The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League (NFL) in the United States. Winning the Super Bowl is the ultimate achievement in professional football. Players on the winning team get a special ring to commemorate their Super Bowl victory. These rings are customized with the team name, Super Bowl date, and score. They often contain diamonds and other precious stones and metals. As such, Super Bowl rings are very valuable. This leads to an interesting question – has anyone ever sold their Super Bowl ring?
What is a Super Bowl ring?
A Super Bowl ring is a ring presented to members of the winning team following their victory in the Super Bowl. Some key facts about Super Bowl rings:
- The first Super Bowl ring was given to the Green Bay Packers after Super Bowl I in 1967.
- The rings are typically made of white or yellow gold and contain diamonds.
- Each ring typically contains the Super Bowl logo, team name, player name, and score. The year and location of the Super Bowl are also included.
- The NFL covers the cost of up to 150 rings for the winning team, at roughly $5,000 per ring.
- The rings are the most valuable pieces of memorabilia in the NFL and are cherished by players and coaches.
Over the years, the rings have gotten bigger and more elaborate. The rings awarded to recent Super Bowl champions contain well over 200 diamonds. They truly are pieces of jewelry worthy of the incredibly hard-fought journey to hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Do players actually wear their Super Bowl rings?
Players generally do not wear their Super Bowl rings regularly. Here are some reasons why:
- They are too large and gaudy for daily wear.
- They can get damaged if worn regularly.
- Players want to keep the rings in pristine condition out of respect for what they symbolize.
- They fear the rings could get lost or stolen if worn regularly.
Most players keep their rings safely stored, only bringing them out for special occasions like team reunions, ceremonial events, or to show them off to friends and family. Some retired players mount their rings in display boxes to proudly display in their homes.
How much are Super Bowl rings worth?
The monetary value of a Super Bowl ring fluctuates based on:
- Which Super Bowl – Earlier rings are more scarce.
- Team popularity – Rings for marquee franchises like the Cowboys and Steelers fetch higher prices.
- Player status – Rings owned by legends like Joe Montana or Tom Brady have more value.
- Ring design – More elaborate, diamond-studded rings are worth more.
- Condition – Rings showing wear and tear are less valuable.
Based on auctions and private sales, these are typical valuations for Super Bowl rings:
- Modern rings (2005 onwards) – $10,000 – $50,000
- 1970s-1990s rings – $20,000 – $100,000
- 1960s-1970s rings – $50,000 – $500,000+
Iconic rings like Joe Namath’s 1969 Super Bowl ring have sold for over $250,000. As you go back to the early Super Bowls, the rings become exponentially more valuable.
Have any players sold their Super Bowl rings?
Yes, there have been a few instances of players selling their Super Bowl rings. Here are some notable examples:
Lawrence Taylor
The legendary Giants linebacker sold his Super Bowl XXV ring for over $230,000 in an auction in 2012. Taylor cited needing money as the reason he sold the ring from the Giants’ 1991 Super Bowl championship team.
Thurman Thomas
Bills running back Thurman Thomas sold his Super Bowl XXV ring in an auction for $56,765 in 2012. Like Taylor, he sold the ring to make money during difficult financial times. Thomas regretted selling the ring later, saying “I wish I still had it.”
Mark Washington
Mark Washington was part of the Denver Broncos team that lost Super Bowl XXII to the Washington Redskins. He sold his runner-up ring in 2008 for $17,143. He said he sold the ring to help with medical expenses for his daughter.
Dwight Clark
Legendary 49ers receiver Dwight Clark sold his Super Bowl XVI and XIX rings in an auction that fetched over $400,000. He sold the rings in 2018 while suffering from ALS to help provide for his family after his death.
William Perry
“The Fridge” sold his Super Bowl XX ring from the 1985 Chicago Bears team in an auction in 2011. The ring sold for over $8,000. Like other players, Perry cited financial difficulties as the reason for selling.
Dave Meade
Dave Meade won Super Bowls XVII and XVIII as a member of the Los Angeles Raiders. He sold both of his rings in 2003, with his Super Bowl XVII ring fetching the highest price at $57,000.
Gordon Gravelle
Offensive lineman Gordon Gravelle won two Super Bowls with the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowls I and II. He sold his first Super Bowl ring in 2007 for over $123,000.
Have any former Patriots sold their rings?
Despite the Patriots winning 6 Super Bowls since 2001, there are no reports of any former New England players selling their rings. Most Patriots players who won Super Bowls are still actively involved with the organization in some capacity. Their rings solidify their legendary status with the Patriots, making them unlikely to sell. The rings’ extremely high monetary value also reduces the need to sell them out of financial necessity.
