Man, I gotta tell you about this rabbit hole I fell down the other day. So, I was cleaning out my attic, right? And I stumbled upon this dusty old box filled with my childhood treasures. Among them was my collection of football cards. It brought back so many memories of trading with friends and the excitement of opening a new pack. This got me thinking, “Does Topps still make football cards?” I mean, it’s been a while since I last bought a pack.
So, I grabbed my phone and started digging. Turns out, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. I found out that Topps lost their official NFL license back in 2016. That kinda bummed me out, honestly. But, get this, they’re still in the football card game thanks to their partnership with the NFLPA. Apparently, their big product now is something called “Topps Chrome.” From what I gathered, collectors go crazy for it because of some shiny “refractor parallels” and the rookie cards. Sounds fancy, huh?
Then it got even more interesting. It seems like Fanatics bought Topps, and get this – they’ve snagged the NBA and NFL licenses for trading cards starting in 2025 or 2026. But, for now, Panini is still the only one with the official NFL license. It’s like a soap opera in the trading card world!
But here’s the kicker – Topps is making a comeback this year with something called the “Topps Composite” set. This will feature some big NFL stars and cards for the new rookies from 2023. And from what I read, collectors are hyped about it. It’s like Topps is trying to make a grand return to football after being away for so long.
Now, this whole search also led me to learn why Topps cards are such a big deal. Apparently, they’re super valuable to collectors. Some of the old ones, because they’re rare or have some famous players, can be worth a lot of money. And it’s not just football – Topps is doing well with soccer cards too. There is even some information about some “Marks of Excellence” and other stuff. I mean, I get it, there’s something special about holding a piece of sports history in your hand.
What I realized
- Topps is still making football cards, even without the NFL license, through a deal with the NFLPA.
- Topps lost their NFL license in 2016 but is coming back with a new set this year called “Topps Composite.”
- They’re going to make cards with the NFL license, but not till 2025 or 2026.
- Collectors love Topps cards, both old and new, because of their history and sometimes their value.
Honestly, this whole thing has me itching to start collecting again. I might just go out and grab a pack of those new Topps Chrome cards and see what the hype is all about. Who knows, maybe I’ll find something cool. It’s like stepping back in time but also seeing how things have changed. And if you see any old Topps football cards lying around, you might want to hold onto them – they could be worth something!
