Brandon Kennedy’s Stunning Stash of Super Bowl Tickets one for the History Books

The first time I met 14-year-old Brandon Kennedy, he was quietly working behind the counter at Scott Pierce’s SMP Sports Cards in Grapevine, Texas, during a special NBA Finals appearance by former Dallas Mavericks star Derek Harper.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get to spend a lot of time talking to Kennedy that day. If I had, I would’ve discovered that the kid and his dad have amassed what has to be the greatest 2010 Playoff Contenders Super Bowl Ticket Autographs collection on the planet.

To date, the dynamic father-and-son duo has collected a staggering 61 of the 75 cards in the set, a seemingly unrivaled collecting feat. Here now, in Brandon’s own words, is a little of the back story followed by a simply stunning gallery of Kennedy’s gems.  

Panini America Personal Collection Spotlight
Who: Brandon Kelly, Coppell, Texas
What: 2010 Playoff Contenders Super Bowl Tickets Autographs

“I’ve been collecting cards since I was 7, and this hobby has been a great enjoyment to my dad and I. I love collecting Hall of Fame autographs as well as cut autos and nice patch cards.

“Me and my dad decided to pursue this set when 2010 Playoff Contenders first came out. We were busting a lot of boxes at SMP Sports Cards and I happened to hit the Joe Namath numbered out of 25. The cards just had this appeal to us, and the checklist was loaded with Hall of Famers and legends that we couldn’t resist.

“My favorite card from the set that I have in my collection would have to be the Michael Irvin. The photography on the card is stunning and it just sticks out that much more than the rest. I actually acquired it from an Irvin Super Collector. I paid more than I would’ve liked to for it, but i had to have it! My pursuit on this set has been very time- and money-consuming. I work at the local card shop, SMP, every Saturday and some additional days in the summer, and this is where all of my money has been going to.

“I do searches for these cards three times a day — right when I get out of bed, in the afternoon and before I go to sleep. My dad and I travel across the country to large shows in pursuit of the short-printed cards. The toughest cards to find so far have been the Tom Bradys. I’ve seen two of the versions numbered out of 3, one of which I picked up.”