The recent shift in quarterback roles for the Denver Broncos has ignited a remarkable surge in the market for Jarrett Stidham‘s trading cards. Following a thrilling 33-30 overtime victory against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC divisional round, the Broncos faced a significant challenge. With rookie starter Bo Nix suffering a season-ending injury, Stidham has stepped into the starting position, causing an immediate and dramatic change in the team’s odds against the New England Patriots.
Stidham, a fourth-round pick by the New England Patriots in 2019, previously played for the Las Vegas Raiders before joining the Broncos. This marked the first time he has started a game in over two years. In his brief career, Stidham has a record of 1-3 as a starter, with 1,422 passing yards, 8 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions across 20 games. His unexpected promotion to starter has not only altered the betting landscape but has also captured the attention of sports card collectors.
According to data from Card Ladder, which tracks sports card trends and sales, Stidham’s cards have seen an astonishing week-over-week value increase of 788.48%. This spike highlights a phenomenon known as “prospecting,” where collectors purchase cards based on their potential future value. Stidham’s current situation presents a unique opportunity, as he is about to become only the seventh quarterback since 1950 to start a playoff game without having started during the regular season.
The market reaction was swift. Just hours after the news of Nix’s injury broke, one collector purchased a rare Stidham rookie patch autograph card for $2,000 on eBay. Andrew Arnold, the owner of Beast Sports Cards in Texas, sold the card, which he acquired during the Dallas Card Show earlier in January. Arnold initially expected the card to sell for around $1,000, but the urgency created by Stidham’s new role drove the price higher.
While this sale is significant, it does not surpass the highest price ever paid for a Stidham card, which reached $3,300 in April 2020. Comparatively, the trading values of other starting quarterbacks this weekend are markedly higher: Sam Darnold saw a card sell for $10,300 in September 2021, Matthew Stafford‘s peaked at $55,000 in February 2022, and Drake Maye‘s reached an astounding $164,700 in November 2025.
Currently, three 1-of-1 Stidham rookie cards are listed for sale on eBay, with asking prices in the six-figure range. These include a non-autographed 2019 Panini Prizm Black Finite card priced at $500,000, an on-card autographed 2019 Panini National Treasures NFL shield card for $450,000, and an autographed 2019 Panini Prizm Sensational Signatures Black Finite card at $225,000.
As Stidham prepares to lead the Broncos in their next playoff game, he remains focused on the task ahead. “At the end of the day, I’m not focused on anything but Sunday, what is my job on each and every play,” he stated in a recent press conference. Head Coach Sean Payton expressed confidence in Stidham, saying, “He’s going to rip it, and that’ll be our approach. He’s got this calm demeanor that suits him well.”
With the potential for success in the upcoming games, particularly if Stidham can guide the Broncos to Super Bowl LX in San Francisco, his market value could continue to rise dramatically. Sports card collectors are undoubtedly watching closely as this unexpected narrative unfolds.
