BUY CARDS
The Denver Broncos are one of the most popular and successful franchises in the NFL. They have a huge worldwide following and loyal fanbase. This makes Denver Broncos football cards highly sought-after by collectors. Some rare Bronco cards have sold for staggering amounts at auction over the years. Let's take a look at the top 5 most expensive Denver Broncos football cards of all time.
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $125,000+
Without a doubt, the holy grail of all Denver Broncos football cards is John Elway's 1984 Topps rookie. This card features a iconic design and showcases Elway during his first NFL season after being drafted #1 overall in 1983. Only a few PSA 10 graded copies are known to exist.
One PSA 10 example fetched an incredible $129,250 at auction in 2020. This sets the record for the highest selling price ever for a Denver Broncos football card. Demand for Elway rookies continues to surge as he's considered one of the greatest QBs of all time. His 1984 Topps rookie will remain the top Bronco card indefinitely.
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $20,000
Terrell Davis was the catalyst behind the Broncos back-to-back Super Bowl wins in 1997-1998. The versatile RB had four incredible seasons, including 2,008 yards rushing in 1998. Unfortunately, knee injuries derailed Davis' Hall of Fame career.
Davis' 1996 Select Premier rookie card depicts him in an epic action shot. Only 120 PSA 10s exist, so it's extraordinarily rare in pristine condition. This important Bronco rookie sold for $21,600 in PSA 10 recently. It's the second most valuable Denver card behind Elway.
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $8,000
Known for ferocious hits and superb ball skills, Steve Atwater anchored the famous "Orange Crush" Broncos defense. He made 8 Pro Bowls and won two Super Bowls with Denver. The hard-hitting safety was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 2020.
Atwater's 1989 Topps rookie features a great image of the rookie defender in his orange Broncos road uniform. This sharp card is very condition sensitive and tough to find in PSA 10 grade. Near-mint copies have approached $10,000 at auction in recent years.
Estimated PSA 8 Near Mint Value: $7,500
"The Franchise" was the first star player in Broncos history. Floyd Little was the do-it-all halfback for Denver in the late 1960s and early 70s. Though the Broncos struggled during his career, Little shined individually, making 5 Pro Bowls. His number 44 is retired by the franchise.
Little's 1967 Topps rookie card is the only recognized rookie for the HOF running back. Given the fragile nature of vintage cards, high-grade copies are very scarce. A PSA 8 Little recently sold for $7,800. Despite some wear, this 52+ year old card still demands big money.
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $5,000
Sharpe teamed up with Davis to form the NFL's most dangerous TE-RB duo during the Broncos 1990s Super Bowl years. He retired with 8 Pro Bowls and 3 Super Bowl rings. The Hall of Famer is revered for revolutionizing the TE position.
Sharpe's 1996 Select Premier rookie is a standout card from the set. Capturing him in the iconic Broncos home blue uniform, it's extremely rare in flawless PSA 10 condition. High-end copies have sold for $6,000+ at auction. It's the premier rookie card for the greatest TE in Broncos history.
While the above list covers the undisputed top 5, there are other Denver Broncos cards that can reach into the thousands:
Rookie cards of legendary players like Elway, Davis, and Sharpe form the foundation of elite Denver Broncos cards. Autographs of modern stars such as Manning, Miller, and Tebow also attract huge demand from collectors. Graded mint condition and scarcity are key factors that drive values for important Bronco cards to significant auction prices.
