Tag Archives: houston gamblers

ufl, XFL

Kirklin, Jontre

CARDS: Upper Deck UFL 2025 Certified, TNT XFL23, Upper Deck UFL 2025 Dual Autographs
ACQUIRED: Epack, 2025. In Person 2025, San Antonio Brahmas v DC Defenders

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • A talented athlete in college, Jontre Kirklin could do it all at DB, QB and WR while playing at LSU from 2017-’21.
  • Undrafted he signed with the Arizona Cardinals after the 2022 NFL Draft.
  • Kirklin was selected by the Houston Roughnecks for play in the 2023 XFL season.
  • Off to a fast start, Kirklin started 4 games, catching 15 passes for 253 yards and 5 TDs , before suffering a season ending chest injury.
  • After rehabbing, he’d spend the rest of the 2023 season on and off the practice squad of the New Orleans Saints.
  • Released by the Saints, Jontre signed with the Brahmas- where most of the Roughnecks staff had gone to, after the UFL and XFL merged.
  • Got some more experience in the pros with the 49ers during August of ’24.
  • Resigned with the Brahmas for the 2024 season and caught 56 passes for 614 yards and 3 TDs.
  • Returned to the team for 2025, but with the coaching staff in turmoil, the offense suffered mightily.
  • Still managed to catch 35 passes for 284 yards on 7 starts.
1 reception for 10 yards

NOTES:

I was wandering around trying to get a few autographs after the Brahmas lost to Washington when I spied out Kirklin still on the field. I ran around and was able to lure him back with his Roughnecks custom.

The following week the Brahmas lost a tough game in OT to Memphis, which is played on the visiting side of the field where I sit. I tried as hard as I could to rally the crowd, and I want to believe I stood out.

Randomly after the contest Jontre came up to me and gave me his gloves. I was extremely touched.

I had really, really wanted the Brahmas dual autograph of Jontre and Cody. When I first started the set, this was the one I really wanted. Problem was, when Upper Deck first released the set, for some reason, this limited autograph got pulled a lot, by a select few people. This created a problem, as even though they got a stack of these cards, they refused to trade them. I was really frustrated by this and waited it out.

About 6 months I was able to make a deal with another collector, who had a very low trade rating. I did offer them 12 cards- 5 of them being autographs, and one GDM, but it was worth it, as the vast majority of them were duplicates.

NFL, University of Texas, usfl

DeAyala, Kiki

CARD: UT Upper Deck 2011
ACQUIRED: TTM 2021, C/o Home
SENT: 7/6/20 RECEIVED: 7/20/20 (14 days)
FAILURE: TTM 2020, C/o Home

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Kiki DeAyala played DE and LB at Texas from 1980 to 1982.
  • A tweener, DeAyala clocked in at 6’1″, 238.
  • There he earned All SWC Honors in 1982, racking up an unfathomable single season 22.5 sacks, 56 quarterback pressures and 33 tackles for loss.
  • He finished his UT career with 40.5 career sacks.
  • Selected by the Washington Federals (USFL) and the Cincinnatti Bengals (NFL) in their respective 1983 Drafts.
  • Traded by the Federals to the Gamblers and returned to LB fulltime.
  • Became the anchor of Houston’s defense in ’83 and posted 1.5 sacks and a pick (no tackle data available).
  • In 84 had another solid season contributing 102 tackles, 39 assists, 3 sacks, and 4 interceptions.
  • When the USFL folded, Kiki went to the Bengals.
  • He saw limited playing time for the team, and retired due to lingering injuries (3 shoulder/ 4 knee) and operations after two seasons.

ACCOLADES:

  • All USFL 1985

NOTES:

I had tried Kiki at the wrong address: An old address. I think when I looked at it on Google maps it was leveled or no longer existed because of a hurricane. Anyway, I shot this out and got this one back, no problem. Over the years I think Kiki has surprisingly only had a USFL issued card and this UT card made of him.

TACSACFUMINTYDSAVGTDLG
N/a6.5N/a5448.8019
USFL
TACSACFUMINTYDSAVGTDLG
N/a1.0200-.-0-.-
NFL
NFL, Pro Football HoF, usfl, WLAF

Kelly, Jim (2)

Ultimate World League 1992 Official Spokesperson

CARD: Ultimate World League 1992 Promo
ACQUIRED: Ebay, 2022

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

NOTES:

I mean huge get for me here. The Ultimate World League 1992 Official Spokesperson Jim Kelly autographed card is one of the 2 Holy Grails in this set. (The other being the Lawrence Taylor autographed card.) These autographed cards were one of the prizes given away for spelling W-O-R-L-D via the in pack game scratch off, and only 500 exist. I had seen this card from time to time on Ebay and kicked myself for not buying one a few years ago because it was priced at a premium to my budget. Since the COVID pandemic, a lot of things changed, and also since I haven’t been buying card boxes for a while, these sorts of splurges are a bit more affordable. Furthermore with Jim Kelly’s TTM signing fee being a stiff $50.00, I bought this one immediately when I saw it comparatively at a strong discount.

The front of the card is beautiful. It’s a very simple design that has grown on me over the years. The back of the card is much like the other Ultimate World League insert promos with the WIN $1,000,000 blurb and the contest information. The only major difference on the card being an NFL shield next to Ultimate Trading Card company’s address. -Again still no clue if anybody actually ever won the million bucks.