Tom Brady Tops Week 1 Football Card Sales List

Tom Brady Leads the Week 1 Football Card Market

With Week 2 of the NFL season approaching, the latest football card sales snapshot looks back at the biggest moves following Week 1. The list is led by legends, with a few modern stars and a top rookie-year card mixed in. For now, with only 2026 Topps Flagship Football out among the newest releases mentioned in the source, the market remains heavily driven by established names.

The top five sales from the week include Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, Walter Payton, Caleb Williams and Peyton Manning, with several high-end cards crossing major price points across eBay, Card Ladder and Heritage Auctions.

No. 5 - Peyton Manning 2025 Absolute Kaboom! Super Bowl Horizontal Purple PSA 10

The No. 5 spot belongs to Peyton Manning and a 2025 Absolute Kaboom! Super Bowl Horizontal Purple PSA 10 that sold for $39,809 on September 15, 2026 via eBay. The card carries a PSA 10 population of 10, adding a layer of scarcity to an already eye-catching Kaboom! parallel.

The card honors Manning’s Super Bowl XLI victory and MVP performance in 2007, the lone championship of his Indianapolis Colts career. Manning later added a second Super Bowl ring with the Denver Broncos before retiring in 2016, cementing his place among the most accomplished quarterbacks in NFL history.

No. 4 - Caleb Williams 2024 Panini Prizm Deca Black Prizm 1-of-1 PSA 8

Caleb Williams lands at No. 4 with a 2024 Panini Prizm Deca Black Prizm 1-of-1 PSA 8 that sold for $70,125.60 on September 17, 2026, according to Card Ladder. The card stands out as one of the premier licensed cards from Williams’ rookie year.

The 2024 NFL Draft class was quarterback-heavy at the top, and Williams entered the league as the No. 1 overall pick by the Chicago Bears. While not his most recognizable rookie card, the Black Prizm 1-of-1 remains a major chase for collectors following his early NFL market.

No. 3 - Walter Payton 1976 Topps #148 CGC 8/Auto 9

Walter Payton checks in at No. 3 with a signed 1976 Topps #148 graded CGC 8 with an Auto 9, which sold for $73,200 on September 18, 2026 through Heritage Auctions. The card is one of the most notable signed rookie-era Payton pieces to surface in the market this week.

Payton, one of the greatest running backs in NFL history, spent his entire 13-year career with the Chicago Bears and was a perennial All-Pro. The source also notes that another signed rookie card of Payton sold for $64,050 on the same date, which would have placed it in the top five as well, but duplication was avoided in the ranking.

Related coverage includes Tom Brady Kaboom! Gold Tops a $93,750 Week for Football Cards.

That second sale underscores just how strong the market has been for Payton cards, especially signed examples tied to his rookie year.

No. 2 - Patrick Mahomes 2017 National Treasures Jersey Number Auto /15 BGS 9.5

Patrick Mahomes takes the No. 2 spot with a 2017 National Treasures Jersey Number Auto /15 graded BGS 9.5. The card sold for $90,000 on September 17, 2026.

This rookie card features a tricolor patch in the red, yellow and white of the Kansas City Chiefs uniform, along with a blue autograph. The jersey-numbered format adds another layer of appeal, with the print run matching Mahomes’ jersey number 15.

As one of the most sought-after modern football cards, the combination of rookie-year significance, premium patch content and strong grading helped push this National Treasures issue near the top of the weekly sales list.

No. 1 - Tom Brady 2021 Panini Absolute Kaboom! Gold /10 BGS 9

At No. 1 is Tom Brady, whose 2021 Panini Absolute Kaboom! Gold /10 BGS 9 sold for $93,750 on September 17, 2026 through Card Ladder. The card tops the week’s football sales and continues Brady’s long run of dominance in the hobby market.

Brady, who is now a FOX announcer and wellness entrepreneur, also holds minority ownership stakes in the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces, the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders and Birmingham City FC, an English football club. Before his post-playing career expanded into broadcasting, business and entertainment, he built his legacy as a quarterback with the New England Patriots and later the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The source also notes Brady’s involvement as a card shop and sports memorabilia business partner and as a movie producer, adding to the wide-ranging profile that keeps his name prominent both in and outside the hobby.

What the Week 1 Sales Say About the Football Card Market

This week’s list shows the continued strength of high-end football cards tied to proven names. Brady and Mahomes remain central figures in the modern market, while Walter Payton and Peyton Manning continue to command strong prices from collectors chasing all-time greats. Caleb Williams’ appearance in the top five also shows how quickly a top draft pick can enter the upper tier of football card sales when the right card hits the market.

With the NFL season still early and more new releases expected, the next few weeks should bring more movement from rookies and veterans alike. For now, the market is still being driven by premium parallels, low-numbered cards, and iconic names that continue to anchor the football card hobby.