Tom Brady needs no introduction to any NFL fan. The seven-time Super Bowl champion has proved himself time and again in the NFL and established himself as one of the greatest ever to have played the game. When Tom Brady finally retired from the game after the end of the 2022-23 NFL season, the NFL witnessed the end of an era. The 3-time NFL MVP and 5-time Super Bowl MVP have a plethora of records to his name. Some of them include most career wins by a quarterback, career passing yards, career playoff quarterback wins, career playoff passing touchdowns, and many more. Tom Brady is probably one of the most iconic sportspeople in the world and holding onto any of his memorabilia makes for a great collector's item.
At the time of Brady’s rookie season in 2000, it would have been unimaginable to predict that he would turn out to be the superstar he is now. NFL Rookie cards are official trading cards that feature an NFL player for the first time after they make it to the league as a pro. Tom Brady's rookie cards are now some of the highest in value and demand. All his rookie cards differ in value based on the manufacturer, the jersey on the card, and whether they are autographed or not.
Read More about Tom Brady’s Super Bowl Wins
How many Tom Brady Rookie Cards are there?
Tom Brady’s rookie cards were manufactured way back in 2000 when he made his debut for the New England Patriots. There used to be around 6 licensed card manufacturers for the particular NFL season and Brady was not featured in cards by all of them (via Beckett).
As of September 2024, there are around 44 variants of Tom Brady's rookie cards (via Beckett). These collectable items are very valuable based on the rarity of each card. Some cards are more common than others and since the late 1990s, there is even a one-of-a-kind rookie card that is manufactured for each player.
However, in May 2022 a second Brady 1 of 1 card emerged. The first one which was auctioned for a whopping $396, 000, was graded 8.5 NM-MT+ by Beckett Grading Services (via ESPN). According to ESPN, later a PSA-graded authentic card also emerged which is held on to by its original collector. It was found out that manufacturers printed multiple copies of 1 card; however, they are not supposed to leave the factory. This one somehow did and now two Tom Brady 1-of-1 rookie cards exist (via ESPN).
Which are the Top 10 Most Valuable Tom Brady Rookie Cards in 2022?
Here is a look at the top ten most valuable Tom Brady rookie cards as of September 2024:
1. 2000 Playoff Contenders Tom Brady Rookie Card Autograph #144
According to Beckett, this is the only Brady autographed rookie card series from 2000. The Contenders branding also adds to its value.
2. 2000 SP Authentic Tom Brady Rookie Card #118 /1250
According to Beckett, this card is valuable owing to its popularity. The card is immensely iconic among collectors and there are a total of 1250 copies in the world. SP Authentic was the most premium brand for rookie cards during the 2000s which helped establish the popularity and value of this card.
3. 2000 Leaf Limited Tom Brady Rookie Card #378 /350
With only 350 copies around the world, this card is already valuable due to its rarity. The speciality is that it has a premium foil look (via Beckett).
4. 2000 SPx Tom Brady Rookie Card #130 /1350
This card shows a brand in transition Brady is in a group of players who simply have serial numbered cards and not a lot of other bells and whistles. Even though, it is still one of the best Tom Brady rookie cards to collect (via Beckett).
5. 2000 Revolution Tom Brady Rookie Card #128 /300
This is one of the rarest Brady rookie cards with only 300 copies and no parallels to go along with it (via Beckett).
6. 2000 Playoff Momentum Tom Brady Rookie Card #180 /750
With an etched foil background, this rare first-year rookie card with 750 copies is one of the best cards where Brady looks a part (via Beckett).
7. 2000 Upper Deck Pros and Prospects Tom Brady RC #124 /1000
This is the rarest Tom Brady rookie card from the manufacturer Upper Deck has 1,000 copies. Foil outlines and multi-directional texts were hallmarks of the company during that time (via Beckett).
8. 2000 UD Graded Tom Brady RC #104 /1325
These cards are relatively more common than others before them in the list. These pre-graded cards from Upper Deck have a blue ribbon outline rather than the company’s usual green (via Beckett).
9. 2000 Bowman Chrome Tom Brady Rookie Card #236
According to Beckett, the card is Tom Brady’s only chromium rookie card and one of two Brady rookie cards from the company Topps. The card has no serial number.
10. 2000 Vanguard Tom Brady RC #139 /762
With only 762 copies this quirky Tom Brady rookie card from Vanguard has "Vision-Glow Technology used in it which makes the card pop off (via Beckett).
Which Tom Brady Rookie Card is the most expensive?
Tom Brady rookie cards are some of the most expensive NFL rookie cards to collect. As of September 2024, the most expensive Brady rookie card is the ‘2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Ticket Tom Brady Autograph Rookie Card #144’. This card is a parallel to the ‘2000 Playoff Contenders Tom Brady Rookie Card Autograph #144’. The Championship Ticket version of the Playoff Contenders Tom Brady rookie card is condition sensitive and the particular version of this which is the most expensive is in mint condition.
Auctioned in January 2022 and sold for a whopping $3.1 million (via ESPN), it makes it the most expensive Tom Brady rookie card and the second-most expensive NFL rookie card ever.
Where can I purchase Tom Brady Rookie Cards?
NFL rookie cards can be purchased from several avenues. Trading cards are available to be purchased on the official NFL website. However, Tom Brady's rookie cards have been mostly collected and also sold by exclusive trading card companies like the Beckett Marketplace. eBay is also one of the best places to buy Tom Brady rookie cards online from other collectors. Always check for the authenticity of rookie cards when you purchase them as there are many copies that are not company-manufactured. Always check for a Beckett Grading Services (BGS) or a Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) authenticity grading on your card.
Also Read: List of Tom Brady’s Yachts
FAQs on Tom Brady
A. Tom Brady has won seven Super Bowls.
A. Tom Brady has won 3 regular season MVPs and five Super Bowl MVPs.
A. Tom Brady played for 23 seasons in the NFL.
A. Tom Brady announced his retirement on February 1, 2023.
