15 Most Valuable 1992 Topps Football Cards

1992 Upper Deck #719 Joe Montana

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $75

It wasn’t supposed to end this way.

After he lifted the 49ers to relevancy and four Super Bowl titles in 12 years as the team’s starting QB, how could anyone see it differently?

Coming off a dispiriting 15-13 loss to the New York Giants in the 1990 NFL Championship Game, Joe Montana went into the 1991 preseason with redemption on his mind.

However, a devastating elbow injury cost Montana the 1991 NFL season and most of the 1992 campaign.

In his place, Steve Young proved himself as more than just a capable replacement.

And by the time Montana was ready at the end of the 1992 regular season, the torch had been passed.

Montana returned from injury off the bench in a Week 17 win over the Detroit Lions, playing well to earn the W.

However, the 49ers benched him for the playoffs in favor of Young.

And following a tough NFC Championship loss, a divided locker room emerged.

Some believed Young had earned the starting role, while others felt that Montana being Montana was enough to give him the nod.

Young balked at the idea of serving as a backup.

No one budged.

That is until Montana requested a trade.

He’d get his wish.

On April 20, 1993, Montana was dealt to the Kansas City Chiefs, ending an era in the process.

1992 Upper Deck #696 Brett Favre

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $65

Favre played in just two games during his debut campaign with the Atlanta Falcons during the 1991 season.

The Falcons organization knew he could play and had high hopes for him, but the team had no reason to push Favre too early as starting quarterback Chris Miller delivered a Pro Bowl season.

Moreover, the Falcons grew tired of Favre's penchant for late-night adventures and drinking escapades.

So, before the 1992 season, the Falcons decided to trade him to the Green Bay Packers.

Little did the Packers know that this move would change the direction of the franchise for years to come.

Favre quickly made a strong impression with his new team, making his first Pro Bowl after finishing the year with over 3,200 passing yards and 19 touchdowns while leading Green Bay to a winning record.

Although the Packers ultimately missed the postseason, it was clear that Favre was the quarterback of the future.

Topps did not include Favre in their 1991 set, so this is the first Topps flagship card to feature the Hall of Famer, giving it added appeal.

1992 Upper Deck #300 Barry Sanders

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $60

Coming off the franchise's first playoff appearance in eight years and first conference title game appearance of the post-merger era, the Detroit Lions came into 1992 as one of the favorites to represent the NFC in Super Bowl XXVII.

What followed was a frustrating fall to earth thanks to injuries and an underachieving roster.

The defending AFC Central champs stumbled all year, falling from 12 wins in 1991 to just five.

Nothing seemed to click outside the steady brilliance of running back Barry Sanders.

The 24-year-old superstar rushed for 1,352 yards and nine touchdowns on 312 carries, adding 225 receiving yards and a score on 29 receptions.

His 1,577 yards from scrimmage were the lowest of his four-year career thus far.

Yet, it was still good for sixth on the NFL leaderboard.

And on November 22nd, Sanders raced past Billy Sims to become the franchise's all-time rushing leader, a thrilling, beautiful moment in a season bereft of them for Lions fans.

1992 Upper Deck #665 Jerry Rice

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $60

Jerry Rice was 30 years old during the 1992 season but displayed no sign of decline as he remained one of the top wideouts in the NFL.

With the future of his former quarterback, Joe Montana, uncertain as he recovered from injury, Rice continued to build on the rapport he had developed with Steve Young the season before.

Rice dominated all season long, finishing with 1,201 receiving yards, 84 total receptions, and 10 receiving touchdowns.

During the year, Rice also hauled in the 101st receiving touchdown of his career to surpass Seattle Seahawks legend Steve Largent as the all-time leader.

As the catalyst for the league's number one offense, it was no surprise to see Rice selected as a Pro Bowler and earn NFL First-Team All-Pro honors.

I always enjoyed the imagery of this card as a Rams defender desperately tries to stop Rice, as it's almost symbolic.

Over his career, Rice racked up 3,568 receiving yards and 28 touchdowns against the Rams, leaving only the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons as the two franchises against whom he did even more damage.

1992 Upper Deck #125 John Elway

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $50

Ten games into the 1992 season, the Denver Broncos were 7-3 and had their sights set once again on the playoffs.

And then, the season fell apart.

In a 27-13 win over the New York Giants in Week 11, superstar quarterback John Elway suffered a deep bruise on his right throwing shoulder.

The injury cost Elway four critical games in the middle of a postseason push.

As rookie Tommy Maddox looked lost and a two-quarterback rotation of Maddox and Shawn Moore failed to ignite the offense, the Broncos lost all four contests and fell out of playoff contention.

Coupled with the fact that his relationship with Elway had reached a point of no return, head coach Dan Reeves' job didn't survive Denver's late-season swoon.

The Broncos finished 8-8, and team officials fired Reeves one day after the regular season finale.

It was the end of a decade-long, up-and-down partnership for Reeves and Elway.

It was also the first step towards the elusive Super Bowl mountaintop for the face of the franchise.

