I recently acquired this game-used 1997 Detroit Lions jersey of Glyn Milburn.

This jersey was advertised as being from 1994 due to the year tag sewn into the jersey, but there was one problem: Glyn Milburn didn’t play for the Lions in 1994 - or even 1995.

I dug into archive photos and saw that Milburn wore a different jersey throughout 1996, as that jersey featured a Reebok logo that pointed to the middle of the ‘3’ on the left shoulder whereas on this jersey it points at the upper part of the ‘3’.

I found a Getty Image from a 1997 preseason game that was a match for this jersey. But could it really have been used 3 years after it was made?

Turns out, yes. I photomatched this jersey to NFL broadcasts of 6 games in 1997, including the first and last game of the season, which means Milburn wore this jersey in every game in which the Lions wore this style, which is 10 games.

Although this jersey never saw the end zone, it saw some interesting moments:

• In the season opener, Milburn fielded punts on 5 successive plays due to penalties that led to re-kicks.

• Milburn wore this jersey during the Lions Thanksgiving Day win, logging 246 return yards.

• This jersey was worn in the last game of the season, during which Barry Sanders reached 2,000 rushing yards for the year.

Total Statistics:

• 747 kick return yards

• 283 punt return yards

• 5 receptions for 77 yards

8/31 vs Falcons

• 111 return yards

• 1 reception for 43 yards

9/7 vs Buccaneers

• 76 return yards

• 2 receptions for 19 yards

9/28 vs Packers

• 119 return yards

• 1 reception for 11 yards

10/12 at Buccaneers

• 40 return yards

10/19 vs Giants

• 93 return yards

11/9 at Redskins

• 200 return yards

• 1 reception for 4 yards

11/16 vs Vikings

• 38 return yards

11/23 vs Colts

• 54 return yards

11/27 vs Bears (Thanksgiving)

• 246 return yards

12/21 vs Jets

• 53 return yards

I started creating YouTube videos about my game-used jerseys. There are very few YouTube channels dedicated to collecting game-used jerseys and I hope to change that. Give me a look and a follow if you’re interested!

https://youtu.be/R5NQuI-BgtM?is=jZqddJPI8VTEphr5

I recently nabbed this Chiefs jersey of Brett Perriman that he wore in a thrilling Monday night game against the Raiders in 1997.

As a ‘90s kid, I’m stoked about getting this one. Brett Perriman was an under-appreciated receiver throughout that decade, with his biggest year coming in 1995 when he and Herman Moore became the first teammates to ever tally 100 catches each in the same season.

Perriman signed with the Chiefs in ‘97 after being let go by the Lions. This jersey was listed on eBay as an issued jersey rather than a game-used jersey, likely because it shows minimal signs of wear. I pulled up Getty Images and found image 1784871 of Perriman from that season wearing this style of jersey, and after carefully comparing it against the listing photos for about an hour (really), I felt confident it was the same jersey. That opinion was conclusively proven once I had it in hand and was able to look even closer.

Perriman only caught 2 passes for 37 yards in this jersey, but both were critical to the Chief’s 28-27 Week 2 victory. The first came late in the second quarter and helped set up a field goal, and the second came on a 3rd and 10 with 30 seconds left in the game that led to a Grbac-to-Rison touchdown pass to seal it with 3 seconds left. Al Davis looked pretty unhappy in the telecast.

Perriman was waived by the Chiefs weeks later, signed with the Dolphins to finish out the season, then rode off into the sunset.

This is the oldest NFL gamer in my collection and it brings me joy to know that I own one from a great player I watched growing up.

I recently acquired this game-used Western Kentucky University football jersey of linebacker Chris Bullard, dated to either 2009 or 2010.

I picked up this jersey for a few reasons. First, it shows great signs of use. Bullard was a linebacker despite the low jersey number, and his playing intensity shines through the holes and scrapes and tears. Next, I got it for a solid price. Most importantly, the guy who wore this jersey has enjoyed an impressive life journey.

Bullard played both football and baseball in college, totaling 50 tackles across 11 games for WKU his senior year then turning around and slugging .500 on the diamond the following spring. Even better, he was drafted by the Braves in the 34th round of the 2011 MLB draft. He put up decent numbers for the Rookie-league GCL Braves but his Major League dreams faded. He then joined the Army and looks to be off doing big things. Kudos to him.

It’s been awhile since I’ve landed a game-used jersey, but I got back on the big board with this XFL gamer of Nate “Big Nate” Miller.

Miller played football at LSU and spent a few seasons as an offensive lineman in the NFL, seeing some playing time with the Falcons in 1997. After NFL teams stopped calling, Miller resurfaced in the XFL with the Los Angeles Xtreme. I photomatched this jersey to the 2001 XFL “Million Dollar Game”, making it the second game-worn jersey I own from the league’s lone championship game and my third LA Xtreme jersey. This would be the last jersey Miller ever wore in a pro football game.

According to his XFL player bio, “Big Nate” is an avid comic book collector. Maybe he’ll show up here one of these days?