1989 Topps football card of former pro wide receiver Chris Burkett, who played 9 years in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets. He totaled 292 receptions and 19 touchdowns in his career. Burkett is currently the Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mississippi, and also is the founder and CEO of chrisburkettsports.
1955 Topps All American football card of former college and pro halfback Tom Harmon, who played 2 seasons in the NFL for the Los Angeles Rams. After a stellar college career, he was the first overall pick of the NFL draft by the Chicago Bears, but never played for them. He entered the military and became a World War II hero, as a pilot in the Army Air Corps. After his short Rams’ career, he dabbled in acting and had a long career as a sports broadcaster. Harmon died of a heart attack at the age of 70 in 1990. His son Mark is a well known Hollywood actor.
1982 Topps football card of former pro safety Bill Simpson, who split a 9 year career between the Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills. He was named to the NFL All Rookie team in 1974, and had 43 career interceptions, including 9 in the playoffs. Simpson’s son Brett was the US Open of Surfing champion in 2009 and 2010.
1971 Topps football card of former pro offensive lineman Joe O’Donnell, who enjoyed an eight year career in the AFL and NFL with the Buffalo Bills, and also played a couple of seasons in the old WFL with Birmingham. He was named an AFL All Star in 1965 and was a key member of the Bills’ offensive line on their 1964 and 1965 championship teams. After retiring O’Donnell was involved in various business projects, coached for high school teams for many years and did radio commentary for University of Michigan games in the 1980s. He died from complications of Alzheimer’s disease in 2019.
1984 Topps Premier Edition USFL football card of former pro quarterback Dan Manucci, who played 2 seasons in the NFL as a backup with the Buffalo Bills, and also had one year stints in the USFL and Canadian Football League. His playing career didn’t amount to much, but he has been successful in his post-playing days. He currently is co-host of a sports talk show in Phoenix, Arizona and helps run a youth quarterback camp in Arizona.
1973 Topps football card of former pro offensive tackle Donnie Green, who helped anchor the Buffalo Bills’ offensive line for 6 seasons and played a total of 8 years in the NFL. He was a member of the famed “Electric Company” line that opened holes for O.J. Simpson in his career. Green’s life was a struggle after his playing days ended. He battled drug abuse and ended up in a homeless shelter, where he worked as a night monitor. Green passed away in 2019 at the age of 71.
1986 Topps football card of former pro fullback Larry Kinnebrew, who enjoyed a 7 year career in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills. A bruising 258 lb. runner, he was a clutch short yardage back and finished his career with 44 touchdowns. The Georgia native had issues with the law after his playing career ended, including a rape charge that was ultimately dismissed.
2021 Panini Prestige football card of pro placekicker Evan McPherson, who is a current member of the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals. Drafted in 2021, he had a terrific rookie year, and during his team’s playoff run that year he tied a league record for most postseason field goals made, and set a record for most made without a miss. Nicknamed “Money Mac”, he set a franchise record for the longest field goal made with a 59 yarder.
1972 Topps football card of former pro running back Willie Ellison, whose NFL career lasted 8 seasons in the NFL, most of those coming with the Los Angeles Rams. His biggest season came in 1971, when he was named to the Pro Bowl and also set a new single game rushing record against the Saints. After his playing career ended he worked as a substitute teacher in Texas. Ellison passed away in 2019 at the age of 73.
1962 Fleer football card of former pro halfback Ron Burton, who played 6 seasons in the American Football League for the Boston Patriots, the first 6 years of the team’s existence from 1960 to 1965. He was one of the new league’s early stars and excelled with the Pats as a runner and kick returner. Burton’s 4 children are all successful. He has 2 sons, Paul and Steve, who work in Boston area media, another son, Ron Jr. who is director of community relations for the Boston Red Sox, and a daughter, Veronica, who plays for the WNBA’s Dallas Wings. Burton passed away in 2003.