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.
CARDS: Pro Set 1989, Topps Stadium Club 1992, Topps XFL 2020 ACQUIRED: TTM 2024, C/o Home SENT: 4/20 RECEIVED: 5/1 (11 Days)
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Jonathan Hayes played TE for Iowa from 1982-’84.
He caught 50 passes for 602 yards and 5 TDs for the Hawkeyes.
Second round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in 1985.
A formidable blocker he caught 22 passes in 1988, and then a career high 24 in 1993.
Signed with the Steelers in 1994 and finished out his playing career there after the 1996 season.
Joined Bob Stoops coaching staff in Oklahoma during 1999 as a TE/ Special Teams coach.
In 2003, took over the TE coaching duties for the Cincinnati Bengals.
He’d become a mainstay on the Bengals staff, serving in his duties through the 2018 season.
Jonathan got his first head coaching and GM gig with the XFL in 2020.
He’d guide the St. Louis Battle Hawks to a 3-2 record, before the league was shut down by COVID.
When the XFL returned in 2023, Jonathan was lured back to be offensive coordinator by his old coach… Bob Stoops and the Renegades.
After winning the XFL Championship he opted to return to Ohio and is currently an Athletic Director at the HS level.
NOTES:
I’m pretty sure that Jonathan walked right past me after the XFL Championship Game and I didn’t initially recognize him. Later I took a shot on Jonathan TTM, and it paid off, as not only did he sign my cards, he also drew up a play for me!
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
153
1718
11.2
7
49
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
