2015 Topps High Tek Football Cards – Review Added
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$110.00 |  |
Product Details
With 2015 Topps High Tek Football, the freshly rejuvenated brand hits the gridiron for the first time. Putting variations at the forefront, the product is a challenge for player collectors. That said, its mix of acetate and foil patterns take designs to extremes. Boxes come with a single pack, each one promising an autograph.
During its initial three-year run in baseball from 1998 to 2000, Tek was synonymous with its wild look and daunting amount of variations that drove collectors to the brink. While the variations returned in the resurrected 2014 Topps High Tek Baseball, the number of variations was much smaller and easier to keep track of. That's the case with 2015 Topps High Tek Football. While each base card has multiple versions, they won't be measured by the dozen. The checklist features a mix of veterans, rookies and retired players.
Cards are done on clear acetate stock. Backgrounds use foil to make for dynamic patterns.
Patterns aren't the only variations. Ten players also have Retro Uniform short print variations where they're shown in throwback gear. Base versions are numbered to 50, which should make them a little easier to spot. They also have Red Orbit (#/5) and Black Diffractor (1/1) parallels.
While base cards have different variations based on the pattern design, the main patterns also have parallels. These come with names that live up to the wild designs: Purple Rainbow Diffractor, Confetti Diffractor, Tidal Diffractor, Gold Rainbow Diffractor, Clouds Diffractor, Red Orbit Diffractor (#/5), Printing Proofs (1/1), Black Galactic Diffractor (1/1) and Black Rainbow Diffractor (1/1). In addition to these, some of the pattern variations also have Red Orbit Diffractor and Black Galactic Diffractors.
High Tek Autographs make up the majority of the signed cards in 2015 Topps High Tek Football. All come with on-card signatures and are essentially like a base parallel. Like the regular cards, there are several parallels: Tidal Diffractor, Gold Diffractor, Clouds Diffractor, Red Orbit Diffractor (#/5), Printing Proofs (1/1) and Black Galactic Diffractors (1/1).
2015 Topps High Tek Football has a few basic inserts that take a page from its baseball counterpart. Bright Horizons (#/50) showcase young players with a design that mixes acetate and skylines. DramaTek (#/50), an insert that debuted in 2000 Topps Tek Baseball, highlights top NFL players. Both of these have Red Orbit Diffractors (#/5), Black Galactic Diffractors (1/1) and autographed versions. Low-Tek Diffractors (#/50) take a design that started in the previous year's baseball set. They also have autographs.
Release Date: 12/4/15
Product Configuration: 1 pack per box, 8 cards per pack, 12 boxes per case
Price Point: Mid- to High-End Football Card
Target Audience: Player Collectors, Autograph Collectors, Tek Fans
2015 Topps High Tek Football Box Break
- 1 Autograph
- 1 Parallel
- 8 Total Cards
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Set Checklist
2015 Topps High Tek Football Set Checklist
Base Set Checklist
2 Jerry Rice - San Francisco 49ers
3 John Elway - Denver Broncos
4 Eli Manning - New York Giants
5 Odell Beckham Jr. - New York Giants
6 Dan Marino - Miami Dolphins
7 Jameis Winston - Tampa Bay Buccaneers RC
