Collectible Football Action Figures

For baseball fans who love their toys, a player bobblehead is often a must-have addition to a collection of baseball cards, autographed baseballs, and game-worn uniforms. Bobbleheads have been made of football players, too, but toy-happy football fans have tended to collect action figures of their gridiron heroes.

Action figures of sports stars are a relatively new phenomenon. While baseball and football cards date to the 19th century, the idea of collectible sports action figures was not really hatched until 1986, well after the success of G.I. Joe and “Star Wars” figures.

In fact, G.I. Joe was probably the impetus behind the predecessors of the modern sports action figure. The first of these was a doll (sorry, guys, but there’s just no other word for it) named Johnny Hero. Manufactured by Rosko Industries and sold in Sears catalogs from 1966 to ’67, Johnny figures were generic, which meant kids could accessorize the figure’s standard jersey and pants with kits from one of 22 NFL teams Rosko represented...

A Broadway Joe Namath action figure from Mego in 1971 came next. This was one of numerous celebrity actions figures produced by Mego, which did not specialize in sports action figures per se. Still, Mego’s Namath could throw a forward pass and could be costumed in any of a dozen different outfits, including “Bachelor” attire.

In 1977, Action Team Mates were sold through Sears, as well as J.C. Penny’s. These 7 1/2-inch figures representing each of the NFL’s then-roster of 28 teams were held together inside with rubber bands, which was the same technology used by other articulated action figures of the day.

But the person credited with seeing the true opportunity of sports action figures is Pat McInally, a former punter for the Cincinnati Bengals. In 1986, while still a player, he convinced Kenner to create Starting Lineup, which began producing football action figures in 1988, the year after McInally retired from the pros. It wasn’t until 1997 that Starting Lineup, by then a division of Hasbro, honored McInally with a figure of his own.

The 1988 Starting Lineup (or SLU) figures were roughly five inches tall and came packaged on a card, with its memorable green background (cards for SLU baseball figures had blue backgrounds, basketball figures were on red). Each figure came with a stand so it wouldn’t tip over, a team helmet, and a trading card. Collectible figures from that first year include Marc Wilson of the Oakland Raiders and Steve Jordan of the Minnesota Vikings.

Starting Lineup dominated the market through the 1990s, but a few other companies tried to get a piece of the action. In 1996 and ’97, Best Card Company released several lines of football action figures, a dozen featuring college players (the 11-inch figures had a battery in their bases that enabled them to talk) and that many more for the pros. Topps tried out a line called Action Flats in 1999, but the three-inch figures, which came with a foil Topps card, were discontinued almost as quickly as they began.

After Starting Lineup lost the licensing rights to NFL players in 2001, McFarlane Toys, which got its start making highly detailed, and collectible, Spawn figures in 1994, entered the fray. That first year, the eclectic toy maker (2001 also saw McFarlane figures for Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead and all four members of Metallica) released two small football-player sets. The first group of six players included Emmitt Smith of the Dallas Cowboys; the second half-dozen offered later in the year included Brian Urlacher of the Chicago Bears.

About our sources | Got something to add?

▼ Expand to read the full article ▼

Interviews & Articles

Going Deep for Football Cards

I collected football cards when I was a kid, back in the late ’60s, early ’70s. Then I set them in the closet for about 15 to 20 y… [more]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

Vintage Football Card Gallery

Vintage Football Card Gallery

This great database of pro and collegiate football cards from the 1950s and 1960s offers scanned images of cards fo… [read review or visit site]

U. Michigan Football Ticket Museum

U. Michigan Football Ticket Museum

Brian Powers' excellent gallery of over a century of Wolverines ticket stubs (1900 to 2005), not to mention a lot o… [read review or visit site]



