rayonsports.com

1976 Topps football card of former pro football defensive lineman Earl Edwards, who played 11 seasons in the NFL for 4 different teams. After playing 2 years with Edmonton of the CFL, he joined the San Francisco 49ers in 1969 and finished second in the voting for Defensive Rookie of The Year to Pittsburgh legend Mean Joe Greene. He helped the Niners win the NFC West from 1970 to 1972, then was traded to Buffalo. He finished up his NFL career with stops in Cleveland and Green Bay. Edwards is currently a substitute teacher in Arizona.

2019 Score football card of one of the bright young stars of today’s NFL, Buffalo Bills’ quarterback Josh Allen. Drafted in the first round out of Wyoming in 2018, he has improved vastly in his 3 years in the NFL, to the point where he was considered a serious MVP candidate in 2020. His family owns a cantelope farm in the rural northern California town of Firebaugh.

1995 Topps football card of former pro football defensive end Mark Pike, who enjoyed a 13 year career in the NFL, all with the Buffalo Bills. Despite his longevity, he was never a full time starter for the Bills, but like his teammate Steve Tasker was a valuable member of the special teams units. The “bomb squads” were a point of emphasis for Bills’ coach Marv Levy, and he valued players who helped the team in that third phase of the game. Pike has served as an instructor at Jim Kelly’s football camps, and helped his son Zeke open a sober living home for recovering addicts.

1997 Fleer football card of former pro football running back Karim Abdul-Jabbar, who played 5 seasons in the NFL, mostly for the Miami Dolphins. He led the Dolphins in rushing yardage his first 2 seasons with the team, and also led the NFL in touchdowns in 1997 when he scored 16 times. Born Sharmon Shah, the devout Muslim had his name changed by his Imam, but confusion with the famous basketball player led to controversy, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar eventually sued the Miami back. He changed his name again, and now goes by Abdul-Kareem al-Jabbar.

1968 Topps football card of former NFL wide receiver Willie Richardson, who enjoyed a 9 year career in the league, most notably with the Baltimore Colts. He was twice named to the Pro Bowl and also a two-time All Pro, in 1967 and ’68, and helped the Colts win the NFL title in ’68. His younger brother Gloster Richardson also played in the league. Richardson passed away in 2016 at the age of 76.

1962 Topps football card of former NFL quarterback Fran Tarkenton, who played for an amazing 18 seasons in the league. His time was split between 2 separate stints with the Minnesota Vikings and a 5 year stay with the New York Giants. Known for his scrambling ability, he was a 9 time Pro Bowler, NFL MVP in 1975, and held multiple career passing records when he retired in 1978. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986. Tarkenton has been active since his playing days ended, writing self-help books, investing, founding a software company and appearing on several television shows, including Monday Night Football as an analyst and That’s Incredible! as a co-host.

1984 Topps football card of former pro football running back John Riggins, who enjoyed a long 15 career in the NFL with the New York Jets and Washington Redskins. Inexplicably he was only named to the Pro Bowl once in his career. He was NFL Comeback Player of The Year in 1978 and MVP of Super Bowl XVII when he led the Redskins to a win in the big game against Miami. Nicknamed “The Diesel”, Riggins was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992. He has dabbled in acting and sports commentating in his later life, including doing color analysis for Sunday Night Football radio broadcasts on Westwood One.

1962 Post Cereal football card of former pro football fullback Jim Taylor, who played 10 seasons in the NFL, 9 for the Green Bay Packers and a single season with his hometown New Orleans Saints in their inaugural year of 1967. He was a five-time Pro Bowler, member of 4 NFL title teams, NFL Most Valuable Player in 1962 and named to the NFL’s All Decade Team for the 1960s. Taylor was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1976. He was a successful businessman after his playing days ended and stayed in good physical condition, jogging 5 miles a day and competing in the Superstars event. Taylor passed away in 2018.

1981 Topps football card of former pro football wide receiver John Jefferson, who enjoyed an 8 year career in the NFL, most notably playing for the San Diego Chargers and Green Bay Packers. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and led the NFL in receiving yards and touchdowns in 1980. Jefferson was named to the Chargers’ 50th Anniversary All-Time team. He remained involved in football after retiring, serving as an assistant coach at the University of Kansas and director of player development with the Washington Redskins until 2009.

2011 Topps football card of NFL running back Mark Ingram Jr., who is currently in his tenth year in the league, playing for the Baltimore Ravens. He started his career in 2011 with the New Orleans Saints and played there until signing with the Ravens as a free agent in 2019. The former Heisman Trophy winner from Alabama has been selected to the Pro Bowl 3 times so far in his career. His father, Mark Ingram Sr., was a wide receiver in the league for 10 years.