12 Most Valuable 1994 Topps Football Cards

1994 Topps #445 Marshall Faulk Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $100

The knock on Marshall Faulk headed into the 1994 NFL Draft had nothing to do with how he played and more where he played.

The San Diego State running back bull-rushed the record books during his time on campus, setting 19 NCAA records and earning three All-American nods.

He was the most complete halfback college football had seen in a long time.

Critics, however, pointed at San Diego State's competition as a reason to be wary.

Drafted 2nd over by the Indianapolis Colts, Faulk silenced his doubters straight away, rushing for 143 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-21 blowout of Houston.

Faulk earned an extended workload the minute he suited up.

And it helped that Indianapolis' passing game was dreadful.

Faulk led the 8-8 Colts to the 4th-best rushing offense in the league, converting 341 carries into 1,282 yards and 11 touchdowns.

He also emerged as one of the best backfield receivers in the game, posting 52 catches for 522 yards and a touchdown.

The New Orleans native concluded the campaign fifth in the league in rushing yards, third in rushing touchdowns, seventh in yards per rushing attempt, and fifth in rushing yards per game.

96 out of 98 voters named Faulk the league's Offensive Rookie of the Year, reinforcing the young RB's confidence in his abilities.  

1994 Topps #520 Joe Montana

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $100

After leading the Kansas City Chiefs to the AFC Championship the year before, Joe Montana entered the 1994 regular season for his final year in the NFL.

In his second year with KC, Montana attempted 498 passes, one of the highest marks of his career, for an average of 234.5 passing yards per game.

And he was incredibly efficient, too, setting a career-best with a 1.8% interception percentage after throwing just nine picks.

If there were any signs of lingering injuries to the legendary quarterback's throwing arm, he sure didn't show it.

In Week 2 of the season, Montana even got the chance to lead the Chiefs to a 24-17 win at home against his old team, the San Francisco 49ers for a nice bit of retribution.

That game would be one of nine wins that Montana would help secure for the 9-7 Chiefs, who earned second place in the AFC West and a Wild Card spot.

Montana and crew played the Miami Dolphins tough through halftime at Joe Robbie Stadium, but the rest of the game didn't exactly go their way.

With the game tied at 17 at halftime, the Dolphins shut them out in the second half for a 24-17 victory and Montana would retire after the season.

1994 Topps #448 Isaac Bruce Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $80

The Los Angeles Rams committed highway robbery at the top of the second round in 1994 NFL Draft, selecting future Hall-of-Fame wide receiver Isaac Bruce with the 32nd overall pick.

Bruce went on to become the most decorated wide receiver in Rams history.

The real fun, though, didn't begin until 1995.

With Flipper Anderson and Jessie Hester locked into the WR1 and WR2 slots, the 4-12 Rams relegated the rookie to a three or four-wide reserve.

It was clear that the Memphis product had the stuff to be a year-one starter.

Yet, the Rams coaching staff was content with maintaining the status quo.

"Could Isaac start? Absolutely," Rams receivers coach Steve Moore said. "Are we satisfied and happy with our current starters? The answer is yes."

Bruce didn't pout.

He made the most out of his limited role, averaging a receiving touchdown every four catches through mid-November.

He ended the season with 21 receptions in 12 games (no starts) for 272 yards and three TDs.

Anderson was off to Indianapolis a year later, and Hester moved down the depth chart.

The Rams moved to St. Louis with Bruce in place as their top wideout, where he would dominate for 13 more seasons before ending his career in San Francisco. 

1994 Topps #1 Emmitt Smith

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $75

Coming off back-to-back victories in Super Bowls XXVII and XXVIII, Emmitt Smith entered the 1994 season looking to help the Dallas Cowboys become the first team to ever "three-peat."

And he certainly put in plenty of work towards achieving that goal.

Building off a league-leading 368 carries, Smith rushed for 1,484 yards and an NFL-best 21 rushing touchdowns.

With Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin lighting things up through the air, Smith was the perfect compliment on the ground.

The result was an overwhelming Dallas offensive attack, which scored the second-most points per game (25.9).

And with Dallas's defense coming in at third-best in the league, those hopes of a three-peat were looking pretty good come playoff time.

In the Divisional Round, the Cowboys smoked the Green Bay Packers 35-9, though Smith only carried the ball seven times for 44 yards and a score.

Dallas had to rely on him much more in the NFC Championship, giving him 20 carries that resulted in 74 yards and two touchdowns.

Unfortunately for Dallas fans, the San Francisco 49ers were ten points better that day, sending the Cowboys home after a 38-28 win at Candlestick Park.

1994 Topps #320 Jerry Rice

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $75

When talking about the best of the best Jerry Rice seasons, many point to his career-best 1,848-yard season in 1995.

Others point to his Offensive Player of the Year awards from 1987 and 1993.

It's time to show some love to Rice's 1994 campaign.

