There will be highlights, speeches and news conferences this weekend as the NFL puts the career of Peyton Manning into perspective. Two items now up for auction can put a dandy bow on it, too.
While luminaries and the new inductees gather in Canton, OH for the Pro Football Hall of Fame inductions, Heritage Auctions is offering the pair of Manning game jerseys—one from both of the franchises he led to Super Bowl victories.
A blue Indianapolis Colts #18 jersey dating to his first regular season game in 1998 and a white Denver Broncos model from his last season in 2015, are up for both grabs.
debut jersey is expected to sell for $150,000 or more.
One of the league’s all-time greatest quarterbacks and a two-time Super Bowl champion, Manning enters the Hall of Fame with a slew of records, but the jury was still out when he was wearing that first jersey 23 years ago. Who would be the better quarterback when their careers were over? Top pick Manning or number two choice Ryan Leaf? It seems absurd now, of course, and it didn’t take long for the question to be answered. Manning’s accuracy, skill, intelligence and professionalism were among the best ever and the Colts would eventually build a perennial contender around him.
The first jersey was worn on September 6, 1998 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, where Manning’s career opened with a frustrating 24-15 loss to the Miami Dolphins. With four seconds left in the game, he threw the first of his 539 career touchdown passes to make the score respectable. He threw for 302 yards that day but only the last drive of the day resulted in a touchdown. The opposing quarterback that day was fellow future Hall of Famer Dan Marino, who was moving toward the end of his own legendary career.
A scuff on the facemask and jersey markings led to a photo-match but the jersey also comes with a copy of the original letter of provenance from Manning himself, signed in November of that year.
Manning eventually won a Super Bowl with the Colts before the club opted to go in another direction. Undaunted, Manning joined the Denver Broncos and led them to a Super Bowl win on his last day as a player following the 2015 season.
The road white jersey includes the captain’s patch on the front. The back of the jersey is signed and inscribed, “Peyton Manning, Game Used 9/17/15 @ KC Chiefs, 26/45 256 Yards, 3 TD’s, Last 3 TD Game” in silver paint pen with a Fanatics holographic sticker affirming the provenance in concert with his contract with the memorabilia giant.
That one will almost certainly bring a five-figure price when bidding in the Summer Platinum Night Auction closes August 22.