8 Marcus Mariota - Tennessee Titans RC
9 Eric Dickerson - Los Angeles Rams
10 Matt Forté - Chicago Bears
11 Deion Sanders - Dallas Cowboys
12 Drew Brees - New Orleans Saints
13 Kurt Warner - St. Louis Rams
14 Jerome Bettis - Pittsburgh Steelers
15 Warren Moon - Houston Oilers
16 Barry Sanders - Detroit Lions
17 Howie Long - Los Angeles Raiders
18 Tim Brown - Oakland Raiders
19 Jordan Matthews - Philadelphia Eagles
20 Peyton Manning - Denver Broncos
21 Kelvin Benjamin - Carolina Panthers
22 Joique Bell - Detroit Lions
23 Alshon Jeffery - Chicago Bears
24 Andre Williams - New York Giants
25 Aaron Rodgers - Green Bay Packers
26 Donte Moncrief - Indianapolis Colts
27 John Riggins - Washington Redskins
28 Ryan Tannehill - Miami Dolphins
29 Antonio Brown - Pittsburgh Steelers
30 Len Dawson - Kansas City Chiefs
31 Mike Evans - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
32 Dwight Clark - San Francisco 49ers
33 Sammy Watkins - Buffalo Bills
34 Ronnie Lott - San Francisco 49ers
35 Emmanuel Sanders - Denver Broncos
36 Terrell Davis - Denver Broncos
37 Marshall Faulk - St. Louis Rams
38 Devin Smith - New York Jets RC
39 Shane Ray - Denver Broncos RC
40 Matthew Stafford - Detroit Lions
41 Eddie Lacy - Green Bay Packers
42 Curtis Martin - New York Jets
43 Trae Waynes - Minnesota Vikings RC
44 Davante Adams - Green Bay Packers
45 Russell Wilson - Seattle Seahawks
46 Shaq Thompson - Carolina Panthers RC
47 Tre Mason - St. Louis Rams
48 Arik Armstead - San Francisco 49ers RC
49 Maxx Williams - Baltimore Ravens RC
50 Emmitt Smith - Dallas Cowboys
51 Derek Carr - Oakland Raiders
52 Landon Collins - New York Giants RC
53 Jeremy Hill - Cincinnati Bengals
54 Randy Gregory - Dallas Cowboys RC
55 Dante Fowler Jr. - Jacksonville Jaguars RC
56 Tre McBride - Tennessee Titans RC
58 Alvin Dupree - Pittsburgh Steelers RC
59 Greg Olsen - Carolina Panthers
60 Danny Shelton - Cleveland Browns RC
61 Vic Beasley - Atlanta Falcons RC
62 Roger Craig - San Francisco 49ers
63 Jamaal Charles - Kansas City Chiefs
64 Steve Young - San Francisco 49ers
65 Isaiah Crowell - Cleveland Browns
66 Terry Bradshaw - Pittsburgh Steelers
67 Clive Walford - Oakland Raiders RC
68 Jamison Crowder - Washington Redskins RC
69 Martavis Bryant - Pittsburgh Steelers
70 Terrance West - Cleveland Browns
71 Alfred Morris - Washington Redskins
72 Brett Favre - Green Bay Packers
73 Nelson Agholor - Philadelphia Eagles RC
74 Garrett Grayson - New Orleans Saints RC
75 Luke Kuechly - Carolina Panthers
76 Bryce Petty - New York Jets RC
77 Jeremy Langford - Chicago Bears RC
78 Cameron Artis-Payne - Carolina Panthers RC
79 Kevin White - Chicago Bears RC
80 Jaelen Strong - Houston Texans RC
81 Phillip Dorsett - Indianapolis Colts RC
82 Ameer Abdullah - Detroit Lions RC
83 Amari Cooper - Oakland Raiders RC
84 Breshad Perriman - Baltimore Ravens RC
85 T.J. Yeldon - Jacksonville Jaguars RC
86 Devin Funchess - Carolina Panthers RC
87 Lawrence Taylor - New York Giants
88 Dorial Green-Beckham - Tennessee Titans RC
89 Ty Montgomery - Green Bay Packers RC
90 Mike Davis - San Francisco 49ers RC
91 Kenny Bell - Tampa Bay Buccaneers RC
92 Tony Lippett - Miami Dolphins RC
93 Bob Lilly - Dallas Cowboys
94 Tyler Lockett - Seattle Seahawks RC
95 Melvin Gordon - San Diego Chargers RC
96 Sammie Coates - Pittsburgh Steelers RC
97 Clay Matthews - Green Bay Packers
98 Tevin Coleman - Atlanta Falcons RC