Other Great Reference Sites: Football

Top eBay Auctions

Showing 60. See all 116 by  highest bidmost watchedcompleted
Original Ljn Wrestling Figure Prototype Hulk Hogan 1984 Very First Wwf 1983Wwe 1 Of 1000....lot Of 43 Figures (commemorative Belts & Chairs)Enterbay Michael Jordan Limited Edition #45 I'm Back! 1 Of 2500! MimpEnterbay 1/6 Michael Jordan Nba Chicago Bulls #45 Road Red FigureEnterbay Ltd. Ed. - 1/6 Michael Jordan - "i'm Back #45" White Home Version Enterbay Michael Jordan 23 1:6 Figurine #10 Anniversary Hk-kicks Exclusive 500Enterbay Michael JordanMcfarlane Nfl Green Bay Packers Sweep Hornung, Kramer, Thurston CustomEnterbay #45 Michael Jordan 1/6 Figure White Warm Up Suit Ship From UsWwf Hasbro Dusty Rhodes Series 2 Moc 1991 Wwe Wcw Tna Ecw Jakks Playmates Wwe Mattel Elite Scale Wrestling Ring New In Box. Unopened. WwfMcfarlane Sports Toys Series 31 Mlb Mike Trout (angels) Cl Figure Ser #008/200!Afa Wwf/wwe Iron Shiek/paul OrndorffWwe Wcw Wwf Deluxe Adult Replica World Heavyweight Championship Wrestling BeltWwe Mattel Elite Custom The Shield 3 Figures Removable Vests Wrestling Ryback !Wwf Wwe Intercontinental Championship Wrestling Belt2013 Mcfarlane Clayton Kershaw Figure Rare Piece Of Mlb Baseball #6 Of 100Wwf Ljn Custom Demolition Ax And Smash!Jerry Rice 49ers Mcfarlane 12 Inch And 49ers 3 Packs Collectors ClubMike Trout Mlb 31 Mcfarlane Rare Variant #149 Of 200 Piece Of Authentic BaseWwf Ljn Custom Ax& Smash Demolitoin With Belts1989 Starting Lineup Store Display - Includes Mcgwire! Smith! Scott! Strawberry!Rare 1985 Wwf Vintage Hulk Hogan 16 Inch Action Figure In Mint Condition By LjnNew Wwe Official Scale Wrestling Ring (wrestlemania Edition) Classic Figure Wwf 1989 Starting Lineup Football - Detroit Lions Wwe Scale Ring Jakks Mattel EliteWwe Jakks Official Scale Ring With Cage Wrestling Wwf Wwe Mattel Elite Scale Ring Loose Complete With Box Mint! Wcw Ecw Tna Wwf Wwe/ Wwf Tag Team Replica Title Belts Kids Size (real Leather) Michael Jordan Bulls 23 Red Jersey Real Masterpiece Figure Enterbay 1/6 Hot!!!Mcfarlane No Helmet W/ Eye Black Series Eleven VariantMcfarlane Nhl Patrick Roy 12 Inch " Montreal Canadiens Goalie Figure Variant Mcfarlane Mlb Series 28 Mariano Rivera Gold Cl #21/500 W/protech Stars & StripesWwe / Wwf Wrestling Ring / CageRobert Griffin Iii Mcfarlane Nfl Series 31 Variant White Jersey Rookie PieceWwe Undisputed Championship Kids Replica Belt (with Hulk Hogan Nameplate)Wwe Mattel Elite Lot Brodus Sheamus Miz Shango Triple H Prime Players MocStarting Lineup Slam Dunk Superstars Michael JordanWwe Wwf Wrestling Figures Moc Lot Of 24 Jakks Pacific Taker, Austin, Hhh, AngleWwe Wwf Wrestlemania Vi 6 Vintage Promo Poster Hulk Hogan Ultimate WarriorRare Error Variant!!! Ringside Wwe Classic Superstars Tazz W/ Towel! Limited!!!1997 Hockey Starting Line Up Figures Factory Sealed Case #68970.05 Very Rare1993 Kenner Starting Lineup Slu Complete Hockey SetPatrick Roy Colorado Avalanche 12 Inch Mcfarlane(loose) Skate Broken...with Box**34 Piece Set*mcfarlane*baseball Figures*2001-2008*excellent Condition*l@@k**Wwf / Wwe Ljn Moc - Blue Shirt Referee - Wrestling Superstars - Rare!!!Starting Lineup Lot Of 12 Football MarinoBig Boss Man Wrestling Buddies Buddy Wwe Wwf Wcw Nwo Tonka - Vintage 1991 In BoxMcfarlane Nfl Series 22 Chase Tom Brady And Rookie CardHuge Lot 42 Wwe Wwf Wcw Jakks Wrestling 7" Figures The Rock John Cena UndertakerWwf / Wwe Ljn Moc - White Shirt Referee - Manager Card - Wrestling SuperstarsWwe Gangrel Custom Mattel Elite Flashback Vampire Warrior Christian Edge BroodMcfarlane Nfl Football Figures LotTed Dibiase Wrestling Buddies Buddy Wwe Wwf Wcw Nwo Tonka - Vintage 1990 In Box!Chris Benoit Custom Figure Wwe Wwf Mattel Jakks Wrestling Figure Beniot CripplerWwe Mr. Vince Mcmahon Toys R Us Exclusive Moc RareWwf / Wwe Ljn Moc - Jesse "the Body" Ventura - Blonde Hair / Brown MustacheMcfarlane Nfl Series 5 Jerome Bettis Variant Rookie Debut Pittsburgh Steelers Star Wars Figures / 30th Anniversary 77-07 Saga Legends (lot Of 11)Babe Ruth Mcfarlane 2005, Figure, 12 Inches Tall. New York Yankees