From helmets and mini-helmets to footballs, photos and jerseys, collectors have plenty of options when deciding how to build an impressive stash of autographed football memorabilia. Whether you collect certain players, Hall of Famers, Super Bowl champs or limit yourself to your favorite team, there are a lot of options when searching for signed football memorabilia for sale.
Here’s a brief guide to some of the more popular pieces.
1 – Helmets and Mini Helmets
Maybe the most popular autographed NFL items, helmets and mini helmets offer a generous writing space, plenty of color and great display appeal. If you have plenty of room or you simply want full-sized items in your collection, the regulation helmet is the way to go. Less costly and more space-saving is the mini helmet. You can collect individual players, team signed helmets or have a theme such as MVPs.
2 – Jerseys
Signed jerseys are also among the most popular NFL autographed items. Typically, players will sign one of the numbers in a vertical fashion. If inscriptions are added, the second numeral (if there is one) is where those are listed. Jerseys make for great display pieces when framed. Licensed replica jerseys are usually used but of course, game-worn jerseys with an autograph are also great collectibles.
3 – Footballs
Players have been signing footballs for decades. You can collect team-signed balls, single-signed examples or create a theme. The football offers a large panel for the signatures and on individually-signed balls, there’s plenty of room to add inscriptions. One benefit to collecting single-signed balls is that the player can write his name in big letters, which makes for a great display.
4 – Photos
Easiest to store and display, the signed photograph, whether 8×10, 11.14, 16×20, or larger is often among the more economical items to collect. Costing far less than full-size helmets, footballs, or jerseys, photos can be framed or even stored in a binder. Be sure to purchase only licensed photographs with authentication from a reputable source.
5 – Football Cards
Whether packaged by trading card companies and discovered inside packs over the last 30 years or acquired in person, signed football cards are very popular with collectors and fans. You can focus on accumulating a single player’s signed cards via eBay, collect signed cards from a specific team or simply chase past and present greats.
Authentication is Key
No matter what kind of autographed NFL memorabilia you choose to collect, be sure to buy items that are properly authenticated. Some players have memorabilia contracts with certain companies, such as Tom Brady’s deal with TriStar or Peyton Manning’s contract with Fanatics. PSA/DNA, James Spence, and Beckett Authentication are three reputable companies to look for when buying autographs but keep in mind there are some regional show promoters and dealers who do autograph sessions with players and if they have a track record of doing that, it’s generally safe to assume the signatures are real. As always, doing a little research is never a bad thing.
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