One of the most significant announcements in sports collecting has arrived. Topps is officially back as the NFL’s trading card partner after nearly a decade away from the sport, and the hobby community is buzzing with anticipation. Fanatics Collectibles, which acquired Topps in 2022, has secured a multi-year deal with both the NFL and the NFL Players Association. The first product to hit the market under this arrangement is 2025 Topps Chrome Football, with an official release set for April 15 and a preorder window that opened April 3.
A long-awaited return to NFL cards
Topps last held a license to produce NFL trading cards in 2016, making this comeback a return of nearly a full decade for one of the most recognized names in the hobby. The renewed partnership establishes Topps as the league’s exclusive global trading card licensee for both the NFL and the players association, placing Fanatics Collectibles firmly at the center of the football card market. For longtime collectors, the brand carries a weight that goes well beyond any individual product. The return of Topps to the NFL signals a meaningful new chapter for football card collecting at a moment when interest across the hobby remains exceptionally high.
The 5 NFL award winners on the Gold Shield cards
Among the most coveted items in the set are the NFL Honors Gold Shield Autograph cards. Each one is a true one of one, built around gold shield patches physically worn by the league’s top award recipients during the 2024 NFL season and paired with on-card autographs. The five award winners featured are: 1. Josh Allen (MVP), 2. Saquon Barkley (Offensive Player of the Year), 3. Patrick Surtain II (Defensive Player of the Year), 4. Jayden Daniels (Offensive Rookie of the Year) and 5. Jared Verse (Defensive Rookie of the Year). Because no two of these cards can exist simultaneously, they are expected to command serious attention whenever they surface on the open market.
Rookie cards at the heart of the set
The set places significant emphasis on the 2025 rookie class. Rookie Premiere Patch Autograph cards will feature game-worn patches from players’ very first regular-season appearances, adding a layer of historical significance to what are already premium pulls. Top overall draft pick and Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward is among the rookies represented.
Jaxson Dart of the New York Giants also appears in the Rookie Patch Autograph subset, with the Superfractor version of his card featuring an NFL shield patch and his personal signature. Dart is said to have written 1 of 1 on the card himself, a personal touch that has already generated considerable collector enthusiasm before the product has even officially shipped.
Chase cards and other highlights
Beyond the Gold Shield cards and the rookie autographs, 2025 Topps Chrome Football offers a wide variety of chase options that give collectors multiple reasons to open packs. Superfractor parallels, the one-of-one pinnacle of any Chrome release, return here in full force. Preview images have surfaced of a Tom Brady Superfractor in his Patriots uniform and a Patrick Mahomes Fortune 15 Superfractor, both of which drew immediate attention when shared by Topps on social media.
A number of insert concepts are also making their NFL debut in this set after performing well in the baseball and basketball versions of Chrome, including Fortune 15 and Ultraviolet All Stars. Among the confirmed autograph highlights is a numbered Adrian Peterson card, a welcome reminder that legendary signatures will also be represented throughout the checklist.
When and where to buy
The official release date for 2025 Topps Chrome Football is April 15. A preorder window opened on April 3 at noon Eastern through the official Topps website and via Fanatics. Given the demand surrounding this release, boxes were expected to move quickly at the preorder stage. Those who miss out on retail pricing will be able to find hobby boxes through established hobby retailers and secondary market platforms after launch, though prices are widely expected to climb as availability tightens and the full scope of the checklist becomes known.