Has Josh Allen Overtaken Patrick Mahomes in Football Cards?

Josh Allen’s Rise Has Changed the Football Card Conversation

Patrick Mahomes has been the standard in modern football cards since taking over for Alex Smith in Week 17 of the 2017 season. For years, the hobby treated Mahomes as the clear king of the market, a player whose biggest cards set the pace for everyone else.

That picture has started to shift. Josh Allen has climbed to a level in the hobby that only Tom Brady and Mahomes had previously reached, and his recent surge has created a real debate about where the modern football card market is headed.

The Bills have not matched the Chiefs in postseason success, and Buffalo has not reached the Super Bowl during this stretch. Even so, Allen’s on-field leap and growing hobby demand have pushed his cards into a new tier.

Allen’s Market Has Accelerated After His MVP Season

Allen’s 2024 NFL MVP season appears to have been a major turning point. His play on the field has taken a noticeable step forward, and that momentum has carried into the hobby.

According to Card Ladder, Allen’s market has risen 111.47% over the last two years. That is a significant move, and it has come alongside a string of major sales that have kept his name at the center of the football card market.

While Allen’s Card Ladder index has shown a slight dip in the cards tracked, the broader trend remains strong. Recent high-end sales have helped reinforce the idea that collectors are willing to pay up for his best cards.

Mahomes Still Holds the Top Football Card Sale

Patrick Mahomes still owns the highest sale ever for a football card. His 2017 National Treasures Shield RPA 1/1, graded BGS 8.5 with an Auto 10, sold for $4.3 million.

That record remains the benchmark for the modern football card market. Mahomes also continues to post strong long-term performance in the hobby, even if the record-setting sales that defined the early part of his career have slowed.

Related coverage includes Josh Allen vs. Patrick Mahomes in the Card Market: Is Buffalo’s Star Football’s New Hobby Leader?.

Per Card Ladder, Mahomes’ market is still up more than 69% over the last two years. That is hardly a sign of a fading player. Instead, it suggests that his cards remain highly valued even without the same level of headline-grabbing sales he once produced.

Allen Reaches Million-Dollar Territory Twice

The biggest reason Allen has entered the Mahomes conversation is the scale of his recent sales. The football card market went more than two years without a million-dollar sale before Allen broke through twice in 2026.

That made Allen the new million-dollar man and tied him with Mahomes for the second-most million-dollar card sales behind Brady. It is a notable milestone, especially in a market where only a handful of players have ever reached that level.

The card highlighted in the source was a one-of-one PSA 8.5 2018 Panini National Treasures Josh Allen NFL Shield Autograph rookie card, card No. 163. That type of premium rookie card is exactly the kind of piece that can define a player’s place in the hobby.

Brady Still Sets the Standard at the Top

Even with Allen’s rise and Mahomes’ continued strength, Tom Brady remains the measuring stick for football cards. Neither Allen nor Mahomes has matched Brady in the card market yet, and that gap still matters when discussing the all-time hierarchy.

Allen’s recent sales have put him in rare company, but Brady’s position at the top remains intact. The current debate is less about whether Allen has passed Brady and more about whether he has become the most compelling modern challenger to Mahomes.

Why Allen’s Cards Are Gaining Attention

Part of Allen’s appeal is tied to how he plays. His style is explosive and easy to market, and the Bills’ offense has often been built around his ability to create big moments. That makes him a favorite for collectors who want a player with both production and star power.

Mahomes has had the better team success over the last several seasons, but Allen’s recent rise has given collectors another elite option in the modern football space. The market appears to be responding to that combination of talent, visibility, and upside.

Collectors are also reacting to the fact that Allen’s biggest cards have started to produce the kind of results usually reserved for the hobby’s most established names. When a player reaches million-dollar territory more than once, it changes the conversation around his long-term place in the market.

Mahomes Remains Strong, But Allen Has Closed the Gap in the Short Term

It would be inaccurate to say Mahomes has fallen off. His market is still strong, and his long-term track record remains superior in terms of all-time sales. But Allen’s recent run has made the comparison much closer than it was before.

The source notes that Allen has seen more high-end sales this year, even though Mahomes still holds the stronger overall market position when looking at more liquid cards. That distinction matters. High-end sales can signal collector enthusiasm, but broader market strength shows where the overall demand sits.

At the moment, Allen appears to have the edge in the most dramatic sales, while Mahomes still leads in total market standing. That is why the answer to whether Allen has passed Mahomes is not a simple yes or no.

What the Numbers Say About the Modern Football Card Market

The current market suggests collectors are willing to pay a premium for the top end of Allen’s portfolio. His rise has been steep enough to create a legitimate challenge to Mahomes in the short term, especially when discussing the most expensive modern football cards.

At the same time, Mahomes’ body of work in the hobby remains unmatched outside of Brady. His record sale, consistent performance, and long-standing status as the face of modern football cards still give him a strong claim to the top spot.

Allen’s 111.47% two-year gain stands out because it shows how quickly the market can change when a player reaches a new level on the field. His continued climb has made him one of the most important names to watch in football cards, especially at the high end.

What Collectors Are Watching Next

With Mahomes healthy this year, the market could continue to evolve quickly. Allen’s recent sales have already changed the discussion, but future movement will likely depend on what both quarterbacks do on the field and how collectors respond to each new milestone.

For now, Allen has forced his way into the same conversation as Mahomes and Brady. That alone says a lot about how far his hobby profile has come in a relatively short time.

The football card market has not replaced Mahomes at the top, but Allen’s surge has made the modern quarterback hierarchy more interesting than it has been in years. High-end collectors seem to be leaning toward Allen right now, and the next major sale could add another layer to the debate.