In a highly anticipated auction event held ahead of Super Bowl Sunday, the ring belonging to Johnny Unitas from the Baltimore Colts’ Super Bowl V victory was sold for an astonishing price of $258,500. This auction, part of the annual Super Bowl Auction in Las Vegas, featured a collection of cherished items from the legendary quarterback’s illustrious career, all contributed by his family. Despite Unitas exiting the game early due to injury, his memorabilia, including the Super Bowl ring, attracted significant interest and fetched remarkable bids.
Notably, the auction price of Unitas’ Super Bowl V ring exceeded the value of his 1958 NFL championship ring by over $100,000. The latter ring symbolized his pivotal role in the historic overtime triumph against the New York Giants, a game often credited with propelling professional football to national prominence.
In addition to the Super Bowl rings, other items from Unitas’ collection were also sold. His Hall of Fame ring garnered a price of $38,175, while his 1967 NFL MVP award fetched $64,625. A pair of Unitas’ iconic high-top cleats was also auctioned off, resulting in a final selling price of $27,025.
Sharing the top sales position with Unitas’ Super Bowl ring was a game-worn jersey from Tom Brady, which also achieved a remarkable price of $258,500. This particular jersey, authenticated by MeiGray and worn during the season opener against the Dolphins in 2014, represented a significant season for Brady as he secured his fourth out of seven Super Bowl titles.
The auction also featured memorabilia from Anthony Munoz, an esteemed Hall of Fame offensive lineman. One of the highlights was a game-worn Cincinnati Bengals jersey from the 1980s, which sold for $16,450. The uniform worn during Munoz’s final NFL game reached a final bid of $11,456.
There were several other notable sales at the auction. A game-worn jersey belonging to Brock Purdy from 2023 sold for an impressive price of $30,550, while a Lamar Jackson game-worn jersey from 2022 fetched $22,325. A helmet worn by Ronnie Lott in the 1980s sold for $19,975, a Dan Marino game-worn jersey from 1997 sold for $17,625, and a game-used Super Bowl XXXVIII football went for $14,100. These sales underscored the enduring legacy and value of memorabilia from football legends, attracting collectors and fans eager to own a piece of sports history.
The auction showcased the continued appeal and appreciation for iconic sports memorabilia, particularly from legendary players like Johnny Unitas. The significant prices paid for Unitas’ Super Bowl and championship rings, as well as other items from his career, demonstrate the admiration and value collectors place on these artifacts of football history.
