Collectors didn’t waste much time zeroing in on the big chase cards in 2026 Bowman Football. Just days after release, the short-printed stuff is already bringing serious money, with the NFL side of the product leaning hard on familiar star power.
The hottest names at the top of the market are exactly who you’d expect: Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. The release also stands out because it mixes professional and collegiate players together for the first time ever, and the case-hit lineup - Anime, Garbage Pail Kids and Crystallized - has quickly become the center of attention.
Brady has owned the top end of the sales board so far. The highest NFL SSP sale in the release checked in at $7,800 for a Brady Anime card on Saturday.
That same day, another Brady Anime sold for $7,140, and a third brought $6,500. Anime cards have long been one of the biggest draws in Bowman products, and Brady’s latest versions are already showing that same kind of pull.
The next Brady card on the list came in at $6,500 as well, this time for the Garbage Pail Kids “Bejeweled Brady.” The image is built around Brady’s seven Super Bowl victories, showing seven rings on seven fingers on his non-throwing hand. The alliteration also fits the GPK style, making it one of the more eye-catching Brady cards in the set.
Mahomes is making his own noise, too. His “Magical Mahomes” Garbage Pail Kids card sold for $5,400, the highest-priced NFL SSP in the release for any player not named Tom Brady. With Mahomes continuing to be one of the most sought-after names in the hobby, the card is already landing with collectors who want a premium piece that stands out.
Josh Allen cracked the list with the lone Crystallized card among the top sales. His Gold Crystal Refractor /50 sold for $4,000. Allen is one of 13 NFL players included in the Crystallized set, and the card’s low print run helped push it into the upper tier of early sales.
Fernando Mendoza also showed up among the strongest early performers. His Garbage Pail Kids card, “Musical Mendoza,” sold for $3,800. The Las Vegas Raiders quarterback and No. 1 overall pick fits the GPK mold cleanly, and with only a limited number of 2026 releases out so far, it’s already one of the better early cards tied to his name.
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