99 DeVante Parker - Miami Dolphins RC
100 David Cobb - Tennessee Titans RC
101 Marshawn Lynch - Seattle Seahawks
102 Brandon Marshall - New York Jets
103 Sean Mannion - St. Louis Rams RC
104 Rashad Greene - Jacksonville Jaguars RC
105 Javorius Allen - Baltimore Ravens RC
106 Duke Johnson - Cleveland Browns RC
107 Leonard Williams - New York Jets RC
108 Todd Gurley - St. Louis Rams RC
109 Chris Conley - Kansas City Chiefs RC
110 Victor Cruz - New York Giants
111 Jay Ajayi - Miami Dolphins RC
112 Brett Hundley - Green Bay Packers RC
Base Retro Variations Set Checklist
RUSP-AR Aaron Rodgers - Green Bay Packers
RUSP-BR Ben Roethlisberger - Pittsburgh Steelers
RUSP-JN Jordy Nelson - Green Bay Packers
RUSP-LB Le'Veon Bell - Pittsburgh Steelers
RUSP-MF Matt Forté - Chicago Bears
RUSP-RC Randall Cobb - Green Bay Packers
RUSP-RG Robert Griffin III - Washington Redskins
RUSP-SW Sammy Watkins - Buffalo Bills
RUSP-TM Tre Mason - St. Louis Rams
Autographs Set Checklist
3 John Elway - Denver Broncos
4 Eli Manning - New York Giants
6 Dan Marino - Miami Dolphins
7 Jameis Winston - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
8 Marcus Mariota - Tennessee Titans
9 Eric Dickerson - Los Angeles Rams
10 Matt Forté - Chicago Bears
11 Deion Sanders - Dallas Cowboys
12 Drew Brees - New Orleans Saints
13 Kurt Warner - St. Louis Rams
15 Warren Moon - Houston Oilers
16 Barry Sanders - Detroit Lions
17 Howie Long - Oakland Raiders
18 Tim Brown - Oakland Raiders
19 Jordan Matthews - Philadelphia Eagles
20 Peyton Manning - Denver Broncos
21 Kelvin Benjamin - Carolina Panthers
22 Joique Bell - Detroit Lions
23 Alshon Jeffery - Chicago Bears
24 Andre Williams - New York Giants
25 Aaron Rodgers - Green Bay Packers
27 John Riggins - Washington Redskins
28 Ryan Tannehill - Miami Dolphins
31 Mike Evans - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
33 Sammy Watkins - Buffalo Bills
35 Emmanuel Sanders - Denver Broncos
36 Terrell Davis - Denver Broncos
37 Marshall Faulk - St. Louis Rams
38 Devin Smith - New York Jets
39 Shane Ray - Denver Broncos
41 Eddie Lacy - Green Bay Packers
42 Curtis Martin - New York Jets
43 Trae Waynes - Minnesota Vikings
45 Russell Wilson - Seattle Seahawks
46 Shaq Thompson - Carolina Panthers
48 Arik Armstead - San Francisco 49ers
50 Emmitt Smith - Dallas Cowboys
51 Derek Carr - Oakland Raiders
52 Landon Collins - New York Giants
53 Jeremy Hill - Cincinnati Bengals
55 Dante Fowler Jr. - Jacksonville Jaguars
56 Tre McBride - Tennessee Titans
59 Greg Olsen - Carolina Panthers
60 Danny Shelton - Cleveland Browns
61 Vic Beasley - Atlanta Falcons
62 Roger Craig - San Francisco 49ers
64 Steve Young - San Francisco 49ers
65 Isaiah Crowell - Cleveland Browns
66 Terry Bradshaw - Pittsburgh Steelers
67 Clive Walford - Oakland Raiders
69 Martavis Bryant - Pittsburgh Steelers
72 Brett Favre - Green Bay Packers
73 Nelson Agholor - Philadelphia Eagles
75 Luke Kuechly - Carolina Panthers
76 Bryce Petty - New York Jets
77 Jeremy Langford - Chicago Bears
78 Cameron Artis-Payne - Carolina Panthers
79 Kevin White - Chicago Bears
80 Jaelen Strong - Houston Texans
82 Ameer Abdullah - Detroit Lions
83 Amari Cooper - Oakland Raiders
84 Breshad Perriman - Baltimore Ravens
86 Devin Funchess - Carolina Panthers
89 Ty Montgomery - Green Bay Packers
90 Mike Davis - San Francisco 49ers
91 Kenny Bell - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
