Fanatics has secured exclusive NFL trading card rights under the Topps brand, marking its first fully licensed NFL cards since 2016. The company announced a debut patch program featuring one-of-one Rookie PREM1ERE Patch Autograph cards and NFL Honors Gold Shield Autograph cards with gold NFL shields from 2024 award winners' jerseys.

This 20-year deal launches with the 2025 Topps Chrome Football release on April 15, following Fanatics' 2023 agreement with the NFL Players Association. The program expands on successful MLB and NBA patch initiatives, incorporating game-worn memorabilia like jerseys, pants, and footballs into trading cards. Michael Mahan, Fanatics' collectibles CEO, called it a "spectacular moment" for the industry.

The set includes exclusive athletes like Josh Allen, Saquon Barkley, and Tom Brady, with special giveaways planned for the 2026 NFL draft in Pittsburgh. However, the deal has sparked legal challenges, with Panini filing an antitrust lawsuit claiming Fanatics has created a monopoly across multiple leagues and players associations.