Top 8 Tom Brady Rookie Card Investments

Tom Brady rookie cards are the absolute cream of the crop. Even if you’re not the biggest football fan, these cards are a treasure. From the 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Ticket set to the various inserts and parallels, there are around 44 cards from Brady's rookie season you can collect.

But hey, don’t beat yourself up if you didn’t grab one in Y2K. If you want a Brady rookie card right now, there’s still a chance to cop one—but they don't come cheap.

Nevertheless, they’re worth it, and investing in the GOAT’s first official NFL cards is priceless—even if you have to shell out a thick stack of Benjamins to make it yours.

Tom Brady is a football legend who’s had an extraordinary career. He is a seven-time Super Bowl champion and five-time MVP who holds the record for most passing yards, completions, and touchdowns in the NFL. On top of that, he’s an entrepreneur with an impressive net worth of $83.9 million.

If Tom Brady was a superhero, he'd be called Super GOAT. How else do you explain how a forty-something-year-old can out-throw his younger counterparts in the NFL, with 27,632 passing yards and 193 touchdowns in his 40s, outdoing his 20s numbers of 21,564 passing yards and 147 touchdowns? The man is a machine.

After announcing that he’s retiring "for good" on February 1, 2023, football fans said their final goodbyes. He’ll be remembered by all who praised or criticized him for his numerous titles: seven-time Super Bowl champion, five-time Super Bowl MVP, three-time league MVP, 15-time Pro Bowler, and three-time First-Team All-Pro selection.

But before retirement, Brady tried his hand in the business world. He showed his financial acumen off the field by launching the TB12 lifestyle brand and co-founding the NFT company Autograph, which raised $170 million in early 2022. He also started 199 Productions to make documentaries, films, and television shows and round out his impressive portfolio of ventures.

Finally, it should come as no surprise that Brady has signed a $375 million deal with Fox Sports to join their team as an analyst for the next decade. Without a doubt, Brady will be thrilling us off the field as he did on it.

So, farewell Brady, and thanks for the fun. We’ll have your rookie cards to remember you by.

For those looking to make a solid investment in the sports card hobby, the 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Ticket Tom Brady Autograph Rookie Card #144 is sure to be the golden ticket. You'll be paying top dollar for one—an astounding $3.1 million.

However, for those who don't have millions of dollars to spare, rest assured that there are plenty of other top-quality Tom Brady rookie cards out there that’ll run you far less. We're talking $4,000 and above here—not pocket change by any means, but still enough to please die-hard collectors who are looking to graduate from the bargain bin.

So stick around as we give you the inside scoop on Brady's most valuable yet limited rookie cards and why you might be able to make a killing on them in the foreseeable future.

1. 2000 Leaf Certified Tom Brady Rookie Card #207 

• Price Range: $630 to $9,000
• Highest Sale Price: $9,300
• PSA 10 Supply: 21
• Brand: Leaf Certified

This 2000 Leaf Certified Tom Brady RC #207 is an unforgettable sight, with its multitude of colors, striped border, and a radiating center that's bound to draw attention. There are only 1,500 copies available, 243 of which have been evaluated by PSA. And of those, only 21 are in gem mint condition.

If you're looking to invest in this Tom Brady card, you can expect to shell out anywhere between $600 and $9,000, with the highest sale price pegged at $9,300. On eBay, a BGS 8.5 sold for $3,050 in December 2022, and another eBay seller let go of one that same month for $2,348. All in all, decent investments by those bidders if you ask us.

2. 2000 Pacific Revolution Tom Brady Rookie Card #128 

• Price Range: $2,400 to $17,000
• Highest Sale Price: $26,400
• PSA Supply: 10
• Brand: Pacific Revolution

With only 300 copies ever made, the 2000 Pacific Revolution Tom Brady Rookie Card #128 card is another rare rookie card worth looking at. The design of this card is unique and stands out from the rest. The combination of colors, logos, and etched-out player names creates an eye-popping look that can easily turn heads.

