Tom Brady Michigan debut ticket up for bid at Heritage Auction

Tom Brady and his beloved Michigan Wolverines are both headed for big postseason games again this season, conjuring up memories of Brady’s college career in Ann Arbor.

The seven-time Super Bowl champion has the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-3) in position for another deep postseason run as they look to defend their NFL championship, while No. 2 Michigan (12-1) is headed to the College Football Playoffs to face Georgia in the Orange Bowl.

Twenty-five years ago, Brady made his college debut for Michigan in a 38-9 victory over UCLA on Sept. 28, 1996. With the game well in hand, Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr sent the freshman QB into the game for mop-up duty, launching one of the greatest careers in football history.

Brady played in just two games as a freshman, completing 3 of 5 passes for 26 yards. He started for the Wolverines as a junior and senior and finished his Michigan career with 4,773 yard passing and 30 touchdowns.

Brady’s college debut is commemorated with a ticket from the 1996 Michigan-UCLA game that is up for bid in Heritage Auction’s December Showcase Auction.

The ticket, one of only 12 in the PSA population report, has a current bid of $2,900 and is expected to top $8,000. It is graded PSA VG-EX 4 with the only blemish a hand-written number on the back.

Heritage’s December auction also features a 2003 ticket from LeBron James’ NBA debut and many modern sports cards, including a 2000 Bowman Tom Brady rookie card (PSA 10).