The 32-year-old wide receiver led the league in receiving yards for the second consecutive season (1,499) and finished second in receiving TDs (13).

The rest of San Francisco's wide receivers combined for just 956 yards.

Add tight ends to the mix, and Rice trailed a six-pack of his teammates by under 300 yards (1,777).

That's not even the most impressive part.

With every lockdown corner gunning for him and defenses throwing double and triple coverages at him, he still converted on a career-best 74.2% of his targets.

His sixth-sense relationship with Steve Young was in full bloom.

13-3 San Francisco finished 1st in scoring offense during the regular season and 4th in passing offense.

That was just the beginning of the fireworks display.

The 49ers attack ran roughshod over their three postseason opponents, averaging 43.7 points per game.

Rice caught 16 balls for 233 yards and four touchdowns to pace the Niners to the third Super Bowl title of his career.

1994 Topps #441 Larry Allen Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $65

It's no secret that the Dallas Cowboys' offensive lines throughout the 1990s were incredibly tough and overpowering.

And even though their o-line didn't need much improvement heading into the 1994 season, rookie Larry Allen gave them immediate depth and insurance for the future.

During his collegiate career with Butte College and Sonoma State, both teams relied on Allen's blocking skills to create high-octane offensive attacks.

Because of an injury and his lack of Division I college experience, Allen's draft stock suffered.

However, Allen was impressive enough that the Cowboys staff turned to him with the 46th pick of the 1994 NFL Draft.

When the regular season rolled around, Allen had no problems adjusting to the NFL, starting in 10 of the 16 games he played.

He rotated between guard and tackle on a powerhouse Cowboys offensive line that helped the team to a 12-4 regular-season record and a first-round bye in the playoffs.

Allen spent twelve seasons in Dallas before finishing his final two years with the San Francisco 49ers.

An eleven-time Pro Bowler, Allen still holds the Dallas Cowboys record with ten Pro Bowls. 

1994 Topps #160 Dan Marino

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $60

Coming off a ruptured Achilles tendon that cost him the last eleven games of the '93 campaign, Dan Marino still felt the effects post-surgery.

Many felt like this was the last straw for the former NFL MVP.

He looked unsteady in the preseason, unable to step away from pressure to deliver his trademark cannon strikes.

Rather than buying into the narrative and turning it into a self-fulfilling prophecy, Marino altered his approach to work with his new limitations.

He delivered the ball quicker and used his craftiness to outsmart opposing pass rushers.

Somehow, he was sacked just 18 times for a league-best 2.8% sack percentage.

Part of that was a stellar Dolphins O-line.

Yet, a lot of it was Marino showing up and showing out.

The 33-year-old signal caller landed Second-Team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl slot, completing 62.6% of his passes for 4,453 yards with 30 touchdowns against 17 interceptions.

The 10-6 Dolphins won the AFC East on a tiebreaker with New England and would go on to defeat the Chiefs 24-17 in the Wild Card.

He was equally as good in the Divisional Round at San Diego, going 24-for-38 for 262 yards and three touchdowns.

Sadly, the Chargers got the last laugh with a late Stan Humphries TD strike that ousted the Dolphins 22-21.

1994 Topps #570 Barry Sanders

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $60

Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders returned for his sixth season in 1994 after the team's disappointing Wild Card round exit the year prior.

And, based on his output that year, Sanders must have been fueled by a heavy desire to get right back to the playoffs.

In yet another dominant running performance throughout the season, Sanders posted NFL-bests of 117.7 yards per game, 5.7 yards per attempt, 1,883 rushing yards and 2,166 yards from scrimmage.

Like he had been every year to that point, Sanders was simply unstoppable.

Those stats would help Sanders win another Offensive Player of the Year award, second place in the MVP race, a sixth Pro Bowl, and a fourth First-Team All-Pro selection.

Finishing third in the NFC Central at 9-7, the Lions were just good enough for a second-straight Wild Card berth.

And, as luck would have it, they'd face the same team that knocked them off the previous year: the Green Bay Packers.

Amazingly, after the Packers beat them by four points in the previous Wild Card (28-24), they beat the Lions again by four, albeit in a much tighter fashion (16-12).

More shocking than a second-straight loss to the Packers by four points, though, was that Sanders rushed the ball 13 times for -1 yard.

1994 Topps #356 Bryant Young Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $50

Drafted 7th overall by the 49ers in the 1994 NFL Draft, Notre Dame left defensive end Bryant Young never expected to be handed anything.

Furthermore, he'd never let it happen.

"I was with B.Y. when he came in as a rookie," former teammate Dennis Brown said. "And when I think of him, the one thing that comes to mind is his work ethic. He didn't goof around. He went to work from Day One."

Young joined a star-laden defensive line and never once looked out of place.

He was the perfect finishing touch, a rookie with a veteran mindset who commanded respect through actions rather than words.

The 22-year-old started all 16 regular-season games for San Francisco in '94, totaling 49 tackles (45 solo), one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and 6.0 sacks.

