Cards from the best players of the decade
The 1950s saw the massive growth of NFL football, the ’60s birthed the Super Bowl and NFL Films, and the ’70s laid the blueprint for the modern NFL. The decade featured some of the most iconic players, dynasty teams, and individual records that are still looked back at in awe today. And, of course, we still see Terry Bradshaw on NFL Sundays.
It’s arguable that the 1970s is the true golden age of the NFL. In this era, modern playbooks, formations, and playstyles were implemented into the league, building on previous decades of refinement and film room study. Some of the best players from the ’60s were still active, but they were giving up ground to the new-school players who would catapult the league into a new stratosphere of popularity.
We still had the gritty, brutal, bloody, and grass-stained grinders of the gridiron, but we’d also see phenomenal individual efforts and unforgettable plays that would go on to live in the annals of NFL history. This was the decade of the undefeated Dolphins, the Iron Curtain of the Steelers, and the rookie years of some of the greatest players to ever step cleated-foot onto a painted field, whose cards you must seek out and collect.
The Funkiest Cards Of The ’70s
1972 Topps Football #80 Bob Griese
Player info
• Part of the fabled undefeated ’73 dolphins
• Won two Super Bowls
Set info
• 351 card set
• released in three series
card back
• vitals, career stats, and a recap of Bob’s 1971 season as the AFC’s leading passer
• includes a small cartoon saying that Griese likes to play tennis in his spare time
1977 Topps Football #45 Roger Staubach
Player info
• won Super Bowl VI in 1971 and was SB MVP – a season in which he led the league in passer rating (104.8)
• went 2/4 in Super Bowl appearances
Card info
• 528 card set
• all pro player cards are given a black stripe
card back
• Vitals, career passing stats, a quick recap of the “most dramatic play of his career,” and a quick “college corner” piece of trivia about his college career
1975 Topps Football #300 Franco Harris
Player info
• 1972 rookie of the year and 4x Super Bowl champ
• caught the “immaculate reception” which kicked off the Steelers dynasty of the ’70s
Card info
• 528 card set
• subsets include stat leaders (cards 1-6), all pros, record breakers, and more
card back
• Vitals, career stats to that point, and a bio focusing on his rushing prowess as a Steeler
1977 Topps Football Card #360 Walter Payton
Player info
• Holds record for most consecutive regular-season starts by a running back (170)
• Holds record for Games with 100 or more yards from scrimmage gained in a career (108)
Card info
• As seen on Payton’s cards, set honored 1000-yard-gaining players with a special logo
card back
• Vitals, career stats to that point, and some standout stats, such as being the winner of the ’75 kickoff return title at 31.7 avg Yards per return
1971 Topps Football #156 Terry Bradshaw RC
Player info
• 1978 NFL MVP
• Four-time Super Bowl champ (IX, X, XIII, XIV)
Card info
• First set post-AFL/NFL merger
• AFC players have a red border, NFC players have a blue border, and all pros have both colors
card back
• vitals and a lengthy recap of his college career and rookie season (1970). Includes a cartoon stating Bradshaw set a high school record for javelin throw