This particular card isn’t just a looker, but it's also valuable. Prices for this card range from $2,400 all the way up to $17,000. If you're lucky enough to own this card, make sure it's safe and sound.

On July 26, 2021, an incredible PSA 10 copy of this card sold for an astounding $26,400. But we've seen lower prices as well, like a BGS 9 that sold for $6,000 on February 28, 2023.

It's also worth noting that Tom Brady isn't wearing his iconic New England Patriots attire, but that's either the blessing or curse of this card depending on who you ask.

3. 2000 Bowman Gold Tom Brady Rookie Card #236  

• Price Range: $240 to $845
• Highest Sale Price: $288,000
• PSA 10 Supply: 3
• Brand: Bowman Gold

The 2000 Bowman Tom Brady gold rookie card #236 is the kind of collectible many football card enthusiasts would die for. Making it even more special, these cards are a rare find, numbered at just 99.  One of those sold for an eye-popping $288,000 at Heritage Auctions on November 18, 2021.

But it's not all about money. 28 of these cards have been carefully evaluated and inspected by Beckett Grading Services and six obtained a BGS 9—the highest grade available for this card.

There's never been a better time to acquire one of these bad boys. If you're open to expanding your card collection or just looking for a quick buck on an investment, the 2000 Bowman Gold Tom Brady Rookie Card #236 is one to consider.

4. 2000 SPx Spectrum Tom Brady Rookie Card #130 

• Price Range: $9,000 to $194,000
• Highest Sale Price: $194,000
• PSA 10 Supply: 3
• Brand: SPx

The Tom Brady rookie card from the 2000 SPx Spectrum set is a show-stopper. This rare card with a limited edition serial of only 25 has been instrumental in cementing Brady’s status as one of the greatest NFL players of all time. This card, which depicts Brady in an iconic gridiron pose, has been graded by PSA no fewer than 20 times, with three cards receiving a perfect PSA 10.

It comes as no surprise that collectors have bid relentlessly for this card at auction. In December 2020, one sold for $124,200 at Goldin Auctions. And it wasn’t until August 2022 that a higher sale rang in at $194,400 yet again at Goldin.

What's more, a PSA 10-graded card can sell for between $9,000 and $194,000. This card may well become the talk of the town, so it’ll certainly be a thrill to hunt for.

5. 2000 Bowman Chrome Tom Brady Refractor Rookie Card #236 

• Price Range: $300 to  $80,000
• Highest Sale Price: $498,000
• PSA 10 Supply: 7
• Brand: Bowman Chrome

The 2000 Bowman Chrome Tom Brady Refractor Rookie Card #236 is a top-notch collectible for any Tom Brady fan. The clear Refractor technology and glossy finish of the card give it an extra special shine. Plus, it's one of only two Brady rookie cards from Topps, so demand is always high.

With a BGS population of 250 and an impressive sale of $498,000 on Goldin Auctions in October 2022, this card has got all eyes on it in the hobby.

The Refractor parallel rookie card from the 2000 Bowman Chrome set shares many of the same features of its lookalike—the 2000 Bowman Gold rookie card—with the key difference being that the former comes without serial numbering.

Plus, it's got loads of personality. It might not be colorful, but the lone parallel is enough to set it apart, distinguishing it as a true collector's item. Right now, the 2000 Bowman Chrome Refractor Tom Brady card goes for anywhere between $300 to  $80,000. But if you want a PSA 10, you'll need to act quick as there are only 7.

6. 2000 Leaf Limited Tom Brady Rookie Card #378 

• Price Range: $217 to $40,000
• Highest Sale Price: $43,200
• PSA 10 Supply: 19
• Brand: Leaf Limited

Put your hands together for the 2000 Leaf Limited Tom Brady Rookie Card #378. This premium foil card has all the potential of the GOAT quarterback himself. Sporting an impressive print run of only 350 copies, it fits firmly among the rarest on this list.

