2021 Panini Playbook Football Preview
They don’t use the word “book” for nothing.
Panini’s 2021 Playbook Football product is all about the foldout. Using photos, memorabilia and autographs, it’s one of the more distinctive products on the company’s football calendar.
While some may prefer cards that don’t have a binding, it’s a style that does allow for some creativity and larger images.
Set for release February 25–less than two weeks after the Super Bowl–Playbook Hobby boxes contain a single four-card pack. Two will be memorabilia cards and two will carry autographs, with one booklet card per box, on average. The cost is up a bit this year, to a $200 SRP, but expect to pay more in the current market.
The autograph content starts with Rookies Jersey Autographs, all numbered to 299 unless they’re lower numbered parallels that will vary from Gold (# to 99) down to 1/1 versions that include NFL Shields, Nike logos, laundry tags and printing plates.
More rookie autograph content can be found in Rookie Signature Lockers, with cards that feature a variety of different memorabilia pieces along with the auto.
You’ll need two hands to hold some of the booklets including Vault Tri-Fold Jersey autographs and Team Trios. Both will be numbered to 25 or less with Gold (# to 10) and Platinum (1/1) parallel versions.
Game of Inches is another tri-fold card, which offers unique photos and large pieces of memorabilia while Red Zone and Nexus Tri-Fold Jumbo jerseys are similar in nature.
Tri-Fold and Game of Inches will be numbered to 25 with Gold (# to 25) and 1/1 Premium versions.
Armory Booklets offer a vertical fold style, also with Gold (# to 25) and 1/1 Premium versions.
Non-booklet rookie content can be found in Rookie Signatures.
The Hobby-exclusive cards will also come with a variety of parallels including:
Gold – #’d/99
Platinum – #’d/49
Blue – #’d/25
Green – #’d/10
Black – #’d/5
Red – #’d/1
Printing Plates – #’d/1
Quarterbacks who’ve gained notoriety for their desperation tosses are featured in Hail Mary Signatures.
Other autograph subsets include Goal Line Graphs and Signature Routes.
About Rich Mueller
Rich is the editor and founder of Sports Collectors Daily. A broadcaster and writer for over 35 years and a collector for even longer than that, he’s usually typing something somewhere. Type him back at [email protected]
