Matthew Stafford Rookie Card Rankings
For more than a decade, any Matthew Stafford Rookie Card was solid. Since the Detroit Lions took him with the first pick in the 2009 draft, he’s been a respected quarterback. The biggest thing holding him back was the fact that he was on the Lions and winning ways were sparse.
But that’s changed now thanks to a blockbuster trade that sent him to the Los Angeles Rams. The deal immediately rejuvenated Matthew Stafford’s place in the hobby. Now, with a trip to the Super Bowl, they’re back in the spotlight.
Matthew Stafford Rookie Cards Overview
Collectors have more than 40 different Matthew Stafford Rookie Cards to choose from. Panini, who had just purchased Donruss/Playoff that spring, Topps and Upper Deck all had licenses in 2009, which made for a broad mix of products. This is reflected in Stafford’s cards with prices ranging from a few dollars to several thousand.
More than a third of the Matthew Stafford Rookie Cards come with autographs, many of which also have memorabilia as well. Around this time, card companies were experimenting with a variety of materials to expand the relic concept. This include manufactured letter patches in 2009 Donruss Threads and 2009 SP Threads.
Parallels were starting to expand in many sets, but it was nowhere near the size of the rainbows found in the majority of football card sets less than a decade later. In fact, a handful of Matthew Stafford Rookie Cards have no parallels at all.
Like most players, Matthew Stafford Rookie Card prices have been on a bit of a roller coaster over the years. As the first overall pick and a quarterback, he was a major focal point in the hobby in 2009. But injuries and a growing number of losing seasons sent things down. He’s certainly a star QB but it’s tough to put him in the hobby’s elite, especially considering Stafford played in the same era as Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers, four all-time greats with the numbers and records to back it up.
Since arriving in Los Angeles, Stafford’s cards have rebounded. A great 2021 regular season has given way to a place in Super Bowl LVI. He’s definitely back on the hobby radar.
Most Valuable Matthew Stafford Rookie Card Rankings
The following list includes base Matthew Stafford Rookie Cards with the RC tag in the Beckett database. This excludes inserts and parallels from consideration. A comprehensive Matthew Stafford cards checklist is available here. Ranking are based primarily on values in the Beckett price guide.
1. 2009 Playoff National Treasures Matthew Stafford RC Auto Patch #121 /99
Parallels: Gold (/25), Platinum (/5), Black (1/1)
Buy on:
2. 2009 Exquisite Collection Matthew Stafford RC Auto Patch #183 /99
Parallels: Silver Holofoil (/25), Platinum Holofoil (1/1)
Buy on:
3. 2009 SP Authentic Matthew Stafford RC Auto Patch #403 /499
Parallels: Gold (/25), Platinum (/5), NFL Logo Patches (1/1)
Buy on:
4. 2009 Playoff Contenders Matthew Stafford RC Autograph #101
Parallels: Playoff Ticket (/99), Championship Ticket (1/1)
Buy on:
5. 2009 Ultimate Collection Matthew Stafford RC Autograph #201 /99
Parallels: Blue (/15), Red (/5), Green (1/1)
Buy on:
7. 2009 Limited Matthew Stafford RC Auto Patch #233 /149
Parallels: Silver Spotlight (/25), Gold Spotlight (/10), Platinum Spotlight (1/1)
Buy on:
8. 2009 Donruss Gridiron Gear Matthew Stafford RC Auto Mem #203 /100
Unless noted, parallels do not have autographs.
Parallels: Combos Prime (/50), Jumbo Prime (/50), Jerseys Prime (/50), Jerseys Retails (/50), Jerseys Trios (/50), Jerseys Trios Prime (/50), Trios Autographs Prime (/25), Combos Autographs Prime (/10), Autographs Prime (/5)
Buy on:
9. 2009 Donruss Rookies & Stars Matthew Stafford RC Autograph #201 /141
Parallels: Gold (/25), College (/22), Blue (/10), College Gold (/10), College Emerald (/5), Emerald (/5), College Platinum (1/1), Platinum (1/1)
Buy on:
11. 2009 SP Threads Matthew Stafford RC Auto Manufactured Letter Patch #241 /15
Available with different letters, 120 total copies.
Parallels: College (/12), College Nickname (/8), Gold (/5)
Buy on:
12. 2009 SPx Matthew Stafford RC Auto Triple Memorabilia #91 /275
Parallels: Silver (/25), Gold Holofoil (1/1)
Buy on:
13. 2009 Certified Matthew Stafford RC Auto Dual Memorabilia #221 /249
Parallels: Jumbo (/100), Jumbo Mirror Blue (/50), Jumbo Mirror Gold (/25), Mirror Blue (/25), Mirror Gold (/10), Jumbo Mirror Emerald (/5), Mirror Emerald (/5), Jumbo Mirror Black (1/1), Mirror Black (1/1)
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14. 2009 Topps Triple Threads Matthew Stafford RC Auto Triple Memorabilia #115 /35
Parallels: Sepia (/30), Emerald (/20), Prime Sepia (/20), Gold (/15), Prime Sapphire (/15), Sapphire (/10), Prime Black (/5), Pigskin (1/1), Platinum (1/1), Prime Pigskin (1/1), Prime Printing Plates Black (1/1), Prime Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Prime Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Prime Printing Plates Yellow (1/1), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1)
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15. 2009 Absolute Memorabilia Matthew Stafford RC Auto Triple Memorabilia #201 /299
Unless noted, parallels do not have autographs.
