Collecting football cards can be an exciting hobby, but who says it shouldn't be highly profitable? If you're like us, you might be chasing the next grails or hits. That's why we'll show you the most expensive football cards.
From the 1957 Topps Bart Starr #119, which sold for $288,000, to others like the 1997 Skybox Metal Universe Barry Sanders Precious Metal Gems (PMG) #162 that command over $48,000, we'll discuss why these cards are the most valuable. In this article, we'll also share how we ranked these cards and include expert tips for collectors.
The most valuable football cards are a collector’s pride. These cards are sold at auction houses and marketplaces for astronomical figures. In the table below, we’ve added our top five most expensive football cards according to our experts. You’ll find the highest sale amount, estimated value, and grade.
| Rank | Card | Highest Sale | Estimated Value | Most recent sale | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1957 Topps Bart Starr #119 | $288,000 | $800 – $15,000 | $12,860 | PSA 8 (NM-MT) |
| 2 | 1957 Topps Johnny Unitas #138 | $167,300 | $600 – $8,600 | $2,375 | PSA 7 (NM) |
| 3 | 1997 Skybox Metal Universe Brett Favre Precious Metal Gems (PMG) #156 | $146,400 | $8,000 – $80,000 | $28,904 | PSA 8 |
| 4 | 1997 Skybox Metal Universe Barry Sanders Precious Metal Gems (PMG) #162 | $48,750 | $3,800 – $50,000+ | $12,403 | BGS Authentic (missing serial number) |
| 5 | 1957 Topps Paul Hornung #151 | $25,601 | $300 – $20,000+ | $5,102.22 | PSA 8 (NM-MT) |
Now that we’ve shown you our top five most valuable sports cards, you may be wondering why we picked them. Below, we’ll explain why these football cards made our list:
The 1957 Topps Bart Starr #119 was the first football card in our collection. From our observation, the value of this card skyrocketed after Starr won five NFL championships with the Green Bay Packers.
Leading the team to win Super Bowl I and II and bagging MVPs for the two competitions further solidified Starr’s position as a football icon.
We noticed the 1957 Topps Bart Starr #119 card is condition-sensitive, so it needs to be handled carefully due to its poor centering and full-bleed borders. If you find one in perfect condition, it can go as high as $288,000.
After many NFL card breaks, it’s been difficult to get hits or grails like the 1957 Topps Bart Starr #119.
To many collectors, the 1957 Topps Johnny Unitas #138 is the ultimate vintage football card. Granted, Bart Starr was more popular, but Johnny Unitas was a legend in his own right.
So, it’s understandable that his card is highly sought after. Also, the 1957 Topps Johnny Unitas #138 was the official rookie card for the famous quarterback. On the front of the card, you’ll find Unitas in one of his iconic throwing poses.
Popularly called Johnny U, he went on to win three MVPs with the Colts after the Steelers dropped him in 1955. The 1957 Topps Johnny Unitas #138’s poor centering and dark borders affect its durability, making any card in pristine condition one of the grails that can fetch up to $160,000.
The 1997 Skybox Metal Universe Brett Favre Precious Metal Gems (PMG) #156 is one of the parallels you’ll like to have in your collection. This card was released in 135 reds and 15 greens, making the green cards one of the grails. If you manage to get your hands on it, you may spend up to $140,000+.
The highest recorded sale of this card is $146,400, but the current estimated price is $8,000 to more than $80,000. Note that the card price depends on factors like the grading score and current condition.
Like the 1957 Topps Bart Starr #119 and 1957 Topps Johnny Unitas #138 cards, it’s quite difficult to get a 1997 Skybox Metal Universe Brett Favre Precious Metal Gems (PMG) #156 from football card rips.
Fleer/Skybox did a thing with the 1997 Skybox Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems (PMG), which explains why it’s a favorite set among football card collectors.
Our favorite is 1997 Skybox Metal Universe Barry Sanders Precious Metal Gems (PMG) #162. Like 1997 Skybox Metal Universe Brett Favre Precious Metal Gems (PMG) #156, this PMG print has only 150 copies (135 red and 15 green).
