Topps Returns as NFL Exclusive Trading Card Partner: Everything Collectors Need to Know
Fanatics-owned Topps is back in the NFL trading card game for the first time since 2016. The 2025 Topps Chrome Football set drops April 15 with one-of-one rookie patch autos and brand-new Gold Shield inserts.
Topps Is Back in the NFL Game
For the first time since 2016, Topps will produce fully licensed NFL trading cards. Fanatics Collectibles, the NFL, and the NFLPA jointly announced a multi-year exclusive licensing agreement that puts the iconic Topps brand back at the center of football card collecting.
The deal marks a major shift in the sports card landscape. Panini had held the exclusive NFL license for nearly a decade, but with Fanatics now owning both Topps and the overarching collectibles rights, the company is consolidating its grip on the hobby.
2025 Topps Chrome Football Leads the Charge
The first product under the new agreement is the highly anticipated 2025 Topps Chrome Football, set to hit shelves on April 15, 2026. Pre-orders opened on April 3 through the official Topps website and Fanatics marketplace.
The set features several premium chase cards designed to generate excitement among collectors:
- Rookie PREM1ERE Patch Autograph Cards - One-of-one numbered cards featuring patches from jerseys actually worn by rookies during the 2025 NFL season
- NFL Honors Gold Shield Autograph Cards - A brand-new insert series debuting with this release, featuring game-worn gold shield patches from 2024 NFL award winners
- Chrome Refractor Parallels - The signature Topps Chrome rainbow that collectors have loved for decades
Collector Celebration Day at the NFL Draft
To mark the occasion, Fanatics is hosting a Collector Celebration Day on Saturday, April 25, at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh during the 2026 NFL Draft weekend. The event will feature pack giveaways, live card breaking, special guests, and appearances by current and former NFL athletes.
The NFL Draft itself runs from April 23 to 25, making this a landmark weekend for football card enthusiasts who want to combine the excitement of draft picks with the thrill of ripping packs.
What This Means for Collectors
The return of Topps to football is more than just nostalgia. It represents a unified vision for sports card collecting under the Fanatics umbrella. Collectors who grew up with Topps football cards in the 1980s and 1990s now have reason to re-engage with the hobby, while newer collectors get access to the premium chrome technology that has made Topps a powerhouse in baseball cards.
With Topps Chrome technology applied to NFL cards for the first time in years, the 2025 rookie class could produce some of the most visually stunning football cards the hobby has ever seen.
Keep an eye on your local card shops and online retailers as April 15 approaches. Given the hype surrounding this release, early demand is expected to be strong.