Tag Archives: upper deck UFL 2025

NFL, ufl

Mond, Kellen

CARDS: Panini Elite 2021, Panini Prism 2021, Panini Illusions 2021, Panini Mosaic 2021, Panini Contenders 2021 RotY, Panini Donruss 2021, Panini Prestige 2021, Score 2021, Panini Luminance 2021, Panini Absolute 2021, Panini Illusions 2021 (Vikings), Upper Deck UFL 2025
ACQUIRED: IP 2025, Brahmas Rally. eBay, 2025

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Kellen Mond played QB for Texas A&M from 2017-’20.
  • Over his college career he completed 801/1358 passes for 71 TDs to 27 interceptions.
  • He also ran for 1608 yards and 22 TDs on 438 carries.
  • Selected in the 3rd round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.
  • Never really given a chance, as he was drafted by the FO, while HC Mike Zimmer wanted someone else.
  • He completed 2 of 3 passes for 5 yards in a backup role, despite never speaking to his head coach.
  • Signed with the Cleveland Browns after being cut in 2022 but didn’t make the team’s final roster.
  • Joined the Colts practice squad in 2023.
  • Signed with the New Orleans Saints in 2024 but didn’t make the squad.
  • Jumped to the UFL for the 2025 season where he was named the Brahmas starter.
  • Again Mond dropped right into a dysfunctional FO and coaching situation in San Antonio.
  • With HC Wade Philips health ailing, and a pitched battle for control inside the organization, their OC AJ Smith would quit abruptly after week 2.
  • Mond completed 98 of 171 passes for 850 yards and 2 TDs to 2 interceptions in 7 starts.
  • After the Brahmas were unceremoniously euthanized new ownership of the UFL, Mond did not return to the league for 2026.

ACCOLADES:

  • MVP 2021 Senior Bowl

NOTES:

Not going to lie. I took advantage of the event. There were no lines or gatekeepers. The players were highly accessible and friendly- and I was STACKED with cards. I think Kellen got through 15 of them before GM Marc Lillibridge came up and shooed me away. I took it like a champ and Kellen was kind enough to just sign, sign, sign. Kellen was pretty cool. We talked about Htown and the Woodlands for a bit. (I ended up sending 3 or 4 to Joe per our rolling agreement for him to send me additional cards and I skim a few for myself to add to my own).

I really think Kellen had some terrible, terrible luck falling into two dysfunctional front office/ head coaching situations. The UFL doesn’t know what it wants to be honestly. Is it a farm league to the NFL or a professional league of its own? Kellen has some great tools, but he just needs time and the UFL could’ve been a great place for him to grow.

ufl, XFL

Lovett, John

CARDS: Sage 2022, TNT XFL23, Upper Deck Game Dated Moments 2024, Upper Deck UFL 2024, Upper Deck UFL 2024 Parallel, Upper Deck UFL 2024 Exclusive, Upper Deck UFL 2025
ACQUIRED: IP 2024, San Antonio Brahmas v Birmingham Stallions
IP 2025, San Antonio Brahmas v Arlington Renegades
2025, Ebay

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • John Lovett played from 2017-20 at RB at Baylor amassing 1,980 yards and 17 TDs on 407 carries.
  • With a surprising combination of speed and power, he had a 74 yard TD and a 75 yard TD to his resume before transferring to Penn State in 2021.
  • Undrafted, he spent the 2022 season on the roster of the Carolina Panthers primarily on the practice squad.
  • Hopped over to the XFL23 playing for the Vegas Vipers.
  • Seeing action in all 10 games with 2 starts, Lovett ran 59 times for 227 yards and 3 TDs.
  • In August of 2023 he spent about two weeks with the Steelers.
  • With Vegas being euthanized after the 2023 season, Lovett was not selected in the UFL dispersal draft- so he signed with the San Antonio Brahmas.
  • Played in 8 contests, starting 4, rushing 103 times for 421 yards and 5 TDs.
  • Set the league single game rushing record with 155 yards against the DC Defenders.
  • He returned to the Brahmas for 2025, but early in the first game he pulled his hamstring.
  • John attempted to play through it but it merely made things worse.
  • He finished the 2025 season with 18 carries for 32 yards and a TD, used mainly in short yardage situations.

NOTES:

I knew John had played for the Vegas Vipers in 2023, so I made a card for him that was ready just in time for their home finale against the Birmingham Stallions. He was super kind to always come to my side of the field to sign and talk to fans. I know it was out of the way but it meant a lot to me- and that quality endeared him to me. He liked the Vegas card and thanked me for the extras I gave him.

With his 2025 pretty much washed he was elevated off of IR for the final game so I prepped and packed all his cards. My friend Jake had been kind enough to trade me his GDM card, and I also picked up a Sage 2022 of him I didn’t know was in the wild.

When I saw him going back and forth from the tunnel, I said, “Hey John Lovett!”, With a big smile. He pointed enthusiastically.

I looped around the outside to his area and called him over. He came over and signed all the remaining cards I had. John hadn’t seen his UFL 25 card so I gave him the extra ‘white’ I had for his personal collection in exchange for his autograph on everything else. He told me he remembered me from last year and thanked me for the extra card, and was kind enough to explain what happened with his hammy.

I think he had family in my general area and so he came down to talk to them after the game. He threw his jersey to them and shook hands and hugged friends. I’m not sure- but it felt like a good bye?