The first touchdown pass ball from one of Tom Brady’s ten Super Bowl appearances ever to reach the auction block is now up for grabs.
A late add to Heritage Auctions’ Winter Platinum Night event, the ball dates to Super Bowl LII, when the Philadelphia Eagles upended Brady and the New England Patriots, 41-33 in Minneapolis.
Auction officials believe it could sell for $100,000 or more.
Obtained directly by the consignor from the target of the reception, tight end Rob Gronkowski, the ball is wrapped with tape. On the top layer of adhesive, Gronkowski signed the ball and there’s a handwritten inscription: “SB52, #87, TD REC, 22-19.” The latter note refers to the five-yard touchdown pass caught by Gronkowski early in the second half that cut Philadelphia’s lead to 22-19. Beneath the layer of white tape is a foam backing Heritage indicates was used to keep the leather from being damaged.
During his career, Brady threw 21 Super Bowl touchdown passes, far more than any other quarterback. He won seven of the 10 championship games he started. The ball offered by Heritage was the 15th Super Bowl touchdown. It was part of a 505-yard passing day for Brady, which remains the single game record.
The ball also carries another historical element in that Gronkowski tied the record for most touchdowns by a tight end in Super Bowl games. He broke the record later in the game and currently has five in his career.
Prior to the Super Bowl, about 100 Wilson footballs are prepared for game use with a type of ink invisible to the human eye and that was the case with the balls used in the February 1999 game.
The ball includes a letter of provenance from the consignor and PSA authentication for the autograph.
Bidding opened at $25,000 and will run through February 27.
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