What Does FOTL Mean in Sports Cards?

FOTL Definition

In sports cards, FOTL stands for First Off the Line. It’s a product variation from Panini that typically offers exclusive parallels, under the selling point that it’s the “first” of the boxes to be produced and sold.

Now, if you don’t know what FOTL stands for, there is a good chance the previous sentence definition is full of other words that need defining as well.

First, when I say “product variation” I’m referring to the fact that First Off the Line isn’t a standalone card brand, per se, and is more of an offshoot or spin off of another release.

For example, you have the 2021 Panini National Treasures Football Hobby Box release, but then you also have 2021 Panini National Treasures Football 1st Off The Line FOTL Hobby Box, in addition.

What’s the Difference with FOTL?

So, what’s the difference between a regular release and an FOTL release? Let’s go back to the previous example. The regular 2021 Panini National Treasures Football Hobby Box release includes:

• 3 Autographs Per Box
• 3 Memorabilia Cards Per Box
• Look for EXTRA Autograph and Memorabilia Cards!
• Find Rookie Patch Autographs

You can currently find one at Dave & Adam’s for $4,634.95.

On the other hand, the 2021 Panini National Treasures Football 1st Off The Line FOTL Hobby Box includes:

• 3 Autographs Per Box
• 3 Memorabilia Cards Per Box
• Look for EXTRA Autograph and Memorabilia Cards
• Find Rookie Patch Autographs

In addition, though, FOTL boxes come with 1 Stars and Stripes Rookie Patch Autograph and 1 Base Stars and Stripes card per box.

You can currently find one at Dave & Adam’s for $8,749.95.

As another example of the FOTL exclusives, here are a few to gaze upon:

2019-20 Panini Origins – [Base] – First Off the Line FOTL Purple #65 – Cameron Johnson /21

2021-22 Panini Contenders – [Base] – 1st Off the Line FOTL Opening Night Ticket #16 – Gordon Hayward /25

2020-21 Panini Select – [Base] – 1st Off the Line Neon Purple Pulsar Prizm #6 – Concourse – Andrew Wiggins /5