The 17th annual Super Bowl Live Auction is set to take place, offering sports memorabilia enthusiasts and collectors an opportunity to acquire rare and valuable items. This highly anticipated event, a collaboration between Hunt Auctions and the NFL, will feature an extensive collection of items from legendary pro football player Johnny Unitas and other NFL legends.
The auction will showcase over 1,000 football-related items, with a live auction event scheduled for Saturday, February 10th, just days before Super Bowl LVIII. The highlight of this year’s auction is the inclusion of a significant number of items directly from the family of Johnny Unitas, the late Hall of Fame quarterback who left an indelible mark on the sport.
Johnny Unitas, also known as “The Golden Arm,” rose to fame as a collegiate star at the University of Louisville. Despite facing initial challenges, including not making the Pittsburgh Steelers’ team after being drafted in the ninth round, Unitas found success with the Baltimore Colts in 1956 and went on to establish himself as one of the greatest players of the 1950s and 1960s.
One standout item from Unitas’ collection is his personal copy of his 1957 Topps Johnny Unitas rookie card. This card represents the beginning of Unitas’ career and holds historical significance due to his instrumental role in leading the Colts to victory in the 1958 NFL Championship, famously known as “The Greatest Game Ever Played.” This game, which was broadcast nationally and ended in overtime, played a pivotal role in boosting the NFL’s popularity in the following decades.
One of the prime items up for auction is Unitas’ 14k gold 1958 championship ring. This highly coveted ring is expected to fetch between $100,000 and $200,000. Unitas’ illustrious career with the Colts included three NFL Championships, a Super Bowl championship, three NFL MVP awards, and a remarkable streak of 47 consecutive games with a passing touchdown. His Super Bowl V championship ring is another notable item that will be part of the auction.
The items from Johnny Unitas’ career, being offered publicly for the first time, come with letters of provenance from the Unitas family. A portion of the proceeds from the auction will benefit NFL Auction Charities. It’s important to note that not all items from Unitas’ career are being sold, as some have been previously donated for public display.
The Johnny Unitas Collection includes a variety of noteworthy items. These include professional model high-top cleats from the 1970s, his 1979 Football Hall of Fame Induction ring, an autographed Baltimore Colts professional model helmet, his 1967 NFL Most Valuable Player award (the Jim Thorpe Memorial Trophy), the 1964 Pro Bowl Most Valuable Player Award, and a Rolex wristwatch.
In addition to Johnny Unitas’ collection, the auction will also feature items from the personal collection of Anthony Muñoz, a Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee. Muñoz, regarded as one of the finest offensive linemen in NFL history, has contributed items such as his final game uniform, a Cincinnati Bengals professional model jersey from the 1980s, and more.
The auction further includes items from other notable football figures and events, such as a Tom Brady autographed and inscribed New England Patriots game-worn jersey from the 2014 season opener against the Miami Dolphins. This jersey, photo-matched by MeiGray, is considered one of the finest Tom Brady game-worn jerseys in the market and is estimated to fetch between $250,000 and $500,000.
Other notable items in the auction include a 2022 Lamar Jackson game-worn Baltimore Ravens jersey, Lamar Jackson’s autographed 2018 rookie year game-worn cleats, and more. NFL Auction has also provided items with proceeds benefiting the league’s nonprofit partners, including a Trevor Lawrence game-worn Jacksonville Jaguars jersey and pieces from other notable players.
Those interested in previewing the live auction items can visit the Super Bowl Experience at the Phoenix Convention Center from February 7th to 10th, with tickets required for entrance. Hunt Auctions experts will also be available during these hours to offer complimentary appraisals for sports memorabilia. The auction not only offers a unique glimpse into football history but also supports various charitable causes, making it a highly anticipated event in the sports community.
