By Gary Symons
TLL Editor in Chief
Panini America has landed an exclusive autographed trading card agreement with University of Colorado standout and 2024 Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter.
Hunter is seen as being among the next generation of football stars, after he dazzled fans with his rare two-way play as both a wide receiver and a cornerback for the Buffaloes. Panini is betting that star will rise, so Hunter will be featured across Panini’s NFL product lines, including the company’s Instant Card platform.
The deal also includes Hunter’s participation in select Panini marketing initiatives, meaning fans might see the two-way phenom off the field as often as he was on it last season.
“Travis is a singular talent who has performed incredibly both on and off the field,” said Jason Howarth, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Athlete Relations at Panini America. “He has a bright future ahead, and we look forward to supporting him both as he begins his NFL journey and in the years to come.”
Hunter’s football résumé reads like a collector’s checklist. He’s won the Heisman Trophy, Biletnikoff Award (top receiver), Bednarik Award (top defensive player), AP Player of the Year, and Academic All-American of the Year, and that was all in one season. If versatility had a rookie card, it would probably feature Hunter playing two positions, giving a locker room speech, and solving a calculus problem, simultaneously.
Now, with his NFL debut on the horizon and his name buzzing as a likely top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Hunter is adding a different kind of signature play: signing his own autographs for Panini.
“As I enter into the professional phase of my career, I’m excited that one of the first deals is an exclusive autograph trading card agreement with Panini,” Hunter said. “As a kid, I collected Panini cards and imagined my face on a card one day. To know that fans will be able to get my Panini Rookie Card all over the world is a dream come true.”
The agreement marks a strategic score for Panini America, whose parent company, The Panini Group, has been in the collectibles game for over 60 years, and holds licenses across the NFL, NBA, NASCAR, FIFA, and more. For Panini, landing a talent like Hunter is the equivalent of pulling a 1-of-1 holographic rookie card from a fresh pack; rare, valuable, and full of promise.
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