Tag Archives: san antonio brahmas

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, ufl, XFL

Smith, Justin (WR)

CARD: Upper Deck Game Day Moments 2024
ACQUIRED: IP, 2025

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Justin Smith played WR at Norfolk State from 2017-2021.
  • He tallied 102 receptions for 1741 yards and 15 TDs.
  • Undrafted he’d end up joining the XFL in 2023 playing for the Houston Roughnecks.
  • Starting 5 contests he pulled in 16 receptions for 238 yards and a 47 yard TD.
  • When the Roughnecks joined the USFL conference, the players were all released back into the draft pool.
  • The Brahmas with a good portion of former Roughneck coaches, cannibalized the former XFL Roughnecks roster and grafted them onto the Brahmas.
  • Justin was a nine game starter for SA in 2024, posting 25 receptions for 264 yards and 1 TD.
  • As the Brahmas collapsed in 2025, Justin only saw action in 6 games starting 3.
  • He’d catch 9 passes for 159 yards including a 56 yard long.
  • About a week and a half after I got his autograph, the team inexplicably cut him.

NOTES:

I had been wanting this card since I discovered it on the Upper Deck website. Unfortunately it’s a Game Day Moments card so it was out of print. I made some trades to get other ones but I couldn’t pry this one off of even a guy who had 15 extras- which was quite frustrating. My friend Jake (who I met through the website doing trades) was my guest at the game and had this extra one. Well not really an extra. He had this base card and a gold version of it. He sympathized with my case and we worked out a deal for it, so I could have it on the spot.

I had been pointing out Smith at every home game. He was missing in action the first 4-5 weeks and then exploded when Hogan was in at QB. I yelled that out to him and we pointed back and forth. When I told him I had his card, Justin said that he’d be more than happy to sign it after the game.

He then proceeded to get his bell rung on his only catch of the day he made. Still he was of his word and when he came over I asked how he was doing and he said that he was doing fine now.

AAF, NFL, ufl

Ward Jr., Greg (2)

CARDS: Topps AAF 2019 Certified HACK, Sage Hit Premium Portrait 2017, Sage 2017 Peak Performance, Sage Hit 2017, Panini Unparalleled 2017 Pink, Panini Prestige 2017 Parallel, Jersey
ACQUIRED: In Person, 2025

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • See Also Greg Ward Jr.
  • Greg was promoted to the active roster by the Eagles after injuries decimated the WR corps in 2019.
  • Over time he became sort of a folk hero to Eagles fans.
  • He saw action in 7 games, starting 3 in 2019.
  • Caught 28 passes for 254 yards and a TD, and most notably 18 first downs.
  • In 2020, started 10 games, catching 53 passes for 419 yards and 6 TDs.
  • Caught QB Jalen Hurts first TD throw.
  • Used primarily in gadget plays in 2021, and saw seldom play time.
  • Returned to the Eagles practice squad in 2022 and remained there through 2023.
  • Signed with the Colts in 2024, but didn’t make the squad.
  • Joined the San Antonio Brahmas in November of 2024.
  • In a Frankenstein patchwork like offense, Greg managed to haul in 17 receptions for 116 yards and a TD.

NOTES:

Greg was one of my favorite players on the Commanders, and after the league folded, I got a jersey of him off of DHGate back in 2020. When the XFL returned in 2023, I wore this jersey to the meet and greet with Hines Ward. I wore it to the first game, and I wore it when the UFL took shape. I wore it even though other fans were telling me it was time to let go. I couldn’t believe it when Greg was signed by the Brahmas. I thought it had to be a publicity ploy or something but I kept pinching myself hoping he’d make the team.

When the meet and greet was announced, I speculated that the players in attendance would probably be new QB Kellen Mond, someone like Tavante Beckett… Caveon Patton always shows up since he’s local… and maybe an old head like Greg Ward. I absolutely nailed it.

He was nice enough to sign these cards and the jersey I was wearing. It is the first jersey- surprisingly in all these years- that I’ve had signed. Sure in hindsight, I should’ve had Jamie Sharper sign his or Kenneth Farrow.. but now I gotta figure out how to frame this thing. The cards! Ah the cards… These were cards I wanted him to sign dating back to his time with the Commanders and I had and the Ultimate and the Peak Performance cards were burning a hole in my pocket! So glad to get them all signed while the hack card is the cream of the cake. Yes!

Despite the wear I put it through, I was gentle with the jersey and it will look great on the wall. I did have a few nitpicks about it but considering there were no player jerseys made, this isn’t bad at all.

Later after the event I bought an XFL player practice jersey off of Ebay of his current number with the Brahmas. Then I realized it was probably for 2023 or ’24…. And then I realized it was too small to fit on me. I’m sure it will look good on my daughter at a game.