Why the New NFL Partnership Matters for Collectors

Topps is officially back in football.

After nearly a decade away from fully licensed NFL cards, Topps and Fanatics have announced a new long-term partnership with the NFL and NFLPA that gives Topps exclusive rights to produce officially licensed NFL trading cards again.

For football collectors, this is one of the biggest hobby shifts in years.

The new agreement gives Topps access to official NFL team logos, uniforms, helmet designs, branding, and player likenesses across future football card releases.

The first major release under the new deal will be 2025 Topps Chrome Football, which is scheduled to release on April 15 with pre-orders opening April 3.

According to Fanatics, the new Topps Chrome Football release will feature:

• Official NFL logos and uniforms

• Rookie PREM1ERE Patch Autograph Cards

• NFL Honors Gold Shield Autograph Cards

• One-of-one game-worn patches

• Rookie autographs

• Current stars, legends, and retired players

Fanatics says the goal is to introduce “never-before-seen levels of innovation, storytelling and premium design” into football cards.

Why This Is Such a Big Deal

Topps has not produced fully licensed NFL cards since 2015.

Since then, Panini has controlled the football card market.

That changed on April 1, 2026, when Panini’s NFL license officially expired and Topps took over.

For longtime collectors, this feels like the return of one of the hobby’s most iconic brands.

Topps Chrome Football has always had a strong following because of its clean design, refractors, rookie cards, and autograph parallels.

Collectors are already speculating that popular products like Topps Chrome, Finest, and Topps Premier could become some of the most important football releases in the hobby again.

Some collectors are also hoping for the return of classic inserts, on-card autographs, and fan-favorite designs that disappeared during the Panini era.

Panini’s Final NFL Products Could Become More Valuable

Whenever a major license changes hands, collectors usually look at the “last” products from the outgoing company differently.

Because Panini’s exclusive NFL era is ending, there is already speculation that some of its final football products could become more collectible over time.

According to Athlon Sports, some late-release Panini hobby boxes have already increased between 20% and 50% as collectors rush to buy the final licensed Panini NFL products before the switch.

That means 2025 Panini football products could end up carrying extra nostalgia and importance in the same way collectors often value final-year licensed products in other categories.

What Collectors Should Watch For

As Topps prepares to relaunch football cards, there are a few things collectors should pay attention to:

• Whether Topps Chrome Football becomes the flagship NFL product

• Which rookie patch autograph formats end up becoming the biggest chase

• Whether classic Topps brands like Finest and Stadium Club return

• How Topps handles on-card autos versus sticker autos

• Whether Panini’s final licensed products continue to rise in value

• How Topps prices hobby boxes compared to Panini

Collectors should also watch how Fanatics integrates football cards into its broader ecosystem of breaking, live events, marketplaces, grading, and direct-to-consumer drops.

The NFL card market is about to look very different.