The 17th annual Super Bowl Live Auction, a highly anticipated event in the world of sports memorabilia, is expected to be a highlight for enthusiasts and collectors. This year’s auction, a collaboration between Hunt Auctions and the NFL, will feature an extensive collection of items from legendary pro football player Johnny Unitas.
Over 1,000 football-related items will be showcased, culminating in a live auction event on Saturday, February 10th, just before Super Bowl LVIII. Notably, hundreds of items have been consigned directly by the family of Johnny Unitas, the celebrated late Hall of Fame quarterback.
Johnny Unitas, a remarkable figure in football history, made a name for himself as a collegiate star at the University of Louisville. Despite being a ninth-round draft pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers, his career took a turn when he didn’t make the team, leading to his signing with the Baltimore Colts in 1956. He went on to establish himself as one of the preeminent players of the 1950s and 1960s.
One of the standout items from Unitas’ collection is his personal copy of his 1957 Topps Johnny Unitas rookie card. Known as “The Golden Arm,” Unitas played a crucial role in leading the Colts to victory in the 1958 NFL Championship, a game famously dubbed “The Greatest Game Ever Played.” This historic win, broadcast nationally and won in overtime, significantly boosted the NFL’s popularity in the 1960s.
An exceptional item up for auction is Unitas’ 14k gold 1958 championship ring, 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 numerous passing records, including a remarkable streak of 47 consecutive games with a passing touchdown. The auction also features his Super Bowl V championship ring.
All items from Unitas’ career, being offered to the public for the first time, come with letters of provenance from the Unitas family. A portion of the proceeds will benefit NFL Auction Charities. It’s worth noting that not all items from his career are being sold, as some have been previously donated for public display.
Highlights from the Johnny Unitas Collection include professional model high-top cleats from the 1970s, his 1979 Football Hall of Fame Induction ring, an autographed Baltimore Colts professional model helmet from the late 1960s-early 1970s, 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 Unitas’ collection, the auction will also feature items from the personal collection of Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Anthony Muñoz. Muñoz, selected third overall in the 1980 NFL Draft from USC, had a profound impact on the Bengals and is regarded as one of the finest offensive linemen in NFL history. His collection includes memorabilia such as his final game uniform and a Cincinnati Bengals professional model jersey from the 1980s.
Other notable items in the auction include a 2014 Tom Brady autographed and inscribed New England Patriots game-worn jersey, a 2022 Lamar Jackson game-worn Baltimore Ravens jersey, Lamar Jackson’s autographed 2018 rookie year game-worn cleats, and more. Additionally, items from notable players like Trevor Lawrence will also be available, with proceeds benefitting the league’s nonprofit partners.
The live auction items will be available for preview at the Super Bowl Experience at the Phoenix Convention Center from February 7-10, with tickets required for entrance. Hunt Auctions experts will offer complimentary appraisals for sports memorabilia during these hours. This auction not only provides a unique glimpse into football history but also supports various charitable causes, making it a highly notable event in the sports community.
