Panini Peek: 2011 Gridiron Gear Football

August 19, 2011

When Panini America NFL Product Development team members set out to construct and improve Gridiron Gear Football for a new season, they considered a host of possibilities. Foremost among them, however, was making the still-revolutionary-after-all-these-years Rookie Gridiron Gems — arguably collecting’s most unique Rookie Cards — more attainable than ever.

As a result, the popular RCs, numbered this season to 349 or less, will fall eight per case when 2011 Gridiron Gear Football releases November 16.

“It’s been more than 10 years since we first introduced the pioneering Rookie Gridiron Gems pull-out rookie autograph cards, one of the most innovative combinations of autographs and memorabilia the hobby has ever seen,” said Ben Ecklar, Panini America’s Director of Product Development. “All these years later, they remain unparalleled. And in an industry that sees more than its fair share of copycat concepts, that’s saying quite a lot.”

Each 18-pack box of 2011 Gridiron Gear will deliver two autographs numbered to 349 or less, two memorabilia cards numbered to 299 or less, 18 Rookie Cards and nine additional inserts or parallels.

Other product highlights include:

  • NFL Gridiron Signatures, featuring superstar autographs on unique NFL field plates, will include first-time Field Plate signers such as 2010 Comeback Player of the Year Michael Vick and Pro Bowl QBs Philip Rivers and Drew Brees.
  • NFL Pro Gridiron Signatures, autograph cards that include unique rubber team helmets embedded into the card, will feature only the greatest legends in NFL history.
  • Each card in the Plates & Patches Signatures insert will include two prime pieces of memorabilia an autograph and sequential numbering to 10 or less.

“Unique collectible enhancements such as the pull-out memorabilia autographs, embedded rubber helmets and NFL field plates really make Gridiron Gear stand out from the crowd and give the product a distinct and instantly recognizable identity among collectors,” Ecklar said.

You can get your first look at 2011 Gridiron Gear Football in the gallery below. Stay tuned to The Knight’s Lance for additional updates on the product.