2023 Panini Illusions Football: Everything You Need to Know

2023 Panini Illusions Football Checklist

The 2023 Panini Illusions Football set is about to hit the market. Fans of the Illusions are particularly crazy about its magic-themed design.

Three Autographs are accompanied by two memorabilia, promising a big hit set. Nothing new this year, but it still packs a punch.

While Panini’s higher-end releases, such as Spectra and Impeccable, push well beyond the $1,000 mark, Illusions comes at a more “affordable” $400—a price that has still increased from last year’s $300 mark.

2023 Panini Illusions Football Release Date

The 2023 Panini Illusions Football Hobby box is slated for release on March 13, 2024.

Check All Case Hitsarrow down

What Is Illusions Football?


2023-Panini-Illusions-Football-Hobby-Box

Panini Illusions is another mid-range trading card set famously known for its Basketball and Football trading cards.

The 2023 Panini Illusions Football is a licensed NFL product released almost every year by Panini.

It has some of the most renowned insert sets, including the signature acetate-based design sets that are King of Cards and Mystique.

Box Configuration: What’s Inside?


Each 2023 Panini Illusions Football Hobby box guarantees:

Box TypeCards Per PackPacks Per BoxBoxes Per Case
Hobby Box5 cards10 packs16 boxes

Box Break: Hobby Box

FeatureHobby Box
Autographs3
Memorabilia2
Other Inserts10
Parallels 5

The 2023 Panini Illusions Football Base Set


2023-Panini-Illusions-Football-Base-C.J.-Stroud
Base-C.J.-Stroud

The base set comprises of 100 cards featuring some big time Record Setters including the 2023 Offensive Rookie of the year, C.J. Stroud, the youngest Super Bowl MVP, Patrick Mahomes II and one of the Best quaterback, Jalen Hurts too.

2023-Panini-Illusions-NFL-Football-Cards-Base-Trophy-Collection-Yellow-Diamond-Brock-Purdy
Base-Trophy-Collection-Yellow-Diamond-Brock-Purdy

Moreover, Tyreek Hill, Joe Burrow, Brock Purdy, and Lamar Jackson are some other notable inclusions of the base.

However, the list doesn’t include any retiree Legends or HOFs of the game.

Base Set Parallels: What’s New

2023-Panini-Illusions-NFL-Football-Cards-Base-Trophy-Purple-Jordan-Addison
Base-Trophy-Purple-Jordan-Addison

The Base set parallels in the 2023 Panini Illusions Football Hobby box go by a unique distinctive name, the “Trophy Collection.”

Under the umbrella name, the “Trophy Collection” parallels include some with player autographs and some that make up distinct inserts of the set. The “Yellow Diamond” is a Hobby-Exclusive parallel.

The Base Set parallels exclusively include parallels named after the annual leagues held by the NFL, namely, Pro Bowl (#d/2) and Super Bowl (1/1).

See Also: 2020 Panini Select Baseball and How to Order?

Autograph: The Biggest Hits

The Autograph inserts in the Panini Illusions Checklist outshine and serve as a cornerstone feature of the set.

2023-Panini-Illusions-Football-Elusive-Ink-Kordell-Stewart
Elusive-Ink-Kordell-Stewart

With a total of 12 different subsets, the autograph inserts come in a variety of configurations, including with memorabilia and without it.

The “Elusive Ink” is Panini’s time-tested autograph card subset found in almost every second or third of its products.

2023-Panini-Illusions-Football-First-Impressions-Anthony-Richardson
First-Impressions-Anthony-Richardson

First Impressions Autographed Memorabilia features FOTL pack exclusive parallels, which are Black Ice (#d/50), Green (#d/10), and Purple (1/1).

Funkadelic Signatures (#d/99) and Illusionists Autograph (#d/99) include three cards each in their base form and are the most creative-looking autograph sets on the checklist.

2023-Panini-Illusions-NFL-Football-Cards-Rookie-Signs-Base-Sam-LaPorta
Rookie-Signs-Base-Sam-LaPorta

Mystique Autographs (#/99) have psychedelic swirls in the backdrop, and Limelight Signatures (#/299) literally have a stage set up, keeping players in the limelight.

Additionally, Immortalized Jersey Autographs (#d/399) and Rookie Reflections Dual Patch Autographs (#d/99) are the auto jersey card sets.

Memorabilia: From Player to You


2023-Panini-Illusions-NFL-Football-Cards-Great-Expressions-George-Kittle
Great-Expressions-George-Kittle

Only-Memorabilia card sets land up only 4 in number. These include:

  • Great Expectations—Rookie Prospects featured with their respective swatches.
  • Highlight Swatches—features the biggest jersey swatches highlighting key moments from a player’s journey in the game.
  • Instant Impact—A Rookie Patch Autograph set features top NFL rookies from the 2023 season.
  • Rookie Idols Dual Memorabilia—features rookie cards with dual memorabilia

Other Insert Sets


The 2023 Panini Illusions Football Cards checklist features 9 insert subsets, a lot of which have their own autograph subsets.

