1971 Topps Football Cards

1971 Topps football card wrapper There are 263 cards in the 1971 Topps football card set; they were released in two series. Card number 106, the second series checklist, was released with both series, so it is a double print. Second series cards appear to have been printed in slightly smaller numbers that first series cards, so second series commons, in general, sell for a bit more.

Cards of AFC players have red borders, cards of NFC players have blue borders, and cards of all-stars from either conference have red-and-blue borders. The colored borders show wear easily, especially at the corners, so finding the cards in mint condition is challenging. Many cards were cut off-center, as well.

1971 Topps Game cards and 1971 Topps "Star Pin-Up" Posters were inserts in packs of 1971 Topps cards. Each poster has a football field and instructions for using the game cards printed on the back. The game, unfortunately, wasn't much fun.

Rookie cards of Pro Football Hall of Famers in the 1971 Topps set: Terry Bradshaw, Joe Greene, Ken Houston, Willie Lanier, Charlie Sanders, Roger Wehrli.

Image Set #Card Title/Players Pro Team Position College Honors Notes Grades available at Nearmint Sports Cards
1971 Topps John Unitas 1971 Topps 1 John Unitas Baltimore Colts quarterback Louisville Pro Football Hall of Fame 1979, Ravens Ring of Honor 2002
1971 Topps Jim Butler 1971 Topps 2 Jim Butler Atlanta Falcons running back Edward Waters College
1971 Topps Marty Schottenheimer 1971 Topps 3 Marty Schottenheimer New England Patriots linebacker Pittsburgh Chiefs Hall of Fame 2010 Rookie card
1971 Topps Joe O'Donnell 1971 Topps 4 Joe O'Donnell Buffalo Bills guard Michigan Rookie card
1971 Topps Tom Dempsey 1971 Topps 5 Tom Dempsey New Orleans Saints kicker Palomar Jr. College Saints Hall of Fame 1989
1971 Topps Chuck Allen 1971 Topps 6 Chuck Allen Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Washington Chargers Hall of Fame 1984
1971 Topps Ernie Kellermann 1971 Topps 7 Ernie Kellermann Cleveland Browns defensive back Miami Ohio
1971 Topps Walt Garrison 1971 Topps 8 Walt Garrison Dallas Cowboys running back Oklahoma State Rookie card

Garrison led the Cowboys with 40 receptions in 1971.
1971 Topps Bill Van Heusen 1971 Topps 9 Bill Van Heusen Denver Broncos punter, wide receiver Maryland Rookie card
1971 Topps Lance Alworth 1971 Topps 10 Lance Alworth San Diego Chargers end Arkansas Chargers Hall of Fame 1977, College Hall of Fame 1984, Pro Football Hall of Fame 1978 The Chargers traded Alworth to the Cowboys on May 19, 1971, for Pettis Norman, Ron East, and Tony Liscio. Alworth's 1971 Topps cards show him still with the Chargers.
1971 Topps Greg Landry 1971 Topps 11 Greg Landry Detroit Lions quarterback Massachusetts Rookie card
1971 Topps Larry Krause 1971 Topps 12 Larry Krause Green Bay Packers running back St. Norbert Rookie card
1971 Topps Buck Buchanan 1971 Topps 13 Buck Buchanan Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Grambling Chiefs Hall of Fame 1981, College Hall of Fame 1996, Pro Football Hall of Fame 1990 nm oc
1971 Topps Roy Gerela 1971 Topps 14 Roy Gerela Houston Oilers kicker New Mexico State Rookie card

Gerela was also the Oilers' punter in 1969, his rookie season.
1971 Topps Clifton McNeil 1971 Topps 15 Clifton McNeil New York Giants wide receiver Grambling
1971 Topps Bob Brown 1971 Topps 16 Bob Brown Los Angeles Rams tackle Nebraska College Hall of Fame 1993, Eagles Honor Roll 2004, Pro Football Hall of Fame 2004
1971 Topps Lloyd Mumphord 1971 Topps 17 Lloyd Mumphord Miami Dolphins defensive back Texas Southern Rookie card
1971 Topps Gary Cuozzo 1971 Topps 18 Gary Cuozzo Minnesota Vikings quarterback Virginia
1971 Topps Don Maynard 1971 Topps 19 Don Maynard New York Jets end Texas-El Paso Jets Ring of Honor 2010, Pro Football Hall of Fame 1987
1971 Topps Larry Wilson 1971 Topps 20 Larry Wilson St. Louis Cardinals defensive back Utah Cardinals Ring of Honor 2006, Pro Football Hall of Fame 1978
1971 Topps Charlie Smith 1971 Topps 21 Charlie Smith Oakland Raiders running back Utah nm
1971 Topps Ken Avery 1971 Topps 22 Ken Avery Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Southern Mississippi Rookie card

This card pictures Avery in his New York Giants uniform, though he had not played for the Giants since 1968.
1971 Topps Billy Walik 1971 Topps 23 Billy Walik Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Villanova Rookie card
1971 Topps Jim Johnson 1971 Topps 24 Jim Johnson San Francisco 49ers defensive back UCLA 49ers Hall of Fame 2009, Pro Football Hall of Fame 1994
1971 Topps Dick Butkus 1971 Topps 25 Dick Butkus Chicago Bears linebacker Illinois College Hall of Fame 1983, Pro Football Hall of Fame 1979

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