Parallels: AFC/NFC (/99), Oversize Jersey Number (/99), NFL Spectrum Prime (/50), AFC/NFC Autographs (/25), AFC/NFC Spectrum Prime (/25), Oversize Spectrum Prime (/25), AFC/NFC Autographs Spectrum Prime (/10), NFL Spectrum Prime Autographs (/10), Oversize Autographs (/10), Oversize Jersey Number Prime (/10), Oversize Spectrum Prime Autographs (/10), Brand Logo (/5), Laundry Tag (/5), NFL Shield (/5), Brand Logo Autographs (1/1), Laundry Tag Autographs (1/1), NFL Shield Autographs (1/1)
Buy on:
17. 2009 Topps Chrome Matthew Stafford Rookie Card #TC210
Parallels: Refractors, Blue Refractors, Xfractors, Copper Refractors (/699), Red Refractors (/25), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1), Superfractors (1/1)
Buy on:
18. 2009 Bowman Chrome Matthew Stafford Rookie Card #111
Parallels: Refractors, Xfractors (/250), Bronze (/225), Blue Refractors (/150), Green Refractors (/99), Silver (/99), Gold Refractors (/50), Orange Refractors (/25), Red Refractors (/5), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1), Superfractors (1/1)
Buy on:
19. 2009 Topps Matthew Stafford Rookie Card #430
Parallels: Gold (/2009), Black (/54), Platinum (1/1), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1)
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20. 2009 Finest Matthew Stafford Rookie Card #100
Parallels: Refractors, Pigskin Refractors, Blue Refractors (/429), Green Refractors (/199), Gold Refractors (/75), Pigskin Gold Refractors (/25), Red Refractors (/25), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1), Xfractors (1/1)
Buy on:
21. 2009 Bowman Sterling Matthew Stafford RC Jersey #146 /749
Parallels: Refractors (/199), Black Refractors (/50), Gold Refractors (/25), Xfractors (/5), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1), Red Refractors (1/1)
Buy on:
22. 2009 Donruss Elite Matthew Stafford Rookie Card #165 /999
Parallels: Aspirations (/93), Gold (/24), Status (/7)
A variation of Stafford in his Lions uniform (/999) was distributed at the National Sports Collectors Convention.
Buy on:
23. 2009 Topps Platinum Matthew Stafford Rookie Card #125
Parallels: Platinum Refractors 1549 (/1549), Refractors (/999), White Refractors (/499), Blue Refractors (/99), Platinum Refractors 99 (/99), Red Refractors (/25), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1), Superfractors (1/1)
Buy on:
24. 2009 Upper Deck Icons Matthew Stafford Rookie Card #101 /599
Parallels: Gold Foil (/99), Gold Foil Die-Cut (/50)
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25. 2009 Donruss Classics Matthew Stafford RC #220 /999
Parallels: Timeless Tributes Silver (/100), Timeless Tributes Gold (/50), Timeless Tributes Platinum (/25)
Buy on:
27. 2009 Score Inscriptions Matthew Stafford Rookie Card #371 /999
Parallels: Gold Zone (/50), Scorecard (/50), Artist’s Proof (/32), Red Zone (/30), End Zone (/6)
Buy on:
30. 2009 Playoff Prestige Matthew Stafford Rookie Card #172
Parallels: Light Blue (/999), Xtra Points Orange (/300), Xtra Points Gold (/250), Xtra Points Red (/100), Xtra Points Purple (/50), Xtra Points Green (/25), Xtra Points Black (/10)
Buy on:
31. 2009 Topps National Chicle Matthew Stafford RC #C37
Parallels: Mini, Mini Bazooka Back, Mini Chicle Back, Mini Topp Back (/25), Mini Artist Proof (/10), Mini Artist Proof Artist Signature (/10), Mini Pigskin (1/1), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1)
Buy on:
32. 2009 Topps Unique Matthew Stafford RC #150
Parallels: Red (/799), Bronze (/99), Gold (/25), Platinum (1/1)
Buy on:
33. 2009 Bowman Draft Matthew Stafford RC #111
Parallels: Orange, White (/299), Blue (/199), Bronze (/99), Silver (/50), Gold (/10), Platinum (1/1)
Buy on:
34. 2009 Topps Mayo Matthew Stafford RC #187
Parallels: Mini, Mini Blue Back, Mini Gold, Silver, Mini Red Back (/25), Mini Cloth (/5), Mini Printing Plates Black (1/1), Mini Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Mini Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Mini Printing Plates Yellow (1/1)
Buy on:
35. 2009 Topps Magic Matthew Stafford RC #77
Parallels: Mini, Mini Black
Buy on:
37. 2009 Score Matthew Stafford RC #371
Parallels: Atomic National Convention, Glossy, Scorecard (/299), Gold Zone (/249), Red Zone (/100), Atomic National Convention Blue (/50), Atomic National Convention Red (/50), Artist’s Proof (/32), Atomic National Convention Gold (/25), End Zone (/6)
Buy on:
38. 2009 Upper Deck Heroes Matthew Stafford RC #117, 118
Parallels: Blue (/99), Orange (/35), Purple (/10), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1), Steel (1/1)
Buy on:
39. 2009 Topps Kickoff Matthew Stafford RC #116
Parallels: Holofoil (/2009), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1)
Buy on:
40. 2009 Upper Deck Draft Edition Matthew Stafford RC #3
Parallels: Brown, Dark Green, Green (/350), Bronze (/125), Burgundy (/75), Blue (/50), Copper (/25), Platinum (/10), Gold (1/1)
Buy on:
Regular Topps over Topps Finest?!