2023-Panini-Illusions-Football-Holoheroes-Patrick-Mahomes
Holoheroes-Patrick-Mahomes

Those with an eye for rarity should keep an eye out for the “Holo Heroes” insert. A separate Rookie subset of Holo Heroes is also available.

2023-Panini-Illusions-NFL-Football-Cards-King-of-Cards-Jalen-Hurts
King-of-Cards-Jalen-Hurts

Acetate inserts, like those in “King of Cards” and “Mystique,” continue to be well-loved by collectors because of the elegant and premium appearance they provide.

This year’s parallels come in a rainbow of colors, but the 99-piece black cracked ice pattern is the most eye-catching.

2023-Panini-Illusions-Football-Illusionists-Jaxon-Smith
Illusionists-Jaxon-Smith

Collectors also have a shot at getting Mosaic Acetate Parallels and other extremely rare case hits.

2023 Panini Illusions Football Inserts and Parallels

Base Set—Parallels

Check out all the base set parallels in one go!

  • Diamond Trophy Collection
  • Dots Trophy Collection
  • Emerald Trophy Collection
  • Orange Trophy Collection
  • Retail
  • Starlight Trophy Collection
  • Sunburst Trophy Collection
  • Bronze Trophy Collection – /499
  • Pink Trophy Collection – /399
  • Yellow Diamond Trophy Collection – /299
  • Light Blue Trophy Collection – /199
  • Red Trophy Collection – /175
  • Teal Trophy Collection – /175
  • Blue Trophy Collection – /149
  • Ruby Trophy Collection – /125
  • Black Ice Trophy Collection – /99
  • Platinum Trophy Collection – /49
  • WIld Card Trophy Collection – /30
  • Gold Trophy Collection – /25
  • Division Trophy Collection – /10
  • Green Trophy Collection – /10
  • Conference Trophy Collection – /5
  • Pro Bowl Trophy Collection – /2
  • Purple Trophy Collection – 1/1
  • Super Bowl Trophy Collection – 1/1

 

Autograph Inserts—Parallels

Check out all the autograph inserts and their parallels in one go!

Elusive Ink—#d/299

  • Black—#d/75
  • Blue—#d/80
  • Gold—#d/50
  • Green—#d/10
  • Purple—1/1
  • Red—#d/99

First Impressions Autographed Memorabilia—#d/399

  • Black—#d/50
  • Blue—#d/99
  • FOTL Black Ice—#d/50
  • FOTL Green—#d/10
  • FOTL Purple—#d/1
  • Gold—#d/25
  • Green—#d/10
  • Purple—#d/1
  • Red—#d/199

Funkadelic Signatures—#d/99

  • Black—#d/15
  • Gold—#d/10
  • Green—#d/5
  • Light Blue—#d/35

Pink—#d/50

  • Purple—#d/1
  • Red—#d/25

Illusionists Autographs—#d/99

  • Black—#d/15
  • Gold—#d/10
  • Green—#d/5
  • Light Blue—#d/35
  • Pink—#d/50
  • Purple—#d/1
  • Red—#d/25

Immortalized Jersey Autographs—#d/399 or less

  • Black—#d/50
  • Blue—#d/99
  • Gold—#d/25
  • Green—#d/10
  • Purple—#d/1
  • Red—#d/199

Limelight Signatures—#d/299

  • Black—#d/75
  • Blue—#d/80
  • Gold—#d/50
  • Green—#d/25
  • Purple—1/1
  • Red—#d/99

Mystique Autographs—#d/99

  • Black—#d/15
  • FOTL Green—#d/5
  • FOTL Purple—1/1
  • Gold—#d/10
  • Green—#d/5
  • Light Blue—#d/35
  • Pink—#d/50
  • Purple—1/1
  • Red—#d/25

Rookie Reflections Dual Patch Autographs—#d/99

  • Black—#d/30
  • Blue—#d/35
  • Gold—#d/25
  • Green—#d/10
  • Purple—1/1
  • Red—#d/50

Rookie Signs—#d/299 or less

  • Black—#d/50
  • Blue—#d/75
  • Gold—#d/25
  • Green—#d/10
  • Orange
  • Purple—1/1
  • Red—#d/99

Rookie Vision Signatures—#d/199

  • Black—#d/50
  • Gold—#d/25
  • Green—#d/10
  • Purple—1/1
  • Red—#d/75

Superlatives—#d/199

  • Gold—1/1
  • Green—#d/50
  • Orange
  • Purple—#d/10
  • Red—#d/99

Trophy Collection Signatures—#d/199

  • Black—#d/50
  • Gold pro—#d/25
  • Green—#d/10
  • Purple—1/1
  • Red—#d/99

Memorabilia Inserts—Parallels

Check out all the memorabilia inserts and their parallels in one go!

