There was a time when rookie football cards were an afterthought for most collectors — heck, even during the hobby boom of the 1980s, you could pick up Walter Payton rookie cards all day long for just a few bucks a pop.

Those days are long gone, though, for better or worse.

Sweetness himself was responsible for a large part of that gridiron awakening, as his run past Jim Brown as the all-time leading rusher in 1984 really captured the hobby’s imagination. And then, when Payton’s Chicago Bears dominated the NFL in 1985 on their way to a Super Bowl Shuffle, the temperature of football cards started to heat up.

Through the 1990s and into the very early 2000s, football cards — along with basketball cards — made steady inroads into the collector market.

And then, when when Tom Brady burst onto the scene and led the New England Patriots to a Super Bowl victory after the 2001 season, he joined Indianapolis Colts superstar Peyton Manning in a sort of hobby tit-for-tat that was football’s version of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson.

The decades since have only solidified Brady’s place in the game, and the status of football cards (rookie cards in particular) as high-scoring, hobby-pleasing collectibles that can stand cleat-to-cleat with any other sport in the land … even if it remains a bit seasonal compared to baseball (especially vintage baseball).

And, if you ever need proof of that gridiron fire, just check out the list below of the 25 most-watched rookie football cards on eBay RIGHT NOW. Check back often, too, as this list is continually updated.

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2020 FLAWLESS Rookie Joe Burrow Tua Tagovailoa Dual ON CARD Auto GOLD /10 🔥🔥

Watchers: 103  
# of Bids: 27
Current Bid: $925
Auction Ends: 07-Dec-2023 17:12
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2020 PANINI OPTIC JALEN HURTS DOWNTOWN ROOKIE CARD EAGLES RC RARE

Watchers: 99  
# of Bids: 15
Current Bid: $315
Auction Ends: 10-Dec-2023 17:12
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2017 Contenders Patrick Mahomes #303 Rookie Ticket On Card Auto BGS 9.5/10 TG SM

Watchers: 99  
# of Bids: 48
Current Bid: $15000
Auction Ends: 11-Dec-2023 02:12
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2020 panini prizm #339 tua tagovailoa rc; gold 1/10 rookie auto PSA 9 ☆ JERSEY #

Watchers: 99  
# of Bids: 23
Current Bid: $1650
Auction Ends: 06-Dec-2023 03:12
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2021 Panini Prizm Black Justin Fields Silver Holo Auto RC Rookie Card SSP Bears

Watchers: 92  
# of Bids: 14
Current Bid: $128.5
Auction Ends: 08-Dec-2023 04:12
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2000 Bowman Tom Brady Rookie Card RC #236 New England Patriots Edge Damage

Watchers: 76  
# of Bids: 26
Current Bid: $232.47
Auction Ends: 06-Dec-2023 03:12
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BROCK PURDY 2022 WILD CARD 5 CARD DRAW ROOKIE AUTO SSP /2 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Watchers: 74  
# of Bids: 13
Current Bid: $132.5
Auction Ends: 08-Dec-2023 03:12
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2000 SPx Tom Brady #130 Rookie Card #d/1350 SP PSA 9 MINT HOF! RARE RC CARD!

Watchers: 71  
# of Bids: 32
Current Bid: $2550
Auction Ends: 11-Dec-2023 04:12
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2022 Chronicles #PB8 Brock Purdy Prizm Black-Silver Rookie Card PSA 10 GEM MINT

Watchers: 68  
# of Bids: 38
Current Bid: $260
Auction Ends: 06-Dec-2023 04:12
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Zion Williamson Impeccable /25 Rookie Auto On Card RC #108 2019-20 Autograph

Watchers: 67  
# of Bids: 31
Current Bid: $305
Auction Ends: 09-Dec-2023 04:12
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2023 Mosaic CJ Stroud Reactive Yellow Mosaic Prizm Rookie Card PSA 10 Pop 2

Watchers: 65  
# of Bids: 34
Current Bid: $301
Auction Ends: 08-Dec-2023 03:12
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2017 Panini Prizm Christian McCaffrey #249 Silver RC Rookie Card PSA 10 GEM MINT

Watchers: 63  
# of Bids: 26
Current Bid: $192.5
Auction Ends: 06-Dec-2023 02:12
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2023 Panini Origins Rashee Rice Booklet RC On Card Auto 1 of 1 Chiefs Nike 1/1

Watchers: 63  
# of Bids: 29
Current Bid: $330
Auction Ends: 06-Dec-2023 00:12
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2020 Optic Jordan Love Blue Auto /75 Rookie Card PSA 10 SSP Low Pop. Packers GB

Watchers: 61  
# of Bids: 26
Current Bid: $695
Auction Ends: 10-Dec-2023 23:12
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2022 Immaculate Collegiate Brock Purdy /99 Premium Patch RC Auto On Card POP 2🔥

Watchers: 60  
# of Bids: 20
Current Bid: $320
Auction Ends: 05-Dec-2023 19:12
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Brock Purdy 2022 Select Football Cosmic Sparkle Prizm Field Level Rookie Card

Watchers: 59  
# of Bids: 11
Current Bid: $305
Auction Ends: 08-Dec-2023 02:12
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HUGE ROOKIE PATCH AUTO PRIZM OPTIC IMMACULATE SSP RPA SPORTS CARD COLLECTION LOT

Watchers: 59  
# of Bids: 10
Current Bid: $180
Auction Ends: 06-Dec-2023 02:12
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2022 Donruss Optic #277 Brock Purdy Pink Rookie Card PSA 10 GEM MINT

Watchers: 56  
# of Bids: 47
Current Bid: $222
Auction Ends: 05-Dec-2023 21:12
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2017 National Treasures Patrick Mahomes RC AUTO /25 THE FUTURE PSA 8 ON CARD

Watchers: 56  
# of Bids: 9
Current Bid: $2025
Auction Ends: 14-Dec-2023 03:12
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2023 CJ Stroud RPS First Look Rookie Card Panini #42 PSA 10

Watchers: 56  
# of Bids: 38
Current Bid: $237.5
Auction Ends: 07-Dec-2023 02:12
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Tom Brady Bowman Chrome Rookie Card #236 Perfect Christmas Gift for Him or Her

Watchers: 54  
# of Bids: 23
Current Bid: $610
Auction Ends: 12-Dec-2023 06:12
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BRYCE YOUNG Gridiron Marvels Rookie Card RC SSP 2023 Panini Donruss Football BK

Watchers: 54  
# of Bids: 8
Current Bid: $205.5
Auction Ends: 08-Dec-2023 01:12
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Ja Morant Auto Rookie On Card Ink Flash Prizm SSP 2019-20 Panini Hoops Premium

Watchers: 54  
# of Bids: 18
Current Bid: $335
Auction Ends: 09-Dec-2023 03:12
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2018 Panini Donruss Optic #154 Josh Allen Bills RC Rookie Card PSA 10 GEM MINT

Watchers: 53  
# of Bids: 34
Current Bid: $115
Auction Ends: 07-Dec-2023 02:12
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Jordan Love Donruss Optic Holo Rated Rookie Auto 31/99 On Card Auto

Watchers: 53  
# of Bids: 12
Current Bid: $304.99
Auction Ends: 06-Dec-2023 19:12
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