The most desired football cards of the 1980s have sold for record-breaking prices in recent years and feature some of the most widely recognized rookie cards the sport has ever seen. The sports card hobby in general saw an explosion of popularity during the 1980’s, but the niche of football card collecting became more mainstream in this decade.
Here’s my selection of some of the most valuable football cards of the 1980s, in no particular order.
1986 Topps Jerry Rice Rookie Card #161
Jerry Rice goes down as the most accomplished pass catcher in NFL history, making his 1986 Topps #161 rookie card a must-have for football card nerds
The 1986 Topps design consists of green borders and white pinstripes that resemble a football field, with an image of Jerry Rice lined up to run a route. Collectors seem to love or hate the look of Rice’s first card, but it really gives off the ’80s vibes and sports card hobby during that era.
Rice’s 1986 Topps #161 rookie card is one of the most expensive PSA 10 cards on this list, with less than 60 in existence. In November of 2024, one sold at Goldin Auctions for $63,000.
1986 Topps Steve Young Rookie Card #374
Let’s continue with another rookie card from 1986 Topps Football and a fellow teammate of Jerry Rice: Steve Young. Despite having an unofficial rookie card in 1984 before his time in the NFL, Young’s official NFL-licensed rookie card from 1986 Topps was released during his second season with the Buccaneers.
The price surrounding this card in a PSA 10 grade may surprise some collectors, but the main factor surrounding its value is its extreme scarcity in Gem Mint condition. In March of 2022, one of the eight PSA 10 examples in existence sold for $120,000 at auction.
1981 Topps Joe Montana Rookie Card #216
4 time Super Bowl Champion and 3 time Super Bowl MVP. Joe Montana is without a doubt, the most decorated QB of the decade, so it’s no surprise to see his 1981 Topps #216 rookie card make this article.
Football card collectors generally gravitate towards players’ rookie cards who’ve achieved a legacy of winning, and today’s cost of Montana’s 1981 Topps #161 reflects that. Of the 32,000 examples of Montana’s rookie card graded by PSA, less than 125 copies have received a Gem Mint 10. In August of 2024, one sold at Fanatics Weekly auction for $40,260.
1984 Topps USFL Reggie White Rookie Card #58
Although Reggie White’s 1986 Topps #275 is known as his mainstream rookie card, the first unofficial rookie card depicting White is from the 1984 Topps USFL (United States Football League).
Despite being known as sort of an oddball set, the limited quantities produced and the inclusion of debut cards of other future Hall of Famers make it a sought-after release for football card collectors of the time.
This card in a PSA 10 is limited to less than 10 copies, with the most recent sale eclipsing $20,000 in 2021.
1984 Topps John Elway Rookie Card #63
John Elway is the best QB in Denver Broncos history and has contributed to the franchise’s 3 Super Bowls as a player and general manager.
1984 Topps is arguably one of the most stacked rookie card classes the football card-collecting community has ever seen. The iconic set features five rookie cards of NFL Hall of Famers, with John Elway’s #63 being the most valuable.
PSA 10 examples of John Elway’s first Topps card sell for between $7,000 to $8,000.
1982 Topps Lawrence Taylor Rookie Card #434
Lawrence Taylor is considered one of the top defensive players in the history of the NFL and arguably the best Linebacker ever. Despite the general lack of popularity around collecting or investing in defensive players’ rookie cards, Taylor’s 1982 Topps #434 is an exception to the rule.
LT’s Topps rookie card graded a PSA 10 goes for around $5,000, but examples of the rarer BGS (Beckett) 10 Pristine sells for even more.
1984 Topps Dan Marino Rookie Card #63
The go-to rookie card for Dan Marino fans can be pulled out of 1984 Topps Football packs. It is one of the key rookie cards behind John Elway. The Dolphins gunslinger was one of the best during the decade and may be considered the greatest quarterback never to win a Super Bowl.
There are less than 75 copies of Marino’s #63 Topps rookie card with a BGS 10 Pristine grade and one sold for $4,575 in November 2024.
1984 Topps Eric Dickerson Rookie Card #280
1984 Topps Football makes its third appearance on this list with Eric Dickerson’s #280 rookie card. Not only was Dickerson one of the most popular Running Backs of the decade, he still holds the record for the most rushing yards in a single season.
Although Dickerson’s most desired rookie card is not as pricey as the other key rookie cards from 1984 Topps, PSA 10 copies sell for over $2,000.
1989 Score Barry Sanders Rookie Card #257
Topps mostly produced NFL-licensed football cards throughout the 1980s, until 1989 when Score introduced one of the most popular football sets of the decade.
Barry Sanders 1989 Score Rookie Card #246 headlines as the most expensive rookie card of the set. There are roughly 2,500 PSA 10s of Sanders’ most in-demand rookie card, selling for around $1,250.
1989 Score Deion Sanders Rookie Card #246
It only felt right to add the other Hall of Famer with the last name “Sanders” from the iconic 1989 Score Football set to this list – “Prime Time” Deion Sanders. The former shutdown cornerback is still the topic of discussion and is making headlines as the head football coach for the University of Colorado.
Deion’s 1989 Score #246 is the second most valuable rookie card of the set and will cost you between $500 to $600 in a PSA 10 grade.
Conclusion
Football card prices can fluctuate and vary based on numerous factors. Cards in gem mint condition (as determined by grading companies like PSA and Beckett) can increase their value significantly. The booming growth of card collecting in the 1980s resulted in more cards and sets being produced than ever before. As a result, many of the decades’ most valuable cards are based on the print run, condition, and population of Gem Mint 10 graded cards.
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