2023 Phoenix Football Review: Back From The Ashes?

Phoenix Football is back from the ashes. It’s a product that should probably get axed every year, but, like its mythical namesake, is making a triumphant (?) return once again.

But at a $275/box release price, is 2023 Phoenix a hold, pass, or perhaps a rip? Let’s look at the numbers.

Shop for 2023 Phoenix Football hobby boxes on eBay 

An Introduction to 2023 Phoenix Football

2023 Panini Football Phoenix Hobby boxes are released on January 26th and hitting stores at $275/box.

At that price, each box contains 12 packs of 5 cards with  2 autographs, 1 memorabilia, 2 Silvers, 10 #’D Parallels, 9 Inserts, 12 Rookies, 2 SP Inserts, 1 Color Burst, and 4 Base SPs.

2023 Panini Phoenix Football H2 boxes

Approximately a week later on January 19th, 2024, 2023 Panini Phoenix Football Hobby H2 boxes will release, with these boxes at a much cheaper $150 per box.

H2 boxes include a selection of H2-exclusive parallels and Rookie Autograph dual jersey cards. Each box break of H2 includes 3 Base SPs, 2 H2 Silvers, 8 numbered H2 parallels, 5 inserts, 3 SP inserts, a Seismic Insert and a healthy selection of 20 rookies.

Unpacking the 2023 Panini Phoenix Football set 

The set introduces a diverse parallel roster, including the notable inclusion of RPS Rookie Autograph Jersey cards, contributing to its appeal in the early stages of the collecting season. Noteworthy are the visually appealing insert sets, which have garnered attention for their aesthetic qualities.

Phoenix carries a range of hobby-only parallels, such as Fire & Ice, Color Burst, and the sought-after case-hit Dream Weaver, enhancing the set’s visual diversity.

The introduction of rare SSP cards, including Metropolis, En Fuego, and Phoenician, adds an element of intrigue and exclusivity for collectors who appreciate the extraordinary.

Complementing its visual elements, Phoenix boasts a substantial offering of autograph and memorabilia content. The presence of Paragon Patch Autographs, Mythical Autograph Materials, and other variations contributes to the set’s depth and provides collectors with a varied and potentially rewarding experience.

That said, most noteworthy, remember that 2023 Phoenix will not have the autographs of Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, or Will Levis. They’re working exclusively with Fanatics, so three of the best autographs you could pull from the draft class will not be in the box.

Shop for 2023 Phoenix Football hobby boxes on eBay 

2023 Phoenix Football parallels and inserts

With that said, here’s the list of parallels we can expect to see from 2023 football (based on last year’s set).

• Color Burst
• Silver
• Silver Lazer
• Sprinkles
• White Shimmer
• Red #/250
• Pink #/199
• Lava #/175
• Teal #/150
• Red Lazer #/150 or #/125
• Purple #/125
• Orange #/99
• Purple Lazer #/99
• Orange Lazer #/75
• Yellow #/75
• Fire & Ice #/50
• Fire & Ice Lazer #/50
• Blue #/35
• Green #/25
• Green Lazer #/25
• Black #/10
• Black Lazer #/10
• Red Mojo #/10 or less
• Onyx #/5 or less
• Gold 1/1
• Gold Lazer 1/1
• Printing Plates 1/1

Should you invest in Phoenix Football?

Is the 2023 Phoenix Football release worth the dice roll? If so, how should you approach it?

Investing in a box of Panini Phoenix Football

Is it a good hold as a sealed product? Considering a $275 release day price, let’s look at how 2023 Phoenix football stacks up to years prior.

Here’s the value of the last few years based on recent sales (as of 12/28/2023)

The story here is the same as usual: the rookie class can dramatically swing the price of a box, and we see it with Phoenix more than most products since Phoenix has been around for a while. 

That said, 2023 Phoenix is dropping at a surprisingly low price – it’s cheaper than any box from the previous 5 years is reselling for on eBay at the time of writing.

That said, the lack of Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud or Will Levis autographs lowers the long-term investment floor for this product. But, thankfully, Phoenix has enough parallels that it’s not autograph-driven and there’s still investment potential.

Investing in Panini Phoenix singles

If you’re looking to invest in singles, the best cards would be numbered Phoenix parallels and rookie autographs. If you can buy raw and get them graded, bonus points for that. 

Bottom line: Should you rip, hold or pass on Phoenix Football 2023?

Phoenix Football 2023 presents itself as a product with notable visual appeal, unique parallels, and a comprehensive selection of autograph and memorabilia content.

Shop for 2023 Phoenix Football hobby boxes on eBay 

The set caters to collectors who value diversity and rarity in their football card collections, but it’s never really caught on.

What do you think of this product? What will it be worth in 5 years? Let us know on Twitter @card_lines.

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Other Phoenix releases

• 2023-24 Phoenix Basketball
• 2021 Phoenix Football