We’re looking at the best Kaboom! football cards ever, featuring some of the biggest names within the NFL. There’s no better insert than Kaboom! if you’re looking for high-end options from a range of different sports.
Kaboom! inserts are proof that you don’t necessarily need a serial number or an autograph to make a card collectible, or even valuable. They typically come in at a rate of one per case, making the Kaboom! inserts some of the rarer options on the market.
Here’s a rundown with the top 10 Kaboom! football cards to collect, including RCs and options that will easily sell for five figures if they happen to be wrapped in a graded slab.
The Best Football KABOOM! Cards
NFL Kaboom! cards are found in Panini Absolute products, with a few players that have multiple options to chase.You’ll find Kaboom! football cards in the following products:
- 2018 Panini Kaboom Rewards
- 2018-2021: Panini Absolute Football
10. 2019 Panini Absolute KABOOM! DK Metcalf RC #KDK (eBay)
We’ll begin with one of the more recognizable players in the sport. Wide receiver DeKaylin Zecharius “DK” Metcalf holds the record for most receiving yards by a rookie in a playoff game, and made the Pro Bowl for the first time in 2020. His Kaboom! RC is found in 2019 Panini Absolute Football.
- Parallels: Gold #/10, Green 1/1
Check prices of 2019 Panini Absolute KABOOM! DK Metcalf RC on eBay
9. 2021 Panini Absolute KABOOM! Patrick Mahomes II #K29 (eBay)
Patrick Mahomes II enters his sixth season with the Chiefs in 2022. In terms of why his Kaboom! inserts are so valuable; he already holds multiple records, and is the youngest quarterback in NFL history to be named Super Bowl MVP. He is also the youngest player to ever win a league MVP and a Super Bowl title. You’ll find this landscape option in 2021 Panini Absolute Football sets, and it comes with a duo of parallels to chase.
- Parallels: Gold #/10, Green 1/1
Check prices of 2021 Panini Absolute KABOOM! Patrick Mahomes III on eBay
8. 2020 Panini Absolute KABOOM! Kyler Murray #K2 (eBay)
QB Kyler Murray is next to make the list, featuring in another strong landscape design. He was named as the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2019 after setting several Cardinals franchise rookie quarterback records, and led the team to their first playoff appearance for six years in 2021. The card above is the Gold 2021 release, while there’s also an RC found in 2019 Absolute sets.
- Parallels: Gold #/10, Green 1/1
Check prices of 2020 Panini Absolute KABOOM! Kyler Murray on eBay
7. 2021 Panini Absolute KABOOM! Mac Jones RC #K44 (eBay)
Mac Jones is one of the most popular football players right now in terms of the overall interest paid to his rookie cards. The New England Patriots quarterback is ready to take it to another level entering Year 2, after being named to the 2021 PFWA All-Rookie Team and finishing second in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting behind Ja’Marr Chase. Expect to pay top dollar for Jones’ Kaboom! RC.
- Parallels: Gold #/10, Green 1/1
Check prices of 2021 Panini Absolute KABOOM! Mac Jones RC on eBay
6. 2020 Panini Absolute KABOOM! Tom Brady #KTB (eBay)
Tom Brady rookie cards are unparalleled within the hobby when looking at modern options. Arguably the greatest player in the sport’s history, he’s a seven-time Super Bowl champion, and five-time Super Bowl MVP. Brady famously “retired” in February 2022, which lasted just 40 days before he returned to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
- Parallels: Gold #/10, Green 1/1
Check prices of 2020 Panini Absolute KABOOM! Tom Brady on eBay
5. 2020 Panini Absolute KABOOM! Joe Burrow RC #KJB2 (eBay)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is one of the most collectible players in all sports, and has been a fan favorite ever since breaking multiple college records enroute to the NFL.
He recorded 5,671 yards and 60 TDs to lead LSU to a national championship, while his passer rating of 202 for the season was also a record until it was surpassed by Mac Jones in 2020. Kaboom inserts have been a staple of Panini Absolute since 2018. It’s hard to do better than this Burrow RC when looking at the best options overall.
- Parallels: Gold #/10, Green 1/1
Check prices of 2020 Panini Absolute KABOOM! Joe Burrow RC on eBay
4. 2018 Panini KABOOM! Josh Allen RC #JA (eBay)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is the subject of the next RC to make the list. He led the Bills to their first division title and playoff victory since 1995 en route to an AFC Championship Game appearance in 2020, and led the team to a consecutive division title the following year.
One of 50 players chosen for the 2018 Panini KABOOM! multi-sport collection, there are also debut parallels in Gold (#/10) and Green (1/1).
- Parallels: Gold #/10, Green 1/1
Check prices of 2018 Panini KABOOM! Josh Allen RC on eBay
3. 2020 Panini Absolute KABOOM! Justin Herbert RC #KJH2 (eBay)
If you’re looking at popular quarterback rookie cards from the last few years, Justin Herbert has to be part of the equation.
The 2020 Rookie of the Year now holds the record for the most passing yards (9,350) through the first two seasons of a career in NFL history, as well as the most completions (839) during the same period. You’ll be able to find Gold (#/10) and Green (1/1) parallels with this rare Herbert RC.
- Parallels: Gold #/10, Green 1/1
Check prices of 2020 Panini Absolute KABOOM! Justin Herbert RC on eBay
2. 2021 Panini Absolute KABOOM! Justin Herbert RC #26 (eBay)
Sticking with Herbert, 2021 Panini Absolute contains another Kaboom! card which sells for big bucks. Once again, there are Gold (#/10) and Green (1/1) parallels available, with a copy of the former seen in the image above.
- Parallels: Gold #/10, Green 1/1
Check prices of 2021 Panini Absolute KABOOM! Justin Herbert RC on eBay
1. 2019 Panini Absolute KABOOM! Patrick Mahomes #2 (eBay)
Patrick Mahomes already holds multiple records, as the youngest quarterback in NFL history to be named Super Bowl MVP. He is also the youngest player to ever win a league MVP and a Super Bowl title.
This Kaboom! card is found in 2019 Panini Absolute. A BGS 10 copy of the Gold parallel recently sold for $31,988. There’s also a Green one-of-one, seen in the image above.
- Parallels: Gold #/10, Green 1/1
Check prices of 2019 Panini Absolute KABOOM! Patrick Mahomes #2 on eBay
Football KABOOM! Cards: Buyers Guide
Are you interested in picking up one of the best NFL Kaboom! football cards? Here are our thoughts on the current market for the valuable inserts.
What is the best cheap football KABOOM! card?
As they’re now a yearly release, there are numerous Kaboom! football inserts that are reasonably affordable. For example, it might be worth checking out lower grades, or less popular players.
What is the best football KABOOM! Investment card?
It’s tough to look past the likes of Mahomes or Herbert, even if the latter is a riskier option as he’s still only 24.
Football KABOOM! Cards: Final Thoughts
The best Kaboom! football cards are likely to be wrapped in a graded slab, and will sell for an eye-watering amount. They’re also likely to feature some of the most important players within the sport, and this list is no exception.
Football is one of the best sports for Kaboom! cards given the cartoonish nature of the players, whether it’s their sheer size; or the obvious power on display. It’s one of the more collectible subsets within the hobby, but you’ll have to pay big money to add the best copies to your collection.