This card is one of the rarest Tom Brady rookie cards around and will fetch top dollar if in PSA 10 grade. Don't miss your chance to score this Tom Brady rookie card at a triple-digit price.

Selling for anywhere between $200 and $40,000 depending on the grade, this card is certainly drawing a crowd. A couple of recent auctions include:

• February 7, 2023, sale of a PSA 7 for $15,000. 
• February 15, 2023, sale of a PSA 10 for $35,000.

So if you're an avid collector or even an NFL fan who's got some dough to have fun with, don't wait too long because collectible cards like this 2000 Leaf Limited Tom Brady Rookie Card #378 don't stick around forever.

7. 2000 SP Authentic Tom Brady Rookie Card #118 

• Price Range: $4,000 to $95,000
• Highest Sale Price: $312,000
• PSA 10 Supply: 97
• Brand: SP Authentic

Just 97 copies of this card are in PSA 10 condition. And considering that of the BGS population of 999, roughly 1% achieved the revered 10 grade, you're lucky if you have one.

Now, it makes sense that the 2000 SP Authentic Tom Brady Rookie Card #118 card is one of the most sought-after football cards today. It has a limited print run of only 1,250, is exquisite in looks and presence, and it makes for an incredibly desirable collector's piece. Considering Tom Brady’s popularity and recent auction prices for his cards, this one is only gaining demand.

Recently, investors got some big payouts for this Brady rookie card. For example, one at an April 2021 Goldin Auctions started at a $50,000 minimum, but bidding closed at an impressive $312,000. The card came with a pristine serial-numbered 645/1250 and its BGS condition report reads:

• Surface: 9.5
• Corners: 10
• Centering: 10
• Edges: 10

In August 2022, an auction closed at $82,800 for a PSA 10. And just a few months prior in January 2022, a customer snagged one from eBay for $95,600 with the same PSA 10 grade. And what's intriguing is how a few weeks earlier that same month, another was auctioned at Goldin for $109,200.

These auctions is evidence that card prices have hit their peak and are gradually descending, yet one could still argue that this card is nothing short of iconic and an absolute grail for any serious collector. So for those who own a 2000 SP Authentic Tom Brady Rookie Card #118, you might’ve made a smart investment.

8. 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Ticket Tom Brady Rookie Card Autograph #144 

• Price Range: $10,000 to $44,000
• Highest Sale Price: $3.1 million
• Total Supply: 100
• Brand: Playoff Contenders

Tom Brady's magical 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Ticket Autograph Rookie Card #144 is worth more than a million bucks—literally. But, it was the autograph that made it special. Of thirteen of Brady's autograph cards from 2000, only one is his true rookie card.

But it's not just the autograph that makes this card stunning—Contenders remain a benchmark release for football, and its popularity alone justifies why this card sold for a glamorous $3.1 million in June 2021. To put that into perspective, you could buy a few Aston Martins for that price and still have some spare change.

However, scarcity is still a major factor in determining a card's value. The 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Ticket rookie card is numbered to an incredible 100 copies. From these 100 copies, the card must earn a Becket Grading System score of 8 or higher to qualify as mint condition.

Of the 71 currently graded, only seven have achieved that elusive BGS 9 rating. It's no wonder why the card set off a bidding war at a PWCC online auction, eventually selling for $2.4 million in October 2022.

The seven-time Super Bowl champion is essentially the golden goose as his signature rookie card is hailed as the Holy Grail of football collecting. While it's rare that a card can justify prices of this magnitude, there's no denying the lasting important of Tom Brady to football and athletics as a whole.

Tom Brady's rookie cards will always have value because he's one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, if not the best ever. His cards will remain stable in price—a player’s rookie year only happens once—but may drop due to market corrections.

We can't name any recent players that rival Brady's longevity and impact on football cards. His legacy will have a lasting influence on sports card collecting for years to come.