92 Tony Lippett - Miami Dolphins
94 Tyler Lockett - Seattle Seahawks
95 Melvin Gordon - San Diego Chargers
96 Sammie Coates - Pittsburgh Steelers
97 Clay Matthews - Green Bay Packers
98 Tevin Coleman - Atlanta Falcons
99 DeVante Parker - Miami Dolphins
100 David Cobb - Tennessee Titans
103 Sean Mannion - St. Louis Rams
104 Rashad Greene - Jacksonville Jaguars
106 Duke Johnson - Cleveland Browns
107 Leonard Williams - New York Jets
108 Todd Gurley - St. Louis Rams
109 Chris Conley - Kansas City Chiefs
110 Victor Cruz - New York Giants
111 Jay Ajayi - Miami Dolphins
112 Brett Hundley - Green Bay Packers
Bright Horizons Set Checklist
BH-AL Andrew Luck - Indianapolis Colts
BH-JW Jameis Winston - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
BH-KB Kelvin Benjamin - Carolina Panthers
BH-KW Kevin White - Chicago Bears
BH-ME Mike Evans - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
BH-MG Melvin Gordon - San Diego Chargers
BH-MM Marcus Mariota - Tennessee Titans
BH-OB Odell Beckham Jr. - New York Giants
BH-TG Todd Gurley - St. Louis Rams
Bright Horizons Autographs Set Checklist
BHA-JW Jameis Winston - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
BHA-KB Kelvin Benjamin - Carolina Panthers
BHA-KW Kevin White - Chicago Bears
BHA-ME Mike Evans - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
BHA-MG Melvin Gordon - San Diego Chargers
BHA-MM Marcus Mariota - Tennessee Titans
BHA-TG Todd Gurley - St. Louis Rams
DramaTek Performers Set Checklist
DTP-BS Barry Sanders - Detroit Lions
DTP-DB Drew Brees - New Orleans Saints
DTP-EL Eddie Lacy - Green Bay Packers
DTP-ES Emmitt Smith - Dallas Cowboys
DTP-JB Jerome Bettis - Pittsburgh Steelers
DTP-KB Kelvin Benjamin - Carolina Panthers
DTP-KW Kurt Warner - St. Louis Rams
DTP-MS Matthew Stafford - Detroit Lions
DTP-OB Odell Beckham Jr. - New York Giants
DTP-RT Ryan Tannehill - Miami Dolphins
DTP-RW Russell Wilson - Seattle Seahawks
DTP-SY Steve Young - San Francisco 49ers
DTP-TB Tim Brown - Oakland Raiders
DTP-TBR Terry Bradshaw - Pittsburgh Steelers
DramaTek Performers Autographs Set Checklist
DTPA-BS Barry Sanders - Detroit Lions
DTPA-DB Drew Brees - New Orleans Saints
DTPA-EL Eddie Lacy - Green Bay Packers
DTPA-KB Kelvin Benjamin - Carolina Panthers
DTPA-KW Kurt Warner - St. Louis Rams
DTPA-RT Ryan Tannehill - Miami Dolphins
DTPA-SY Steve Young - San Francisco 49ers
DTPA-TB Tim Brown - Oakland Raiders
DTPA-TBR Terry Bradshaw - Pittsburgh Steelers
Low-Tek Diffractor Set Checklist
LTD-AM Alfred Morris - Washington Redskins
LTD-DM Dan Marino - Miami Dolphins
LTD-EL Eddie Lacy - Green Bay Packers
LTD-ES Emmanuel Sanders - Denver Broncos
LTD-JB Jerome Bettis - Pittsburgh Steelers
LTD-JE John Elway - Denver Broncos
LTD-JH Jeremy Hill - Cincinnati Bengals
LTD-JR Jerry Rice - San Francisco 49ers
LTD-MS Matthew Stafford - Detroit Lions
LTD-OB Odell Beckham Jr. - New York Giants
LTD-RT Ryan Tannehill - Miami Dolphins
LTD-SW Sammy Watkins - Buffalo Bills
LTD-TB Tim Brown - Oakland Raiders
LTD-TD Terrell Davis - Denver Broncos
Low-Tek Diffractor Autographs Set Checklist
LTDA-ES Emmanuel Sanders - Denver Broncos
LTDA-JH Jeremy Hill - Cincinnati Bengals
LTDA-JR Jerry Rice - San Francisco 49ers
LTDA-RT Ryan Tannehill - Miami Dolphins
LTDA-SW Sammy Watkins - Buffalo Bills
LTDA-TB Tim Brown - Oakland Raiders
LTDA-TD Terrell Davis - Denver Broncos
Product Review
2015 Topps High Tek Football Product Review
