jones were certainly in the mix, along with standout running back Jamal Anderson who helped lead the team to a Super Bowl appearance in 1996. In the end, we opted for one of the most popular players of the 1990s in cornerback Deion Sanders, whose Score rookie card is part of the same set as Barry Sanders' top rookie.
Carolina Panthers: 2001 Topps #321 Steve Smith RC
Linebacker Luke Kuechly and defensive end Julius Peppers have a legitimate case for being the best player in Panthers history, but offensive players dominate the hobby, and wide receiver Steve Smith is squarely in that conversation as well. He is the franchise's all-time leader in receptions (836), receiving yards (12,197) and total touchdowns (75), and his Topps flagship rookie is a must-buy for Panthers fans.
New Orleans Saints: 1984 Topps #303 Rickey Jackson RC
The Saints have four Hall of Famers who began their career with the team and spent the bulk of their career in New Orleans—linebackers Rickey Jackson and Sam Mills, left tackle Willie Roaf and kicker Morten Andersen. The rookie cards of all four should be part of any Saints fan's collection, and Jackson gets the nod here as a six-time Pro Bowl selection who piled up 123 sacks in 13 seasons in New Orleans.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 1995 Finest #193 Derrick Brooks RC
Linebacker Derrick Brooks, defensive tackle Warren Sapp, safety John Lynch and cornerback Ronde Barber were the core of a Buccaneers defense that helped lead the team to a Super Bowl win in 2002. Scooping up a rookie card of all four would be a great place for a new collector to dive into some older cards. One of the best linebackers of his era, Brooks has 15 different rookie cards, with his 1995 Finest being the most sought-after of the bunch.
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals: 2004 Topps #360 Larry Fitzgerald RC
The No. 3 pick in the 2004 draft following an all-time great collegiate season in which he hauled in 92 catches for 1,672 yards and 22 touchdowns, Larry Fitzgerald went on to become one of the most consistent wide receivers in NFL history. His 1,432 receptions and 17,492 receiving yards both rank second all-time to Jerry Rice.
Los Angeles Rams: 1999 Playoff Contenders SSD #146 Kurt Warner AU RC
Outside of Tom Brady's rookie cards during his breakout with the Patriots, few cards have sky-rocketed in value quite like Kurt Warner's Playoff Contenders rookie auto. He threw for 41 touchdowns and 4,353 yards as a 28-year-old rookie in 1999 to win NFL MVP honors as the ring leader of the "Greatest Show on Turf" in St. Louis. With a print run of 1,825, the card still fetches a premium, and a PSA 9 recently sold for $652 on eBay.
San Francisco 49ers: 1986 Topps #161 Jerry Rice RC
A list of the most iconic rookie cards in NFL history would include both Joe Montana (1981 Topps) and Jerry Rice (1986 Topps), so this really boils down to personal preference. The GOAT wide receiver's only rookie card gets the nod for this list, and of the 25,836 submitted to PSA for grading, only 59 have come back with a PSA 10 grade.
Seattle Seahawks: 1977 Topps #177 Steve Largent RC
The 2012 Topps Russell Wilson rookie card might ultimately be the best answer for the Seahawks, but following his trade to the Denver Broncos this offseason, we've opted to go in a different direction. Wide receiver Steve Largent retired as the NFL's all-time leader in receptions (819), receiving yards (13,089) and receiving touchdowns (100) after playing his entire 14-year career in Seattle.
All stats courtesy of Football Reference.