The 17th annual Super Bowl Live Auction is set to be a must-see event for sports memorabilia enthusiasts and collectors. Organized by Hunt Auctions and the NFL, this year’s auction features an extensive collection of items from the legendary pro football player Johnny Unitas, who is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.
The auction will showcase over 1,000 football-related items, with hundreds of them directly consigned by the family of Johnny Unitas. Unitas rose to fame as a collegiate star at the University of Louisville and went on to have an illustrious career with the Baltimore Colts. Among the standout items from Unitas’ collection is his personal copy of his 1957 Topps Johnny Unitas rookie card, which holds significant historical value. Known as “The Golden Arm,” Unitas led the Colts to the NFL Championship in 1958, a game that is famously remembered as “The Greatest Game Ever Played.”
A prime item in the auction is Unitas’ 14k gold 1958 championship ring, which is expected to fetch a price between $100,000 and $200,000. Unitas’ career included three NFL Championships, a Super Bowl championship, three NFL MVP awards, and numerous NFL passing records. His Super Bowl V championship ring is another highlight of the auction. These items, offered publicly for the first time, come with letters of provenance from the Unitas family, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit NFL Auction Charities.
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 Johnny Unitas’ collection, the auction will also feature items from the personal collection of Anthony Muñoz, a Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee and Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman. Muñoz, considered one of the finest offensive linemen in NFL history, had a profound impact on the Bengals. His collection includes his final game uniform from December 27, 1992, and a Cincinnati Bengals professional model jersey from the 1980s.
The auction also includes items from other notable football figures and events. One of the highlights is a 2014 Tom Brady autographed and inscribed New England Patriots game-worn jersey from the season opener, which is considered one of the finest Tom Brady game-worn jerseys to have entered the market. Other notable items include a game-worn Baltimore Ravens jersey from Lamar Jackson’s 2022 season, as well as autographed rookie year game-worn cleats from Lamar Jackson’s 2018 season.
The live auction items will be available for preview at the Super Bowl Experience at the Phoenix Convention Center from February 7-10. Hunt Auctions experts will offer complimentary appraisals for sports memorabilia during these hours. This auction not only offers a unique glimpse into football history but also supports various charitable causes, making it a notable event in the sports community.
