Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more.
Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more.
Want to collect American football cards but not sure where to start? Learn what to look for in football trading cards in our easy-to-follow guide. Here, we compare singles with packs and cover what collectors consider before they buy.
The best American football cards to buy depend on your personal choice, as well as your budget, the players or teams you follow and whether you'd rather choose a card or open packs.
It might help to start with these five questions:
Discover American football trading cards worth money
The NFL's licensed card maker changed in 2026. On April 2, Fanatics, the parent company of Topps, became the exclusive football trading card licensee under a 20-year deal with the NFL and the NFL Players Association.
Panini had held the license since 2016. The first release under the new deal was 2025 Topps Chrome Football, which came out on April 15, 2026. Topps Flagship Football followed at retail on August 21, 2026.
When you compare the best American football card brands, check which company made the exact product and which year it covers. The brand name alone doesn't tell you what you're buying.
When buying packs or boxes, it's worth checking what's included and what isn't guaranteed. For example, a 2025 Topps Chrome Football hobby box contains 20 packs of four cards each, giving you 80 cards in total.
However, Topps doesn't guarantee specific players, teams or inserts unless stated on the packaging. You can check the published odds on Topps' website to better understand your chances of pulling certain cards before you buy.
With singles, you know the price of the card you're buying upfront. Packs have a set purchase price, but you don't know which cards you'll receive. Buying more packs to find a particular card can also increase your total spending. Whichever format you prefer, factor in shipping and taxes when comparing costs.
For rookie interest, many collectors focus on where a player's first-year cards appear in a set and which version they want. The same rookie can show up as a base card, an insert, a parallel or an autograph.
Plus, each version is a different card, so look at the exact set and card name. Prices can move up and down – compare recent sale prices for that exact card before you decide.
2025 Topps Chrome Football shows how many versions can exist:
Inserts are themed cards that sit outside the base set and autograph cards add a player's signature. Both give you more versions to compare.
A graded card has been authenticated and given a condition grade by a third party, while a raw card hasn't. A grade helps you compare the condition. It doesn't tell you which player or set suits you, so weigh the grade, the card and the price together.
Part of grading is subjective, mainly where centering or eye appeal is in question, so similar cards can receive different grades.
Read: How to get sports cards graded
Online card ripping is a way to open digital or live-streamed packs that are tied to real-world trading cards. You normally have the choice to get the physical cards delivered to you, keep it in a storage vault, trade it or sell it back to the service.
Crypto.com Rips brings physical collectible cards into a digital pack opening in the Crypto.com App. After the reveal, you can see the card's details and a buyback quote. You'll then have three choices: sell it back, request delivery of the physical cards or hold it for 48 hours, until the card sells automatically at the quoted price.
Note: Fees, odds, shipping rules and buyback terms are set by each operator. The value of a revealed card can also differ from the price of the pack.
Card collectibles have taken off as hobbyists and first-timers alike amass their collections or flip it for gains.
Try your hand at the Rips experience and get your first 5 packs free of charge. Find out more details.
* Availability may vary by jurisdiction.
The best choice depends on your budget and which players or teams you follow. Singles can make a first purchase simpler because you know exactly which card you're getting.
Check the checklist and published odds for the exact product you're considering. These show which cards may be available and how likely certain pulls are, although individual pack contents aren't guaranteed.
Look at which sets feature the rookie you're interested in and compare the available card versions. Base cards, inserts and autographs can differ in rarity and price.
Fanatics, through its Topps brand, became the NFL's exclusive trading card licensee on April 2, 2026, under a 20-year agreement. Panini previously held the license.
A PSA 10 is the highest grade on PSA's 10-point scale. It describes a card in virtually perfect condition, with sharp corners, clear focus and full original gloss.
Inserts are themed cards outside a product's main set. Parallels are alternative versions of base cards, often with different finishes or limited print runs.
Online card ripping lets you open packs through a digital platform or live stream. Depending on the service, you can view your revealed cards online and arrange delivery of the physical collectibles.
Each revealed card comes with a sell-back quote valid for 48 hours. You can accept the quote, request physical delivery or hold the card during that period. If you take no action, the card is automatically sold at the quoted price.
Important information: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or investment advice.
The Crypto.com Rips service is provided by Foris Inc. subject to the Crypto.com Rips Terms and Conditions and the Crypto.com App Terms and Conditions. You must be 18+.