A Drake Maye Football Card Recently Sold for Almost $100,000
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Drake Maye is everywhere right now. The second-year quarterback put his skills on display in 2025 and has shown exactly what he can do with a competent coaching staff: He's racked up nearly 4,400 passing yards and 31 touchdowns, while leading the league in both completion percentage (72%) and QBR (77.1). Maye is about to take the Patriots to their first conference championship since 2018 and is a finalist for the Associated Press's prestigious 2025 NFL Most Valuable Player award.
The 23-year-old's stock is rising, and it looks very real, which is why sports card collectors have been sent into a frenzy looking for his high-value trading cards.
On Dec. 25 of last year, somebody received the ultimate Christmas gift in the form of a 1-of-1 Drake Maye football card. The card, which was from Panini's 2025 Absolute Football series, was originally listed on Ebay for $125,000 and ultimately sold for a reported $89,500. The card was a Vertical Green Kaboom that received a Gem Mint 10 grade—the highest possible—by PSA.
Panini 2025 Absolute Football Mega Box, $39 (was $45) on Amazon
Courtesy of Amazon
The sports trading card hobby, which many will remember fondly from its peaks in the mid-to-late '80s and the late '90s to early '00s, started to reignite during the 2020 pandemic. Some of the famous card brands have shuttered, but Panini, Topps, Donruss, and Score are all still very active and sought-after.
Today, the hobby is ablaze. It's become its own niche on Instagram and TikTok, where creators record themselves "ripping" packs in hopes of hitting "chase" cards of athletes like Maye, Shohei Ohtani, and NBA rookie Cooper Flagg, among others.
Panini Score NFL Football Mega Box, $46 (was $51) on Amazon
Courtesy of Amazon
Beyond this, it's opened up a whole new secondary market similar to the one centered around high-profile sneakers. CNBC reported last month that the global collectibles market has been valued at around $100 billion and is projected to grow 6% annually.
Maye and the Patriots are scheduled to take on the No. 1 seed Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship on Sunday, Jan. 25, at 3 p.m. EST. It's a potentially career-defining game for Maye, who many have been comparing to another young quarterback who found early success in New England—Tom Brady. The game can be seen on CBS with streaming options on Paramount+, Fubo, and NFL+.
Watch the 2025 NFL AFC Championship Game on Fubo
Photo illustration by Cheng Xin/Getty Images
Whether you're lucky enough to attend the game or are just watching from home, plenty of Drake Maye gear is ready to pick up from Amazon, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Fanatics to show your support for somebody who seems to be a budding superstar.
Navy New England Drake Maye Logo Hooded Sweatshirt, From $48 on Amazon
Nike New England Patriots Drake Maye Navy Game Jersey, $130 at Dick's Sporting Goods
Courtesy of