The card attracted huge attention from luxury collectors after Barry Sanders’ MVP season in 1997, which many regard as the apex of his football career, especially after rushing for 2,053 yards that season.
At the moment, the card’s estimated value is $3,800 to more than $50,000, depending on whether it’s graded, its condition, and its grading score.
If you’re an experienced football card collector, you won’t be surprised that the 1957 Topps set has appeared so many times on this list.
That’s because this set contains lots of valuable cards, including 1957 Topps Paul Hornung Rookie #151. To understand how valuable this card is, it has recorded the highest sale amount of $25,601 and is currently estimated to be worth $300 to more than $20,000.
A high PSA 10 1957 Topps Paul Hornung Rookie #151 is very scarce, which makes it one of the grails. Hornung’s popularity as the only Heisman Trophy winner at a losing team (Notre Dame) in 1956 made the card a collector’s dream. It also adds that he also won one Super Bowl and four NFL championships with the Packers.
Since these are high-end cards, our experts were meticulous in their selection and ranking. Here are some factors we considered before choosing these most expensive football cards:
Before ranking our most valuable NFL cards, we checked data from verified auction platforms. This gives us an idea of how high these cards sell and whether it’s worth adding them to our collections.
We usually consider the latest prices from trusted card pricing sites and auction sites before buying any football card. That way, we won’t overpay. Our experts applied this strategy to provide the latest estimated price for this guide, so you’ll know how much to expect for your preferred expensive card.
Every collector loves a good story connected to the card that catches their eye. That’s because a good story sells, and cards with historical importance often fetch more money. We’ve made sure our top five cards have historical significance.
All five most expensive football cards on our list are rare. You can’t easily find them on marketplaces or card break sites. This scarcity increases their appeal and value.
Our top five most valuable NFL cards have both graded and non-graded versions. Before snagging one, make sure it’s BGS- or PSA graded. The higher the PSA or BGS grade, the higher the amount.
Before heading to marketplaces to buy a card, we often check collector sources for the current price. This way, we’ll know what to expect.
Note that football card values fluctuate over time. Therefore, we’ll update our rankings periodically to reflect current changes.
If you’ve added a few football cards to your slab sleeves or vault, take advantage of these tips to manage your collection:
Our card break reviews will help you collect valuable cards from reputable sites. You can also apply the information from these reviews to your college football card breaks.
Simply, grading affects card price. Higher-graded cards are worth so much more than low-graded cards. Therefore, we recommend going for cards with at least PSA 7.
If you prefer physical cards, you’ll need toploaders and sleeves to take care of them. Cards in pristine condition attract higher prices.
Knowing how to track card prices is crucial as a collector. From tracking the prices of cards in our collection, we quickly sold our 2012 Panini Prizm Russell Wilson #230 after the price kept falling. You wouldn’t want to spend so much money on any of these most expensive football cards and incur a huge loss. Therefore, check auction houses and marketplaces regularly for updated prices and study patterns.
As a football card collector, you need to understand the difference between modern and vintage cards, as each has its own appeal. Vintage sports cards were manufactured before 1980 and have historical significance and natural scarcity, while modern cards are produced after that and have false scarcity due to short prints. Understanding the difference will help you decide which to collect for personal pleasure or invest in.
Now that you know some of the most valuable football cards ever sold, you’ll have a better idea of what to look for when browsing marketplaces, auctions, or card break sites. Our selections are based on each card’s historical significance, rarity, professional grades, and estimated market value, with record sales verified through leading auction houses and trusted collector sources.
Keep in mind that trading card values can change over time as the market evolves. Check back regularly for updated prices and rankings, and explore the recommended platforms featured on this page to start building or expanding your football card collection.
There are many expensive NFL cards in the world at the moment. But the 1957 Topps Bart Starr #119 is the highest on our list.
The top five football cards we’ve discussed are worth considering. But note that they’re scarce and expensive.
Yes. If you can afford it, we recommend getting any of the cards we’ve mentioned here. They’re quite scarce and valuable.
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