2000 Playoff Contenders Tom Brady #144 Value Guide (2026)

Sports Cards

Tom Brady was the 199th pick in the 2000 NFL Draft. A sixth-round afterthought. His rookie card in the 2000 Playoff Contenders set - card #144, with an on-card autograph - was worth a few dollars at the time. Seven Super Bowl championships later, that same card has sold for over $3 million. It's the most dramatic value appreciation story in sports card history. Even a PSA 8 copy sold for $36,950 in January 2026.

Quick Value Summary


Item	2000 Playoff Contenders Tom Brady #144 Rookie Ticket Auto
Year	2000
Category	Sports Cards - Football
Set	2000 Playoff Contenders
Card Number	#144
Feature	On-card autograph
Condition Range
PSA 7-7.5	$30,000 – $40,000
PSA 8 (NM-MT)	$36,950 – $50,000
PSA 9 (Mint)	$150,000 – $400,000
BGS 9.5 (Gem Mint)	$1,000,000 – $3,107,000
Record Sale	$3,107,132 (BGS 9.5)
Rarity	Scarce - exact print run unknown; Championship Ticket parallel /100

The Story

Nobody wanted Tom Brady. Six quarterbacks were drafted before him in 2000: Chad Pennington, Giovanni Carmazzi, Chris Redman, Tee Martin, Marc Bulger, and Spergon Wynn. Most of those names mean nothing today. Brady sat on the bench behind Drew Bledsoe for his entire rookie season.

Then, in the second game of the 2001 season, Bledsoe took a hit from Jets linebacker Mo Lewis and suffered a sheared blood vessel in his chest. Brady stepped in. He never gave the job back.

What followed is the greatest career in NFL history. Seven Super Bowl championships. Five Super Bowl MVP awards. Three regular-season MVP awards. He played until he was 45 years old, winning his last Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021 at age 43. He retired (for real, the second time) in February 2023.

The 2000 Playoff Contenders Tom Brady #144 captures him as a nobody - a late-round pick in a Patriots uniform that nobody expected to see on Sundays. It features an on-card autograph, meaning Brady physically signed every copy during production. That direct connection to the player, combined with his unprecedented success, turned this card from worthless to priceless.

How to Identify It

Key Visual Markers

"Rookie Ticket" design - The card looks like a ticket stub, with a perforated-style edge on one side
On-card autograph - Brady's signature in blue ink, signed directly on the card (not a sticker)
Card #144 - printed on the back
Brady in New England Patriots uniform
2000 Playoff Contenders branding on the card

Championship Ticket Parallel

The base Rookie Ticket auto has an unknown (but moderate) print run. The Championship Ticket parallel is numbered to 100 copies and is worth significantly more. Check the back of the card for serial numbering - if it says something like "XX/100," you have the Championship Ticket version.

Autograph Quality

Not all Brady autographs on this card are created equal. The quality of the signature varies - some are bold and clean, others are lighter or more hastily written. Grading services evaluate the autograph separately, and a strong auto can command a premium.

Value by Condition

Base Rookie Ticket Auto

Grade	Value
PSA 7 (Near Mint)	$30,000 – $35,000
PSA 7.5	$35,000 – $40,000
PSA 8 (NM-MT)	$36,950 – $50,000
PSA 9 (Mint)	$150,000 – $400,000
PSA 10 (Gem Mint)	$500,000 – $1,000,000+
BGS 9.5 (Gem Mint)	$1,000,000 – $3,107,000

A PSA 8 sold for $36,950 on January 20, 2026. The record sale - a BGS 9.5 - topped $3,107,000.

Championship Ticket Auto (/100)

Championship Ticket parallels numbered to 100 command a massive premium over the base auto. High-grade Championship Tickets have sold for multiples of the base card's value. These are the true trophy pieces.

Why the PSA 8 to PSA 9 Jump Is So Large

The gap between $40,000 (PSA 8) and $150,000+ (PSA 9) reflects scarcity. The card's surface, edges, and corners must be nearly perfect, and the autograph must be clean and well-centered. Most copies have minor surface issues or auto quality variations that cap them at PSA 8.

Authentication & Fakes

Is Counterfeiting a Risk?

Yes. Given that even mid-grade copies sell for five figures, counterfeiting is a real concern. The on-card autograph adds another layer of authentication complexity.

What to Watch For

Autograph authenticity: Compare the signature to known exemplars from this set. Brady's auto from this era has specific characteristics - letter formation, pen pressure, ink type.
Card stock and finish: Genuine 2000 Playoff Contenders cards have a specific card stock weight and surface texture. Counterfeits often feel slightly different.
Championship Ticket numbering: If someone claims to have a Championship Ticket, verify the serial number format and check against known population reports.
Trimming: Some cards are trimmed to improve edge quality. This will result in slightly smaller dimensions and a "PSA Authentic" or "Altered" designation.

Professional Grading Is Essential

At these values, buying or selling without PSA, BGS, or SGC authentication is reckless. The grading fee is a rounding error compared to the card's value. Always verify the certification number in the grading company's online database before purchasing.

Where to Sell

PSA 7-8 ($30,000–$50,000)

Goldin Auctions - Strong football card platform
Heritage Auctions - Major auction house
PWCC Marketplace - Active market for graded cards

PSA 9+ ($150,000+)

Goldin or Heritage - These are marquee-lot cards that draw headlines
Sotheby's - For crossover appeal to luxury collectors

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Common Questions

How much is a 2000 Playoff Contenders Tom Brady rookie card worth?

The base Rookie Ticket auto ranges from $30,000 (PSA 7) to over $3 million (BGS 9.5). A PSA 8 recently sold for $36,950. Championship Ticket parallels (/100) command even higher premiums.

What makes this card special compared to other Brady rookies?

Three things: the on-card autograph (Brady physically signed it), the Rookie Ticket design (iconic in football card collecting), and the story - Brady was a 199th-overall nobody when this card was produced. Other Brady rookies exist, but this is the definitive one.

What's the difference between the base auto and the Championship Ticket?

The base Rookie Ticket auto has an unknown but moderate print run. The Championship Ticket is a parallel version numbered to 100 copies, making it significantly rarer and more valuable.

Is the Brady Contenders auto a good investment?

It's been one of the best-performing sports cards ever, but past performance doesn't guarantee future returns. Brady's legacy as the GOAT quarterback seems secure, which supports long-term demand. But card values can be volatile - buy because you appreciate the card, not purely as a financial bet.

How can I tell if the autograph is real?

Professional grading services (PSA, BGS, SGC) authenticate both the card and the autograph. They compare the signature to known exemplars. Don't trust your own judgment on autograph authenticity when this much money is at stake - let the professionals handle it.