Great Expectations         

Highlight Swatches         

  • Black—#d/50
  • Blue—#d/99
  • Gold—#d/25
  • Green—#d/10
  • Purple—1/1
  • Red—#d/199

Instant Impact  

  • Black—#d/50
  • Blue—#d/99
  • Gold—#d/25
  • Green—#d/10
  • Purple—1/1
  • Red—#d/199

Rookie Idols Dual Memorabilia  

  • Black—#d/50
  • Blue—#d/99
  • Gold—#d/25
  • Green—#d/10
  • Purple—1/1
  • Red—#d/199

Inserts and their Parallels

Check out all the inserts and their parallels in one go!

Amazing             

  • Black —#d/50
  • Gold —#d/25
  • Green —#d/10
  • Purple —1/1
  • Red —#d/75
  • Red and Blue —#d/15

Déjà Vu         

  • Black —#d/50
  • Blue —#d/99
  • Gold —#d/25
  • Green —#d/10
  • Purple —1/1
  • Red —#d/199

Funkadelic         

  • Black —#d/50
  • Emerald
  • Gold —#d/25
  • Green —#d/10
  • Light Blue —#d/299
  • Mosaic
  • Orange
  • Pink —#d/399
  • Purple —1/1
  • Rainbow
  • Red —#d/199
  • Red and Blue —#d/15
  • Stardust

HoloHeroes       

  • Gold —#d/10
  • Platinum —1/1

HoloHeroes Rookie        

  • Gold —#d/10
  • Platinum —1/1

Illusionists          

  • Black —#d/50
  • Emerald
  • Gold —#d/25
  • Green —#d/10
  • Light Blue —#d/299
  • Mosaic
  • Orange
  • Pink —#d/399
  • Purple —1/1
  • Rainbow
  • Red —#d/199
  • Red and Blue —#d/15
  • Stardust

King of Cards    

  • Black —#d/50
  • Emerald
  • Gold —#d/25
  • Green —#d/10
  • Light Blue —#d/299
  • Mosaic
  • Orange
  • Pink —#d/399
  • Purple —1/1
  • Rainbow
  • Red —#d/199
  • Red and Blue —#d/15
  • Stardust

Mystique           

  • Black —#d/50
  • Emerald
  • Gold —#d/25
  • Green—#d/10
  • Light Blue—#d/299
  • Mosaic
  • Orange
  • Pink—#d/399
  • Purple—1/1
  • Rainbow
  • Red—#d/199
  • Red and Blue—#d/15
  • Stardust

Operation Detonation   

  • Black—#d/50
  • Gold—#d/25
  • Green—#d/10
  • Purple—1/1
  • Red—#d/75
  • Red and Blue—#d/15

Shining Stars     

  • Black—#d/50
  • Gold—#d/25
  • Green—#d/10
  • Purple—1/1
  • Red—#d/75
  • Red and Blue—#d/15

Chase Inserts: Rare Finds


  • The 2023 Panini Illusions Football set includes an ultra-rare parallel, the Mosaic Acetate in insert sets such as Mystique and Funkadelic.
  • Look for ultra-rare inserts, including the Holo Heroes and the Kings of Cards

Top Rookies to Look Out For

One of the biggest selling points of this release is its feature of key rookies, including:

  • Bijan Robinson
  • C.J. Stroud
  • Bryce Young
  • Jahmyr Gibbs
  • Zay Flowers
  • Jordan Addison
  • Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Top Legends and their Patch Cards

OPC includes legendary player patches such as:

  • Patrick Mahomes II
  • Aaron Rodgers
  • Travis Kelce
  • Justin Jefferson
  • Derrick Henry

FAQs:

How to Order the 2023 Panini Illusions Football Hobby Box?

You can order a 2023 Panini Illusions Football Hobby Box through various cards and collectibles selling websites such as:
eBay,

Dave and Adam’s,

Steel City Collectibles,
Blowout Cards.

What is the official release date for the 2023 Panini Illusions Football Box?

The set is scheduled to be released on March 13, 2024.

How many cards are included in each hobby box?

The base set of the 2023 panini Illusions Football includes 100 base cards that are Rookies and Veterans but no retired legends.

Who are some of the notable rookies featured in this set?

The 2024 set features rookies like C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young, and Bijan Robinson.

Are there any special inserts to look out for in this year’s set?

Key inserts in the 2023 Panini Illusions Football hobby box include the ultra-rare insert, the Holo Heroes.

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