2012 Score football card of a former pro football running back, BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Known as “The Law Firm” because of his extra-long name, Green-Ellis played 6 years in the NFL, splitting time between the New England Patriots and Cincinnati Bengals. His career was cut short by injury after the 2013 season, and he was released by the Bengals.
1963 Topps football card of former pro football wide receiver Bernie Casey, who played 8 seasons in the NFL, split between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams. He was a Pro Bowler in 1967. He enjoyed a successful acting career when his playing days were over, appearing in numerous television episodes and hit movies such as Brian’s Song, Guns of The Magnificent Seven, Sharkey’s Machine, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure and Revenge of The Nerds. An avid poet and painter, Casey died of a stroke in 2017.
1972 Topps football card of former pro football cornerback Jim Marsalis, who played 8 seasons in the AFL and NFL, almost exclusively for the Kansas City Chiefs. He was a two-time Pro Bowler, AFL Defensive Rookie of The Year in 1969, and a key member of the Chiefs’ NFL championship team that won Super Bowl IV. After retiring as a player Marsalis became a banker along with his wife, and helped coach a local high school football team.
1961 Fleer football card of former pro football halfback Willie Galimore, who played 7 seasons in the NFL for the Chicago Bears. Nicknamed “Willie the Wisp”, he was a two-time All Pro and a member of the Bears’ 1963 championship team. His career and life were tragically cut short at age 29 in 1964 when he and teammate Bo Farrington were killed in a car accident near the team’s training camp. A civil rights activist, Galimore made history when, just weeks before his death, he became the first black person to register at the previously all white Ponce de Leon Motor Lodge in his home town of St.Augustine, Florida. His son Ron was the first black U.S. Olympic gymnast.
2005 Topps First Edition 50th Anniversary football card of former NFL quarterback David Carr, who played a total of 11 seasons in the league for 4 different teams. He was the first overall pick of the 2002 draft and also the first pick in the history of the expansion Houston Texans that year. He never quite lived up to the lofty expectations of being a high draft choice, but managed to carve out a long career for himself as a backup QB. Carr also won a Super Bowl ring as Eli Manning’s backup with the New York Giants. His brother Derek is currently the quarterback of the Las Vegas Raiders.
1963 Topps football card of former pro football receiver Buddy Dial, who played 9 seasons in the NFL, splitting time between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys. His best years were with the Steelers, as he was a two-time Pro Bowler and an All Pro in 1963 while playing for them. A devout Christian, Dial recorded an album of inspirational songs and also a single that was a regional hit in Dallas while he was with the Cowboys. He died in 2008 of prostate cancer at the age of 71.
1970 Topps football card of former running back Bo Scott, who played 6 seasons in the NFL for the Cleveland Browns. Originally drafted by the Browns in 1965, he chose to sign with the Canadian Football League’s Ottawa Rough Riders instead, where he became a two-time CFL All Star and helped the Rough Riders win the Grey Cup in 1968. After retiring as a player Scott worked for a juvenile court and was assistant director of a juvenile detention center for 28 years before retiring.
1960 Topps football card of former pro football running back John David Crow, who enjoyed an 11 year career in the NFL, with his playing days split between the Chicago/St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers. The 1957 Heisman Trophy winner, once he reached the pros, was twice named an All Pro, played in 4 Pro Bowls and was named to the NFL’s All Decade team for the 1960s. He remained involved in football long after his playing career ended, serving in coaching and administrative positions at both the college and pro level. He died in 2015 at the age of 79.
2015 Topps football card of former NFL wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, who played 10 seasons in the NFL, mostly for the Denver Broncos. He was a five-time Pro Bowler and won a Super Bowl title with Denver in 2015. He holds many Bronco receiving records, and last played in 2019 for the New York Jets. He is currently a free agent.
1982 Topps football card of former NFL running back Pete Johnson, who played 8 seasons in the league, primarily for the Cincinnati Bengals. The bruising fullback was the Bengals’ leading rusher in all 7 seasons he played for them, and was a Pro Bowler and named All Pro in 1981. Johnson had issues with drugs at the end of his career, but today is retired and runs camps for autistic children throughout the country.