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1964 Topps football card of former New York Jets’ player Matt Snell, who played 9 seasons for the New York club in their American Football League days into the early 1970s when they were part of the NFL. This is Snell’s “rookie” card, as he was drafted by the Jets in 1964, and despite what the card says, he only played fullback for the team. He was named AFL Rookie of The Year in ’64, was a three-time AFL All Star, and a major contributor to the Jets’ Super Bowl III winning team. Snell currently is a partner in DEFCO Securities, Inc. and owns a restaurant in New York City.

1961 Topps football card of former NFL linebacker Jack Patera, who played 7 seasons in the league for 3 different teams. He was a two-way player in his early career, playing both linebacker and guard for the Baltimore Colts. He spent a couple of years with the Chicago Cardinals before being selected in the 1960 expansion draft by the Dallas Cowboys. Patera served an as assistant coach for 3 different NFL clubs after retiring as a player, and became the first head coach for the expansion Seattle Seahawks in 1976. He passed away recently of pancreatic cancer.

1963 Fleer football card of former pro football halfback Abner Haynes, who was a perennial All Star player in the American Football League. In fact, he was the league’s Rookie of The Year and Player of The Year in 1960, the first year of the AFL’s existence, while playing for the Dallas Texans. Haynes played for 9 seasons in the AFL for 4 different teams, was an All Star 4 times, and won a pair of championships – as a star halfback for the 1962 AFL champion Texans, and as a little-used backup with the Super Bowl III champion New York Jets.

1966 Philadelphia football card of former pro football fullback Ernie Wheelwright, who enjoyed a seven year career in the NFL for 3 different teams. This card shows him in his New York Giants’ uniform even though in ’66 he was a member of the Atlanta Falcons in their inaugural season in the NFL. In fact, Wheelwright has the distinction of playing on 2 different expansion teams in their first seasons, the Falcons in ’66 and the New Orleans Saints in 1967. He served in the 101st Airborne Division prior to his NFL career, and did some acting – including roles in The Longest Yard and Wildcats – after retiring as a player.

1994 Bowman football card of a former pro football running back, Dorsey Levens, who played 11 years in the NFL, most notably with the Green Bay Packers. Used mostly as a backup during his career, he had a Pro Bowl season in 1997, and was also the Packers’ leading rusher in their Super Bowl XXXI victory. Since retiring, Levens has dabbled in acting and in 2009 was elected to the Packers’ Hall of Fame.

2001 Score football card of former pro football tight end Frank Wycheck, who enjoyed an 11 year career in the NFL with the Washington Redskins, and most notably, with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans franchise. He was a three-time Pro Bowler and one of only seven tight ends in NFL history to record 500 receptions. After his playing days were over, Wycheck dabbled in pro wrestling and broadcasting. He is currently color analyst on the Titans’ radio broadcasts and hosts his own sports talk radio show in Nashville.

1979 Topps football card of former pro football quarterback Brian Sipe, who played 10 seasons in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns before ending his career in the USFL. He was the leader of the Browns’ teams in those years that earned the nickname “The Kardiac Kids” for their penchant for winning close games with fourth quarter or overtime drives. His best season was 1980, when he was named to the Pro Bowl and also won the NFL’s Most Valuable Player Award. After retiring, Sipe coached a very successful high school team in his native San Diego and also was the quarterback coach at his alma mater, San Diego State, for 6 seasons.

1958 Topps football card of Hall of Fame halfback Lenny Moore, who played his entire 12 year career with the Baltimore Colts. Sometimes an overlooked player when the discussion of the greatest backs of all time takes place, he certainly belongs in the mix. He was NFL Rookie of The Year in 1956, and helped the Colts win back-to-back championships in 1958 and ’59. Moore was a seven time Pro Bowler, the 1964 NFL Most Valuable Player, and was named to the NFL All Decade team for the 1950s. He is the only player in NFL history to record at least 40 rushing touchdowns and 40 receiving touchdowns. After his playing days ended, he worked for the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services for 26 years, mentoring at-risk children.

1964 Philadelphia football card of former pro football receiver Sonny Randle, who played 10 seasons in the NFL with his most productive years spent with the Cardinals franchise in Chicago and St. Louis. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and was named All Pro in 1960 (when he led the NFL in touchdown receptions) and 1962. After retiring as a player, Randle enjoyed a 13 year career in college coaching at 4 different schools, including head coaching stops at Virginia and Marshall. He also dabbled in sports broadcasting, and even started his own talk radio network in his native Virginia. Randle died in 2017 at the age of 81.

1963 Topps football card of former NFL defensive end Jim Marshall, who enjoyed a long, storied career spanning 20 years in the league, most notably with the Minnesota Vikings. Unfortunately he is mostly remembered for a play in which he recovered an opponent’s fumble and returned it 66 yards, in the wrong direction, resulting in a safety. That play aside, Marshall was a stalwart on the Vikings’ Purple People Eaters defense for 19 seasons, and was an All Pro and Pro Bowler three times. He appeared in 4 Super Bowls for the Vikings in the 1970s. Marshall was an NFL iron man also, and held the league record for longevity with 282 consecutive starts until it was later surpassed by Brett Favre.