Cards From the Best WRs of the Decade
Loading ...For decades, the league’s offenses ran first. Teams were content to present a hard-nosed, grinding playbook to impose their will on opponents. But almost as soon as the calendar turned to 1980, Bill Walsh and the West Coast Offense would change the game, and the era of the receiver was born.
Even before Jerry Rice entered the league in the mid-’80s, receivers made spectacular plays downfield, and their stat lines were equally stunning. In fact, the ’80s produced multiple receivers who went on to break nearly all receiving records before Jerry Rice claimed them all for his own a decade or so down the line.
So now we look back at these incredible pass catchers and their cards to collect – with some vintage cards and others represented by their latest releases in Topps Motif Football and Topps Composite Football.
The Top WRs of the 1980s
1982 Topps Football #229 In Action Wes Chandler
Player info
• 1982 reception and td leader
• four-time pro bowler
Set info
• 528 card set
• features a conference leader subset, league record subset, and conference and league champion cards
What they said
• in a strike-shortened eight-game 1982 season, chandler caught 29 passes for 1,032 yards and nine touchdowns
1983 Topps Football #83 James Lofton
Player info
• no one had more receptions or receiving yards in the 1980s (9,465/507)
• 1980s all-decade team
set info
• 396 card set
• subsets include record breakers, conference and league championship cards, and pro bowl players have a pro bowl designation
What they said
• “He’s got, like, this afterburner. It seems the longer he goes, the faster he gets.” – “He’s got, like, this afterburner.” New England cornerback Ray Clayborn
2023 Topps Composite Football Resurgence Retro Vision #RRV-6 Jerry Rice
Player info
• most career receiving yards (22,895), receptions (1,549), and receiving touchdowns (197) in league history
• Fastest player to reach 15,000 receiving yards: 172 games
Set info
• Resurgence Retro vision features 20 players with a 1/1 refractor parallel
What they said
• “Jerry was so explosive off the line and had the ability to always finish plays like no one else before or after. One thing he had was an insatiable appetite to get an edge and be the best.” – ronnie lott
1988 Topps Football #3 Record Breaker Steve Largent
Player info
• at the time of his retirement, he held all major receiving records for a career: most receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns
• at the time of his retirement, he held the record for most consecutive games with a reception: 177
set info
• 396 card set featuring a subset for conference offense and defensive leaders and 1000 yard club (24 players)
What they said
• “He is his own motivator, teacher and preparer. He wins football games through his preparation.” = Seattle offensive coordinator Steve Moore
2023 Topps Composite Football Spotless Spans #SS-8 Art Monk
Player info
• the first player in league history to record a touchdown reception in 15 consecutive seasons
• first player to record over 100+ receptions in a season in the modern era
set info
• 263 card set
• spotless spans features 25 players
card back
• a recap of his untouchable 1985 season in which he had six 100+ yard receiving performances in seven games – punctuated by a 13-catch 230 yard game
