First Cards for the Biggest Stars
In both attendance and viewership, the 2025 NFL draft was one of the biggest ever, and the enthusiasm around this rookie class is palpable. Of course, this means we must look back at some classic football history through Topps Football and list the most important rookie cards.
As you read through the iconic names on this list, let’s think about this year’s crop of incoming rookies. What do we do about the Shedeur Sanders cards, or Jalen Milroe, or Jaxson Dart, who has a team with one of the best young receivers in the league ready and waiting? How will the popularity of these players and their potential for success impact the market? Stock up now? Wait it out?
Bill Walsh was blasted for taking Joe Montana near the bottom of the third round. Tom Brady was drafted in the sixth — 199th overall. No one was clamoring for their cards, and as Bill Walsh famously said, “Few men are qualified to evaluate the quarterback position. Fewer still are qualified to coach the position.” That said, we’re all qualified to stash an RC from the 2025 class.
The Best Topps Football Rookie Cards
2000 Bowman Football #236 Tom Brady RC
Player Info
• Most games won by a player: 251
• Brady’s first Topps Football card came in the 2002 Topps Football release
Set Info
• 270-card base set
• Roster divided into 140 Veteran Cards, 105 Rookie Cards, and 25 NFL Europe Prospects
What They said
• “He’s a good, tough, competitive, smart quarterback that is a good value and how he does and what he’ll be able to do, we’ll just put him out there with everybody else and let him compete and see what happens.” – Bill Belichick on Tom Brady, draft day 2000
1965 Topps Football #122 Joe Namath RC
Player Info
• Two-time AFL MVP
• Winner of the third AFL-NFL Championship Game, the first to be dubbed the “Super Bowl”
Set Info
• Featuring the iconic “tall boy” cards, the set has 176 total cards, with 132 short-printed (including Namath’s card)
• Less than 100 Namath rookie cards have been graded above an 8 or 9, making it extremely rare and valuable
What They said
• “If you’re not gonna go all the way, why go at all?” – Joe Namath
1976 Topps Football #148 Walter Payton RC
Player Info
• 1977 Offensive Player of the Year and NFL MVP
• No. 2 on the all-time rushing yards list
Card Info
• Payton stands out as the most valuable player card in this entire set
What They said
• “The most valuable players don’t always win the game, but they play with heart until the final whistle.” – Walter Payton
1981 Topps #216 Joe Montana RC
Player Info
• Holds the league record for most pass attempts without throwing an interception in a Super Bowl
• Tied with Terry Bradshaw for the most wins in a Super Bowl without a loss at four
Set Info
• 528-card set with All-Pro and Super Action subsets
What They said
• “I struggle to try to understand how the whole process took place with me leaving San Francisco. I should have never had to leave.” – Joe Montana
1958 Topps Football #62 Jim Brown RC
Player Info
• Only player to win the NFL Rookie of the Year and MVP awards in the same year.
• Three-time league MVP
Set Info
• This set features the first “natural background” on a football card
• 132-card base set full of legends such as Frank Gifford and Johnny Unitas
What They said
• “Tell you what you got to do to compete. What you got to do to compete is compete.” – Jim Brown
