12 Tom Brady Cards That Won’t Bust Your Budget

In February 2019, a Tom Brady rookie card sold for a record price of $400,100, the highest price paid for a football card via auction. The 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Ticket autograph card was just one of 100 that were produced. There a few dozen Brady rookie cards and over 1,600 different Brady cards in all listed on PSA’s Master Checklist.

While prices for some of his cards tend to scare away potential buyers who don’t have thousands of dollars in discretionary income, collecting Brady doesn’t have to break the bank. There are many Brady cards, including some of his rookie releases, which can be purchased at affordable prices. As Brady marches on into his 40s with eyes on yet another NFL title, the interest in #12’s cards has never been stronger. Here are 12 Brady issues you can pick up without having to take out a loan or dip into your 401K.

2000 Fleer Tradition Tom Brady (with David Stachelski) Rookie Card #352

This old-school multi-player card will allow you to jump right into the Brady fray at a fair price. The card features David Stachelshi, a tight end with five career games (none with the Patriots) and an unheralded quarterback out of Michigan as a pair of New England Patriots of the future. Interestingly, the text on the back was quite prescient, stating: “Tom does not have all the physical attributes scouts look for in quarterback; all he does is win.”

A professionally graded version will set you back around $50 on eBay while raw versions typically go for around $25.

2000 Skybox Impact Tom Brady RC #27

This is a very clean and simple card. A young Tom Brady is featured in his Michigan uniform and is shown dropping back to pass. The card from Impact, Fleer’s low-price entry into football cards in 2000, does include the New England Patriots logo displayed on the front of the card.

Ungraded versions of this rookie card can be found starting at under $50 while graded version will run you approximately $75 for mid-grade cards.

Topps 2002 Tom Brady card #248

It took Topps a few years to catch up with other card manufacturers when they finally issued Tom Brady’s first card in 2002. In that year’s set, they published a Brady card in multiple sub-sets including Weekly Wrap Up (#295), Own the Game (#OG7), Ring Of Honor (#RH38), and several color versions in the Topps Heritage set, but the first base card (#248) showing Brady vs the Indianapolis Colts (photo probably taken September 30, 2001 in New England) is considered his Topps rookie card.

Raw versions can be had for $6-7 today. Be careful if you are picking up one of these as Topps reprinted this card in their 2010 set.

Target Topps 2008 Tom Brady Tribute Set (#TB1-TB16)

This 16-card set was issued as an exclusive insert in Topps packs purchased at Target stores in 2008. Each individual card highlights Brady’s accomplishments on the field during the 16 weeks of the 2007 season. The front of each card features a variety of action shots with the represented week’s stats displayed on a silver banner at the bottom of the card. The back highlights that week’s action.

Individual cards can be found for a couple of dollars each and the set of 16 cards usually runs about $60.

2012 Panini Contenders Season Ticket Tom Brady #56

How can you not love picking up a great looking older card of the greatest quarterback of all-time for just $1 or $2?

Classic looking card, classic Brady pose, cool design, all making for a great card. All-in-all, this card makes an excellent addition to any collection at a great price.

2013 Topps Archives Tom Brady featuring Topps 1976 design #12

This Topps Archive card featuring Topps’ 1976 classic design shows Brady wearing a throwback New England Patriots red uniform and the old school Pat Patriot logo on the helmet. Brady’s uniform also features the M.H.K. patch honoring New England Patriot owner Bob Kraft’s wife who passed away during the 2011 season.

This old school-style card and the cool 1970-style glossy insert from Archives can be picked up for just a few dollars each.

2003 Topps All American Tom Brady #41

Another Brady card that features a classic Topps design, card #41 in this Topps set shows a shot of Brady getting ready to fire a pass and a background image of Brady ready to hand the ball off to one of his running backs.

Another very affordable card, you can pick up this throwback for about $5.

Topps 2005 Topps All-Pro Tom Brady #352

This is one of the only cards produced showing Brady in his Pro Bowl uniform. Brady has not played in a Pro Bowl game since the 1995 (Super Bowl appearances usually got in the way). Brady didn’t throw a touchdown pass in the game and was intercepted by Philadelphia Eagle Lito Shepard in the 2005 Pro Bowl, won by the AFC 38-27.

This card is an easy eBay score for a buck or two.

Topps 2010 Gridiron Lineage with Joe Montana #GL-MOG

This unique 20-card subset in Topps 2010 set featured current and retired NFL legends paired based on similar position or team. Brady shared card #GL-MOG of the set with Hall of Famer Joe Montana, a guy Brady grew up watching in the Bay Area. It is the only time the two appeared on the same Topps card. I’d certainly like to have an autographed version of this card in my collection.

This card can be found for little more than pocket change and the 20 card set can be picked up for $4-5.

2011 Topps Super Bowl XXXIX Tom Brady Die Cut Refractor Ring Card #SB49

You had to enter a special code found on contest cards inserted in random packs back in 2011 to obtain a copy of this one. The Brady 2011 die cut refractor rings card features a picture of him calling out an audible at the line and extolls his MVP performance in Super Bowl 49.

This unique premium card will set you back between $15 and $20. Graded version can be had for around $30.

2013 Topps Legends in the Making Tom Brady #LM-TB

This Topps insert of Brady shows him getting ready to fire a screen pass against the Buffalo Bills. The back of the card all but puts him in the Hall, noting he’s number five on the all-time passing yards list and number three for throwing touchdown passes. The card also notes “he needs one more Super Bowl appearance to pass John Elway for most trips to the big game”.

This special Topps insert card will only set you back $1-$3.

2007 Topps Tom Brady #28

I truly enjoy this card, because it features a nice facsimile Brady autograph on the front of the card. Brady autographs on cards now run over $1,000 at private signings and getting one via TTM (through the mail) is almost as hard as winning the lottery.

This card from Topps 2007 base set can be yours for about two bucks. The gold parallel version can usually be had for $9 or $10.

Own the Game Topps Tom Brady 2002-2004, 2006, 2008 (A&B)

OK, if you made it this far in the article consider this my Baker’s Dozen little extra gift for you.

Topps featured Own the Game insert subsets for most of their releases from 2002-2008 (no version in 2005). Brady didn’t make it in 2007 giving way to Asante Samuel for a reason only Topps knows but was included on two different cards in 2008.

These glossy gems can be found ranging $3 to $10.