1992 Upper Deck #682 Dan Marino

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $50

By the time the 1992 season rolled around, Dan Marino had firmly entrenched himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the league.

Known for having a cannon for an arm combined with a quick release, Marino could shred even the most skilled defenses through the air.

But their franchise quarterback couldn't do everything himself, of course.

Over his career, Miami was never known for putting up a staunch defense to keep things in check on the other side of the ball.

And that's why nobody knew what to expect heading into the 1992 season.

The Dolphins had made the playoffs in 1990 but then fell short in 1991, so it was anyone's guess how they'd fair in 1992.

Marino was fantastic under center and led the league in completions (330), passing yards (4,116) and touchdown passes (24).

And luckily for Dolphins fans, the defense did its part, too, ultimately finishing as the eleventh-best defense in the league.

As a package, the Dolphins made a deep run into the playoffs before falling short to the division rival Buffalo Bills 29-10 in the AFC Championship Game.

At one point, it looked like Marino might finally get a ring, but it just wasn't meant to be.

1992 Upper Deck #180 Emmitt Smith

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $45

1992 was the official grand opening of the Dallas Cowboys' mid-90s dynasty.

And it was star running back Emmitt Smith and the team's all-world offensive line that served as the dynasty's foundation.

Fronted by one of the greatest front fives in NFL history, Smith dissected opposing defenses with an MVP-caliber season on the ground.

Finishing 3rd in the NFL's MVP race, Smith led the NFL in rushing yards (1,713), rushing touchdowns (18), rushing yards per game (107.1), and total touches (432).

His 1,713 rushing yards also set a franchise record that he'd break again three seasons later.

Add 59 receptions for 335 yards and a touchdown, and you have the recipe for greatness.

Smith didn't slow down in the playoffs, either.

He upped his average to 112 rushing yards per game, scoring four total touchdowns (three rushing, one receiving) in Dallas' convincing march to a Super Bowl title.

With the trophy in hand, Smith became the first running back in NFL history to win the league's rushing title and a Super Bowl in the same campaign.

1992 Upper Deck #664 Levon Kirkland Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $45

After a solid collegiate career at Clemson, Levon Kirkland joined the Pittsburgh Steelers when the team drafted him in the second round of the 1992 NFL Draft.

With Pro Bowler David Little nearing the end of his career, the Steelers looked to the young and massive Kirkland to soon take over as their next dominant inside linebacker.

Kirkland didn't see much time on the field during his 1992 rookie campaign but, by the following season, found himself as the full-time left inside linebacker after Little retired.

During the season, Little racked up 103 tackles, one sack, forced four fumbles, recorded two fumbles and scored the first and only defensive touchdown of his career.

Over his eleven years in the NFL, Kirkland earned two trips to the Pro Bowl and was a First-Team All-Pro in 1997.

Kirkland never got a Super Bowl ring but came close when the Steelers fell to the Dallas Cowboys 27-17 in Super Bowl XXX, during which he recorded on sack on Troy Aikman.

Still, Steelers fans and collectors love him making his rookie card a must-have for Pittsburgh fans.

1992 Upper Deck #727 Darren Woodson Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $45

Like Kirkland, Darren Woodson was also a second-round pick in the 1992 NFL Draft when the Dallas Cowboys used the 37th pick to draft him to bolster their secondary.

Throughout his rookie season, Woodson served primarily as Thomas Everett's backup at strong safety though he did get a couple of starts in Week 9 and 15.

The following season, Woodson exploded for 155 combined tackles as he started to make a name for himself as one of the top defenders in the league.

Sure enough, by 1994, he had rounded into Pro Bowl form, earning his first of five career trips to the postseason all-star classic.

Woodson spent all twelve years of his NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys and became a fan favorite for his professionalism, dedication, and incredible skill set to defend against both the run and pass.

Though he got a couple of Super Bowl rings during his first two seasons, he was arguably at his best from 1994-1996, when he earned three straight First-Team All-Pro selections.

He also picked up a third ring during the 1995 season when he and the Cowboys defeated Levon Kirkland and the Steelers in Super Bowl XXX.

1992 Upper Deck #744 Troy Aikman

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $40

Calling Dallas Cowboys legend Troy Aikman the ultimate game manager might seem like a back-handed compliment.

But it's not, especially when you look at his masterful 1992 season.

With weapons aplenty, including Emmitt Smith, electric wide receiver Michael Irvin, and the star-studded offensive line, Aikman pieced everything together and kept things balanced for the Super Bowl champs.

In the regular season, Aikman posted career bests in passing yards (3,445), completions (302), and passing touchdowns (23).

He knew when to step back and when to push forward, and he had the 13-win Cowboys' offense humming heading into the playoffs.

In the postseason, Aikman took game management to historic new heights.

After throwing 14 picks during the season, Aikman threw 89 passes without an interception in three playoff contests, breaking Joe Montana's record streak of 83 set back in 1989.

Aikman torched Buffalo's secondary in Super Bowl XXVII for 273 yards, four touchdowns, and a sterling 73.3% completion percentage (22-of-30).

The Cowboys blew out the Bills, 52-17, and Aikman earned Super Bowl MVP honors for his efforts.