Reviewed by Trey Treutel
Good: Quality designs, on-card autographs, mix of patterns.
Bad: Redemptions, questionable checklist.
The Bottom Line: Basically an offshoot of the baseball version, Topps High Tek Football is a short and sweet break. The on-card autographs are a huge plus and look great but it is a little disappointing that the product is not redemption-free.
Card Design: 4.25/5.0
Acetate stock and action images are set against foil background designs for an impressive result in the base set. Although it does nothing to separate itself from the baseball product, I have no issue with Topps’ decision to keep things basically the same. However, it would have been nice to mix things up a little to set it apart slightly.
Most important for collectors, all the autographs are signed on-card. Throw in a few limited inserts and retro variations and there is really not all that much to High Tek except for the patterns.
Checklist: 3.5/5.0
Focusing heavily on rookies and former greats, it appears that many current stars were sacrificed in the checklist. While it is easy to make peace with Hall of Fame subjects, there are some very questionable names among the rookies. This is especially disappointing given that this release comes well into the season.
Also like the baseball set, base patterns are broken down by player groups. However, it is odd that the groups are not evenly distributed. There are a fair amount more Group A cards since they include the first 72 subjects in the base set and the remaining 40 are only found with Group B designs.
One thing to note is that autographs for Mariota and Gurley are both issued as redemptions.
Value: 3.5/5.0
Value is especially tricky for 2015 Topps High Tek because while the $50-60 box price sounds reasonable, there are only eight cards per box. Even with the guaranteed autograph, the uneven checklist makes this a bigger gamble by the box. Helping things somewhat, the more limited patterns and parallels can be a saving grace.
The Fun Factor: 4.0/5.0
I greatly enjoyed High Tek. The collector in me would have liked a few more packs of cards in the box, but even with eight cards, it is easy to appreciate the quality. It’s hard to complain when you pull an on-card autograph for one of the top rookie names, but it is still a little deflating to end up with a redemption as your only hit. Given the simplicity of the set and the push by Topps for redemption-free releases, it would have been nice to have all signed content live in the product. Nevertheless, sets like this make it more disappointing to think about the Topps void coming for NFL products in 2016.
The box used for this review was provided by Topps.
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More Info
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Tony
I love this product. It is pretty hit or miss but with all the possibilities it’s a lot of fun. I mean a product where you could pull some amazing rookies with parallels like Mariota, Winston, or Cooper! On top of that you have a chance to get a Peyton, Terry Bradshaw, or Jerry Rice! I have a lot of fun opening these packs. Only reason I cant go 5 stars is becuase it is extremely hit or miss. I have opened two boxes first I got a Winston RC auto with a #50 Terry Bradshaw. My second box I got a Bryce Petty auto and a Purple Parrallel (dont remember the player)