Between the numbers, Young blew open gaps for the rest of the front seven to do damage.

San Francisco's 6th-ranked defense was tested all postseason long, bending but never busting.

Young helped steady the course on the way to a 49-26 Super Bowl XXIX win over San Diego, notching seven solo tackles and a sack in three playoff starts.

1994 Topps #530 Brett Favre

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $50

After the Atlanta Falcons shipped Brett Favre to the Green Bay Packers after his rookie season, the gunslinging quarterback had two straight Pro Bowl seasons for his new team.

Would he make it a third in 1994?

Well, though he was statistically better than the previous two seasons--way better--the future Hall of Famer wasn't selected for the postseason classic.

Favre threw the ball a whopping 582 times, connecting on 363 of them to match the second-highest completion total of his career.

With 3,882 passing yards and 33 touchdowns, Favre was beginning to lay the foundation for three straight MVP awards in the coming seasons.

If there had been any doubt about how Favre would fair in the NFL after his rough start in Atlanta in 1991, those worries were now long gone.

All Favre needed to do at that point was turn that production into Super Bowl success.

At 9-7, the Packers found themselves in a Wild Card rematch against the division-rival Detroit Lions.

And just like the year before, Green Bay again wound up on the winning side.

Unfortunately for Packers fans, the Dallas Cowboys were waiting in the Divisional Round, and quickly slammed the door shut on any Super Bowl hopes with a 35-9 route.

1994 Topps #540 John Elway

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $50

John Elway and Joe Montana’s careers will forever be intertwined.

When Montana joined the rival Chiefs in 1993, the battle of legacies turned into a full-blown rivalry.

The legendary quarterbacks clashed three times in Montana’s final two years in the league, with the Chiefs winning two of three.

Elway had a chance to flip the script in the final showdown in a Week 7 Monday Night Football clash at Mile High.

Montana and Elway traded haymakers all game long en route to one of the most memorable fourth quarters in NFL lore.

Chiefs kicker Lin Elliott broke a 21-21 tie with a 19-yard chip shot at the four-minute mark of the fourth quarter.

Elway came back and delivered what appeared to be the knockout blow, capping a six-play, 39-yard drive with a four-yard TD run that pushed Denver in front, 28-24.

Montana wasn’t having it.

He silenced the Denver crowd with a breakneck nine-play, 75-yard drive and finished them off with a five-yard strike to Willie Davis.

It was a low point for a Broncos team that won six of its last seven to sniff playoff contention before bowing out on a three-game losing streak.

Elway made his sixth Pro Bowl behind one of the worst offensive lines in the league, completing 62.1% of his passes for 3,490 yards and 16 touchdowns despite suffering a league-worst 46 sacks.

1994 Topps #592 Kevin Mawae Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $50

Long before becoming an NFL coach, Kevin Mawae was once a young rookie offensive lineman for the Seattle Seahawks.

After turning in a standout collegiate career for the LSU Tigers, the Seahawks drafted Mawae with the 36th pick in the second round, looking to bolster their offensive line.

Mawae took over at right guard in a game against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 5 and never looked back, starting the eleven remaining games of the season.

However, despite the improved offensive line, the Seahawks were unable to grow into a playoff team at 6-10.

That losing record marked their fourth straight season with a record under .500.

But Seattle's lack of success had little to do with Mawae's effort and output.

During his four seasons with the Seahawks, he was a solid lineman and played a huge role in running back Chris Warren's Pro Bowl output.

Still, his own Pro Bowl ways didn't materialize until he began the second chapter of his career as a center for the New York Jets in 1998.

From 1999 to 2004, Mawae ripped off six straight Pro Bowl seasons and earned multiple All-Pro selections.

He would retire in 2009 after four seasons with the Tennesse Titans, the final two of which were a couple more Pro Bowl years.

1994 Topps Football Cards In Review

Though it might not get much attention in the hobby today, I really enjoy the 1994 Topps football set.

The rookie card crop is solid, with multiple of them turning out to be Hall of Famers.

That's always a plus for any sports card set.

And there are plenty of great-looking cards of the big-name stars of the day like Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Barry Sanders and more.

Other information about this set includes:

Checklist: 660 cards 

Distribution: Two 330-card series

Subsets:

• League Leaders (#116 - 120)
• Draft Picks (throughout checklist)
• Tools of the Game (#196 - 205; #541 - 555)
• Career Active Leaders (#272 - 275; #470 - 475)
• Measures of Greatness (#316 - 319; #611 - 615)

Insert Sets

• All-Pros
• Finest 1000/3000 Yard Club

The cards' design and aesthetics are straightforward, featuring many fantastic action shots that give the cards nice eye appeal.

However, the one major drawback of this set is that it was released when the hobby bubble was bursting.

Since collector interest had begun to fade then, it might not strike up as much nostalgia as other sets of the era.

Still, it's a solid set overall and worth a second look.