Fanatics, operating under the Topps label, is set to manufacture officially sanctioned NFL cards for the first time since 2016 and is introducing its inaugural recipient-of-honor patch initiative, the firm revealed on Thursday.
Topps is slated to feature unique, numbered Rookie PREM1ERE Patch Autograph cards and NFL Honors Gold Shield Autograph cards, adorned with golden NFL emblems sourced from the uniforms of 2024 Associated Press prize recipients (MVP, Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year, and Rookie of the Year) utilized throughout the 2025 season. This scheme builds upon an existing program previously implemented for MLB and NBA collectibles.
Fanatics is commencing its two-decade agreement through the debut of 2025 Topps Chrome Football on April 15, following the execution of a pact with the NFL Players Association which commenced in 2023.
“It’s a remarkable juncture for our enterprise, for the sector, and for enthusiasts,” Michael Mahan, Fanatics’ CEO of collectibles, communicated to ESPN. “The initiatives we are undertaking with the PREM1ERE and NFL Honors Gold Shield patches fortify and enrich relationships and narrative creation. … We’re improving the supporter’s engagement.”
Fanatics has been amassing league authorization entitlements. In 2022, the company purchased Topps for $500 million, having previously secured sole MLB permissions in 2021, and Fanatics obtained exclusive NBA trading card licensure in October.
Fanatics’ inaugural emblem initiative utilizes emblems from athletes’ uniforms worn during their initial regular-season match and incorporates them into singularly numbered, directly signed cards.
The golden emblem signed cards are set to display shields sourced from the 2025 uniforms of 2024 prominent NFL prize recipients: Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II, Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels and Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Jared Verse.
This collection additionally features Fanatics Collectible solely represented athletes such as Daniels, Drake Maye, C.J. Stroud, Bo Nix, Jerry Rice and Tom Brady. Fanatics is furthermore orchestrating pack distributions and real-time card opening events at the 2026 NFL Draft April 23-25 in Pittsburgh.
“We conferred with Fanatics and inquired: What offerings have we neglected or failed to provide our supporters that they had previously desired?” stated Casey Collins, NFL senior executive of merchandise and authorization. “We believed the domain of relics required innovation from us, consequently, we are incorporating additional game-used memorabilia — uniforms, trousers, footballs, tokens, markers, headbands, cloths — into collectible cards. We recognize that enthusiasts seek more genuine, used-in-play items integrated into their collectibles, thus, we have intriguing initiatives planned over the coming months to demonstrate our attentiveness to their feedback.”
The agreement involving Fanatics and the NFLPA triggered an anti-monopoly legal action from Panini, which formerly held authorizations to manufacture NBA and NFL trading cards. Panini asserts that Fanatics has “established a wholly novel singular control encompassing various leagues and numerous player organizations.” Fanatics filed a counter-claim, asserting “unjust rivalry, wrongful disruption of commercial dealings, and violation of the obligation to bargain fairly.”
The NFL and Fanatics chose not to address the anti-monopoly legal dispute involving Panini and Fanatics.