Analyzing the Auto: Do Mahomes, Jackson, Goff and Purdy Deliver Top-Tier Signatures?

The NFL's top stars don't always provide the best signatures for collectors.

One of the greatest prizes any sports collector can obtain is an authentic autograph from one of their cherished idols. With this week’s media hype surrounding the AFC and NFC title games on Sunday, it’s a good time to take a closer look at the signatures of this weekend’s four signal-callers: Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs), Lamar Jackson (Ravens), Jared Goff (Lions) and Brock Purdy (49ers). With their collectibility building every week, these four athletes are all in high demand.

Patrick Mahomes

Mahomes performs magic out on the gridiron for the Kansas City Chiefs. Like other gifted quarterbacks, Mahomes is able to make something out of nothing when it matters most. Despite massive pass rushers closing in and seasoned secondaries blanketing his receivers, the 2017 first-round pick out of Texas Tech still manages to find ways to run or thread the needle with pinpoint passing that infuriates defensive coordinators around the league.

But beyond his football prowess, how does Mahomes perform with a pen? By the looks of many of his autographs since entering the league, which consist largely of indiscernible letters and lines, the effort leaves something to be desired.

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“I know Mahomes’ signature by memory and that’s just because I’ve seen so many of them,” said Kevin Keating, principal autograph authenticator at PSA. “Too many of today’s athletes sign with truncated lines or swirls. They all write like doctors filling out medication prescriptions.”

Tom Poon is another longtime autograph authenticator at PSA. When asked about Mahomes’ signing skills, he responded: “Mahomes is sloppy.”

Lamar Jackson

Jackson is the driving force behind the Baltimore Ravens. He’s a constant two-way threat and how he performs on any given Sunday usually determines the team's fate. Since entering the league in 2018, the former Heisman Trophy winner out of Louisville has put the pop back into the Ravens offense while winning the MVP in 2019. But is his autograph MVP-worthy?

Jackson uses a very pronounced “L” and “J” with plenty of height to both letters every time he signs his name and usually adds his uniform number (“#8”) at the end. That simple act helps the collector connect the dots back to Jackson.

“Lamar only uses the L and J for his name,” said Poon. “That’s it.”

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Is it laziness on behalf of the athlete to not write out his full name? Or has the proliferation of autograph requests and endorsement demands simply forced today’s superstars to find faster ways to execute?

“I think the modern athlete considers him or herself a ‘brand’ more so than in the past, so busier schedules may play a role,” said Brendan Wells, vice president of SCP Auctions. “But the ones who use their initials instead of signing their full names … that, to me, just says, ‘My time is more important than this.’”

Jared Goff

Goff joined the NFL with a truckload of expectations coming along for the ride. In three seasons at Cal, he threw for 12,195 yards and 96 touchdowns, so it came as no surprise when the L.A. Rams took him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. In just his second full season, he led the Rams to a 13-3 record and their first Super Bowl appearance in 17 years. This season Goff has put the mojo back in Motown by leading the Detroit Lions to a 12-5 record and their first NFC Championship Game since 1991.

For the most part, Goff has been legible and consistent. Like Jackson, he delivers sweeping first letters to both his first and last names, and puts in slightly more effort by making the rest of his autograph recognizable. He even goes as far as to cross the two F’s at the end of Goff. His uniform number (“#16”) is another constant with his autographs.

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“It’s okay,” was as far as Poon cared to describe Goff’s penmanship, which brings up another question. Is early education missing the mark by not emphasizing cursive writing?

Brian Drent, president of Mile High Card Company, made this observation: “My guess is that penmanship is not taught at the same level as it used to be, so today’s athletes don’t care as much about their signatures.”

Brock Purdy

Purdy seemingly came out of nowhere to take the reins in San Francisco. Selected in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft with the 262nd pick overall, the Iowa State signal-caller was close to being “Mr. Irrelevant.” But as it turns out, with a key injury to starter Jimmy Garoppolo in Week 13, Purdy took the keys to the offense and was on his way to being named “Mr. Relevant.” He helped the Niners finish 13-4 and led them to the NFC title game.

With prominent first letters (B and P) and a flowing continuation to the last letters (K and Y), Purdy’s autograph scores as readable. When compared to the other three QBs, Purdy came out on top — at least in the eyes of Poon.

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“I’d say Brock’s signature is probably the most legible,” he said. “Lamar is just LJ, Mahomes is sloppy and Goff is okay. But Purdy’s is the best.”

Keating added this parting thought: “Each of these guys went through the NFL rookie camp. The league needs to include an autograph, handwriting course to the curriculum.”