Tom Brady
Johnny Unitas Collection highlights Super Bowl Live Auction
NFL history is filled with underrated, overlooked quarterbacks who went on to become NFL stars despite being low-round draft picks — from seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady to rising star Brock Purdy.
But, looking back, it is still hard to believe that NFL legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas was a ninth-round draft pick who was cut by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Fortunately, Unitas was signed in 1956 by the Baltimore Colts, who helped him become one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.
Unitas helped the Colts win the historic 1958 NFL Championship in an overtime contest often referred to as “The Greatest Game Ever Played.” A three-time NFL MVP, Unitas led the Colts to three NFL championships and the 1971 Super Bowl victory. Known as “The Golden Arm,” he retired with a slew of NFL passing records, including 47 consecutive games with a touchdown pass, and was named the best player in NFL history during the league’s 50th Anniversary celebration.
Unitas’ personal memorabilia collection is up for bid in the 17th Annual Super Bowl Live Auction by Hunt Auctions and the National Football League. The live auction on Feb. 10 will feature more than 1,000 football-related items, including game-used, game-worn, and autographed memorabilia from some of the NFL’s biggest stars and legends. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to various NFL charities through the NFL Auction and the NFL Foundation.
Hundreds of items from the Unitas collection will be up for bid, including his championship rings and MVP trophies.
“Johnny enjoyed such an amazing life and career within the game that he loved so dearly ever since his youth,” a statement from the Unitas family reads. “He cherished the time with his Baltimore Colts teammates during the amazing run in the 1950-70s era in which they won several NFL Championships. Johnny was always deeply appreciative of his loyal Baltimore fans who supported him throughout the entirety of his career and post-career life.
“Many items from Johnny’s career will stay within the Unitas family while others have been donated for public observation many years ago. We are proud to offer this selection of items celebrating Johnny’s life and humbly pleased that a portion of the proceeds will benefit NFL Auction charities.”
“The impressive roster of player collections which have appeared in previous Super Bowl Live auction events will be greatly enhanced with the presentation of the Johnny Unitas Collection,” said David Hunt, president of Hunt Auctions. “The Golden Arm is without question one of the key figures in the formative years of the NFL to which we are honored to showcase a selection of related materials.”
Highlights from the Johnny Unitas Collection include:
• 1970 Baltimore Colts Super Bowl V Championship ring (Estimated value: $100,000-$200,000).
• 1958 Baltimore Colts 14K gold Championship ring (Est. $75,000-$150,000).
• Professional model high-top cleats, c. 1970s (Est. $15,000-$30,000).
• 1979 Football Hall of Fame Induction ring (Est. $25,000-$50,000).
• Autographed Baltimore Colts professional model helmet, c. late 1960s-early 1970s (Est. $25,000-$50,000).
• 1967 NFL Most Valuable Player award: Jim Thorpe Memorial Trophy (Est. $25,000-$50,000).
• 1964 Pro Bowl Most Valuable Player Award (Est. $1,500-$3,000).
• Personal Rolex wristwatch (Est. $5,000-$10,000).
The auction also features the Anthony Muñoz Collection from the former Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee. The third overall pick in the 1980 NFL Draft, Muñoz was an 11-time Pro Bowl selection and regarded as one of the greatest offensive linemen in the history of the game.
“The memories I have from my time within the NFL as a member of the Cincinnati Bengals are something I will never forget,” Muñoz said. “Bengals fans and the city of Cincinnati have been there for me both during my career and after, to which I will always be grateful.”
Highlights from the Anthony Muñoz Collection include:
• Dec. 27, 1992, final game Cincinnati Bengals professional model uniform (Est. $5,000-$10,000).
• Bengals professional model jersey, c. 1980s (Est. $5,000-$10,000).
• Howie Long Oakland Raiders professional model helmet, c. 1980s (Est. $5,000-$10,000).
• Muñoz autographed, “game used” inscribed Pro-Bowl jersey, c. 1980s (Est. $2,000-$4,000).
• Ronnie Lott San Francisco 49ers professional model helmet, c.1990s (Est. $5,000-$10,000).
The auction also includes memorabilia from other private collections.
Among the highlights is a 2014 Tom Brady autographed and inscribed New England Patriots game-worn jersey with an estimated value of $250,000-$500,000. The jersey was worn by Brady in the Patriots’ 2014 season opener against the Miami Dolphins. Brady went on to lead New England to its fourth Super Bowl victory of his Hall of Fame career.
Other highlights include:
• 2022 Lamar Jackson game-worn and photo-matched Baltimore Ravens jersey (Est. $20,000-$30,000).
• Lamar Jackson autographed 2018 first NFL start rookie-year, game-worn cleats (Est. $7,500-$15,000).
• Oct 1, 2023, Brock Purdy San Francisco 49ers game-used jersey (Est. $20,000-$30,000)
• 1997 Dan Marino Miami Dolphins professional model jersey (Est. $10,000-$20,000).
• Nov. 16, 2003, Brian Urlacher autographed, game-used Chicago Bears home jersey (Est. $5,000-$10,000).
The auction also features game-worn jerseys from such NFL stars as Trevor Lawrence, Joey Bosa, Kirk Cousins, Kenneth Walker III, and Fred Warner.
Live auction items will be available for preview at the Super Bowl Experience at the Phoenix Convention Center from Feb. 7-10. Tickets can be purchased at https://www.nfl.com/super-bowl/event-info/super-bowl-experience/pcc
