I had been circling back around to Greg since I got his Action Packed 1991 Rookies card via an acquisition. I really liked his Star Pics card, but I was struck by his Stadium Club entry as well- which has some really nice color in it. Playoff really came out at the tail end of when I was collecting back in the early 90s, and I’d always wanted to give the set a bit more love since the ink is absorbed so well by the metal finish.
As I was writing this, I was thinking about ‘the tail end of when I was collecting back in the early 90s’, and how now I’ve now basically entered into a second collecting recession. I don’t have any interest in buying boxes of first run cards right now. There are too many speculative buyers out there driving up an overpriced market. The design has gone into a disappointing direction, and there’s little room for value such as autographs included in the boxes. I wouldn’t be surprised if a contraction is coming to the trading card market soon.
An undersized LB with a great motor, Tom Jackson played college football at Louisville from 1970-72.
He’d be a 4th round pick of the Denver Broncos in 1973 and form a key element of the team’s famed Orange Crush Defense.
Extremely durable, Tom played from 1973-1986 for the Broncos, appearing in two Super Bowls for the team, and 191 games.
In 1976, he had an incredible 7 interceptions, 4 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles from his OLB spot.
After his playing days ended, Jackson seamlessly transitioned to the studio where he worked alongside Chris Berman for ESPN- a role he held for 29 years.
ACCOLADES:
Pro Bowl 1977-79
Louisville Cardinals Ring of Honor
Second Team All-Pro 1978-79
All Pro 1977
Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team
Pro Football Hall of Fame 2016
NOTES:
Tom Jackson was not really known as a prolific signer so when he popped I made my move instead of paying inflated prices in the secondary EBay market. Tom Jackson was such a great LB, I thought he was a S. I loved watching him on ESPN Primetime and Countdown. He didn’t really give any love to the Oilers outside of Ernest Givins– “From Louiville!” – Tom’s signature line in the studio.
Finalist for the Broncos HC job in 2019 that ended up becoming the team’s OL coach.
Was not retained after Nathaniel Hackett was hired as head coach of the Broncos for the 2022 season.
NOTES:
Well I never expected to get this one back. After failing on Munchie back in 2015, I saw a few successes in early 2020 and packed 3 cards up and sent them out to him C/o the Broncos. There they languished in a mailbag I guess. I thought for sure I’d never see them again, but like a Christmas miracle, in tricked in a few successes from Munchie from his time with Denver, well after a year after he’d been let go. I held out a bit of hope and lo and behold these cards came back to me- but oh no, he didn’t sign my set need… Ah well, 2 of 3 ain’t bad.
So neither of these ended up being a set need. Curses! But they are still great cards. The Action Packed 1990 All Madden Team or AMAD for short came out at an odd time. I think it was for the 1990 AMAD team, but it wasn’t really seen in stores where I could get them until 1991. Still it bears an interesting transitionary phase hinting at Action Packed 1991 and ’92s looser left leaning canvas design. Also the image of Mike from this card was reused for Score 1990 as well- or the other way around depending on how you look at it.
I still think Mike has some gas in the tank to coach, and would make a great assistant coach/ OL coach for some team. I’d personally love to see him reunited with the city of H-Town.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