It was a season-long clinic for a legendary player ticketed for Canton.

1992 Upper Deck #70 Warren Moon

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $30

After leading the NFL in passing yards in 1990 and 1991, Warren Moon entered the 1992 season with a reputation as one of the NFL's best gunslingers.

Moon and crew kept the momentum going through a Week 10 win at the Minnesota Vikings, but it would come with the price of Moon fracturing his shoulder while diving for a first down.

He'd miss the next five games before returning in Week 16 to help his team blow out the Buffalo Bills 27-3 in Houston to seal a 10-6 record.

Interestingly, the Oilers faced off against the Buffalo Bills the very next in the Wildcard Game, but in Buffalo this time.

At one point, Houston led 35-3 and it appeared another blowout was in the works.

However, Buffalo came back with five unanswered touchdowns before a Houston field goal sent the game into overtime.

And then, disaster struck for Moon when he tossed an interception that set up a game-winning field goal for Buffalo.

That game, known simply as "The Comeback," was an instant classic for the ages, but unfortunately for Moon, it would be one of the biggest letdowns of his career.

1992 Upper Deck #692 Deion Sanders

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $30

During the 1992 season, Deion Sanders nearly pulled off a moment in sports history that no one has ever done: play in an NFL game and an MLB game on the same day.

After Sanders and the Falcons lost to the Miami Dolphins 21-17 on October 11, 1992, Sanders flew to Pittsburgh to suit up for the Atlanta Braves for their showdown with the Pirates in Game 5 of the NLCS.

Though he barely made it on time for that game and did suit up for the Braves, he never actually got a chance to play.

But that was as close as anyone ever came to playing in the NFL and MLB on the same day.

As for his NFL season in 1992, Sanders continued to show the world why he was one of the best shutdown corners in the game.

On the year, Sanders logged 66 tackles, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries on his way to earning the first First-Team All-Pro selection of his career.

He also shined on special teams, leading the  NFL in kickoff return yards (1,067) and returned two kickoffs for touchdowns during the season.

1992 Upper Deck #756 Lawrence Taylor

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $30

Lawrence Taylor was nearing the end of his career in 1992 and was far from the superstar he once was, but the 33-year-old linebacker could still contribute at a high level.

Regardless, his mere presence on the field was vital to helping lead the New York Giants' defense as he had done for so long.

His teammates needed him and fans loved him.

He was the New York Giants.

Taylor played reasonably well through the first nine games of the year before rupturing his Achilles tendon in a November matchup with Green Bay.

During those nine games, Taylor recorded five sacks and one fumble recovery.

The injury ended his season and many believed he might consider retirement following the season.

However, still not ready to call it quits just yet, Taylor would return for one final season in 1993.

With ten Pro Bowls, eight All-Pro selections, three Defensive Player of the Year awards, one MVP, and two Super Bowl rings on his resume, many regard Taylor as the greatest defender of all time.

1992 Upper Deck #191 Steve Young

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $25

If Steve Young weren't Steve Young, Joe Montana would have likely retired as a Niner.

And if Young didn't announce himself as a Hall of Fame caliber talent in 1992, who knows where he'd have ended up.

What-ifs aside, Young's scintillating NFL MVP campaign in 1992 closed one chapter in 49ers franchise history and opened another.

With Montana's longtime backup under center, the 49ers went to another level on offense.

Young put on a spellbinding show all regular season long, leading the NFL in multiple passing categories, including completion percentage (66.7%), touchdowns (25), yards per attempt (8.6), and quarterback rating (107.0).

He was also a dual threat well before his time, rushing for a career-best 537 yards and four touchdowns.

The 49ers soon found themselves as the top seed in the NFC with home-field advantage on their side of the bracket.

After leading San Francisco to a 20-13 win over the Washington Redskins in the NFC Divisional Round, though, the good feelings wore off.

Young was constantly pressured by the Dallas Cowboys' top-ranked defense in the NFC Championship Game, throwing two picks and eating three sacks in a 30-20 loss.

Regardless, it was now Young's team, and postseason redemption wasn't too far off.

1992 Topps Football Cards In Review

Though it clocked in at a whopping 759 cards, the 1992 Topps football card checklist failed to deliver any Hall of Fame rookies.

Still, rookie cards of guys like Levon Kirkland and Darren Woodson, who were excellent throughout their careers, aren't a bad consolation.

And besides that, countless big-name stars and Hall of Famers are found in this set to keep the nostalgia factor pretty high.

One of the most interesting things about the set, at the time, were the gold parallels that could be found one per wax pack, three per rack pack, and twenty per factory set.

These "Topps Gold" cards could easily be distinguished by the gold foil name plates on the fronts and the "Topps Gold" logo watermark on the reverse sides.

These gold parallels in PSA 10 condition are much more desirable than the base cards you see on this list, and some of the more prominent names can sell between $100 - $300 in that condition.

So, if the base cards don't inspire you much, the gold parallels should offer an exciting alternative.

All in all, this set doesn't get much love in the hobby these days, but it certainly brings back a lot of fond memories.