The Panini America Quality Control Gallery: 2018 Contenders Football (100+ Images)

January 03, 2019

panini america 2018 contenders football qc84

No matter the year, Release Day for any Contenders Football product is more than just the arrival of a new release. It’s more like a national collecting holiday — which makes next Friday cause for celebration. That’s when 2018 Contenders Football arrives in hobby shops across North America with a stacked edition honoring this season’s hottest rookies with this season’s hottest Rookie Cards (the landmark Rookie Ticket Autographs); of course, as is always the case, Contenders Football also will celebrate the NFL’s biggest current stars and all-time greats.

On average, each hobby box of 2018 Contenders Football (six cards per pack, 18 packs per box, 12 boxes per case) will deliver five autographs (including at least one on-card), 18 inserts and one parallel. The iconic and autographed Rookie Tickets will once again be paralleled by the likes of Playoff Tickets (numbered to 99 or less), Championship Tickets (numbered to 49 or less), Cracked Ice Tickets (numbered to 24) and Super Bowl Ticket 1/1s.

Also be on the lookout for . . .

  • Rookie Ticket Variations featuring unique design elements and unique photography that’s different from standard Rookie Tickets.
  • The 20th Anniversary Rookie Ticket insert pays homage to Contenders Rookie Tickets of years past with on-card autographs.
  • The new Contenders to Canton Autographs insert captures two iconic moments on one spectacular card: A legend’s early Contenders card and their Hall of Fame enshrinement; numbered to just 20. And it just might be the best insert of the entire season.
  • Look for the return of hobby-exclusive Golden Tickets and Silver Tickets.

We’ll have much more on 2018 Contenders Football in the coming days here on The Knight’s Lance in preparation for next week’s release. In the meantime, enjoy this must-see Quality Control Gallery (including a few pics of the FOTL-exclusive Red Ink parallels).