One interesting story involves Tom Brady and Super Bowl LI. Brady reportedly gave his game-worn Super Bowl LI jersey to Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who then allowed cornerback Malcolm Butler to display it in his home. This was a gift to Butler for his game-sealing interception against the Falcons. However, the jersey was later stolen from Butler’s home. So while no rings have been sold, at least one piece of Patriots Super Bowl memorabilia has an intriguing backstory.
What is the “missing ring” from Super Bowl I?
There is an element of mystery surrounding the original Super Bowl ring from Super Bowl I between the Packers and Chiefs in 1967. The ring belonged to Packers backup running back Henry Jordan, who later gifted it to a nephew in a casually ceremony in the 1970s.
The ring remained in a drawer forgotten by the nephew for decades. It was only rediscovered years later, when the family realized this was the elusive missing Super Bowl I ring. Most rings from the first Super Bowl had vanished from public knowledge. Due to its incredibly rarity, Jordan’s ring fetched over $73,000 when it finally went up for auction in 2011 after being professionally authenticated.
The missing ring story illustrates how even players who won these priceless mementos did not always properly cherish them in the early Super Bowl years. Family members later rediscovered their sentimental and monetary value.
Have any other championship rings been sold?
Beyond Super Bowl rings, there are a few cases of players selling rings from other major sports championships:
NBA
Clyde Lovellette – He sold his 1954 Minneapolis Lakers championship ring for over $20,000 in 2010.
NHL
Henri Richard – The Montreal Canadiens legend sold off 10 of his 11 championship rings at an auction for over $400,000.
Dave Christian – He sold his 1980 “Miracle on Ice” Olympic gold medal ring for $262,900 in 2010.
MLB
Pat Border – The former Blue Jays catcher sold his 1992 World Series ring for $72,642 in 2012.
College Football
Ed O’Bannon – The UCLA basketball star sold his 1995 NCAA championship for $27,100 in 2009.
So while Super Bowl rings account for most of the known sales of championship rings, players in other sports have occasionally sold their hardware too, generally for monetary reasons. The stories show just how revered these rings are in sports history despite some players parting ways with them.
Have any team executives/staff sold Super Bowl rings?
There are not any confirmed reports of NFL team executives or staff selling their Super Bowl rings. However, some rings belonging to former team employees have hit the auction block over the years:
- A Green Bay Packers staffer’s Super Bowl I ring sold for over $50,000 in 2008.
- A former assistant equipment manager for the Raiders sold his Super Bowl XI ring for $6,590 in 2005.
- A former PR staffer for the Cowboys sold his Super Bowl XII ring for $32,963 in 2016.
These were likely people who did not stay long term with the organizations and therefore did not have the same emotional connection to the rings as players and coaches. Teams themselves very rarely sell or trade their own rings. Although not the Super Bowl, the New England Patriots did once trade a 2002 conference championship ring for a first-round pick. But instances like this are incredibly rare.
How often do Super Bowl rings change hands?
It’s difficult to track exactly how many Super Bowl rings get sold each year. But based on scouring auction results and sports memorabilia reports, it seems about 10-20 Super Bowl rings on average hit the open market every year. Not all of course fetch huge prices – rings for losing teams or players with minimal roles have sold for under $5,000.
The important rings with historical significance or belonging to legends can demand premium prices of six figures or higher. In 2021, 16 Super Bowl rings were sold at various auctions according to one report. This included Lawrence Taylor’s previously mentioned ring along with 8 other rings from the 1980s and 90s.
So while still relatively rare, Super Bowl rings do become available for purchase annually. Their valuations clearly depend on the history and significance behind each specific ring.
Do winners ever get replacement rings if originals are lost or damaged?
In some very rare cases, players have received replacement Super Bowl rings if something happened to their original ring:
- After Bruce Matthews lost his Titans Super Bowl XXXIV ring, the team made him a new one years later.
- The Broncos gave RB Otis Armstrong a new Super Bowl XII ring after he lost his original in a house fire.
- Patriots WR David Patten got a new ring from Super Bowl XXXVI after his original was stolen.
It is up to the discretion of each team whether they want to replace a long lost ring. The Steelers reportedly do not provide replacements for any reason. Teams likely only do it selectively for high profile players. But for the most part, lost rings are gone forever, making proper care and storage important.
Conclusion
In summary, while still relatively uncommon, there have been some instances of players selling their Super Bowl rings, mainly for financial reasons. The rings from early Super Bowls and those belonging to legends tend to fetch the highest prices at auction. Team executives rarely, if ever, sell their rings, viewing them as priceless mementos. And stories like the missing Super Bowl I ring illustrate how even original winners did not always appreciate the rings’ lasting value. But over time, Super Bowl rings have certainly gained stature as some of the most coveted championship memorabilia in all of sports.