A one owner collection of jerseys from all-time Pittsburgh Steelers greats kicks off the Super Bowl Live Auction, which is underway for the 17th straight year.
Once again, Hunt Auctions and NFL Auction are collaborating for the event that wraps up a day ahead of Super Bowl LVIII in New Orleans.
This year’s event has over 750 football related items.
There will be no shortage of game-worn items, including a remarkable assemblage of Steelers memorabilia from longtime collector Timothy Kelley. Since watching Joe Greene toss a bottle of Coke to a young boy in a television commercial during the Super Bowl,Kelley was inspired to collect Steelers memorabilia. He went to his first game in 1974 and since then, has accumulated one of the most significant collections of its type over the last 40 years.
Hunt says the collection “may well be the most important offering with relation to a single NFL team, with many of the pieces being presented to the public for the first time.”
Many of the items within the collection were sourced directly from the Steelers or have been photo matched by MeiGray.
Two of the top items from the Kelley Collection are a 1982 Franco Harris game worn jersey and a 1981-82 Terry Bradshaw game used helmet. Each shows significant game wear and carries a $50,000-$100,000 pre-sale estimates.
Other Highlights from the Timothy Kelley Collection:
-1982 Jack Lambert Pittsburgh Steelers game worn jersey (MeiGray photomatch) (Est. $40,000-$60,000)
-1982 Jack Ham Pittsburgh Steelers game worn jersey (photomatch/Steelers LOA) (Est. $20,000-$30,000)
-1978 Rocky Bleier Pittsburgh Steelers game worn jersey (photomatch/Steelers LOA) (Est. $25,000-$50,000)
-1978 Lynn Swann Pittsburgh Steelers game worn jersey (photomatch/Steelers LOA) (Est. $30,000-$40,000)
Numerous additional football items dating from the 1900s to present will be offered within the live auction to include several notable private collections from long time hobbyists Gene Hass and Jeff White in addition to former Oakland Raiders Equipment manager Richard ‘Romo’ Romanski.
Two New England Patriots items are of particular note led by a 2012 Tom Brady game worn New England Patriots jersey, ne of only a very elite group of Brady game jerseys which originated directly from the NFL Auction program.
The jersey carries a pre-sale estimate of $250,000-$450,000.
Another gamer dates to the early 1960s and the career of Pro Football Hall of Famer Deacon Jones. According to the auction company, “the jersey originated from the personal collection of former New York Yankees scout Raymond Colonna who organized charity events for the Knights of Columbus in Albion, NY. Colona corresponded with Jones who in turn sent him the offered jersey to be used to benefit the charity event.”
A 2016 Super Bowl ring from the greatest comeback in the game’s history and presented to Patriots’ tight end Martellus Bennett carries a $50,000-$100,000 estimate. Bennett’s AFC Championship ring is also being offered.
Additional Highlight Items:
-2010 Rob Gronkowski New England Patriots rookie game worn jersey (Est. $50,000-$100,000)
-2020 Justin Herbert LA Chargers game worn rookie jersey (2nd NFL Game) (Est. $25,000-$50,000)
-Brandon Graham Super Bowl LVII Philadelphia Eagles game worn jersey (Est. $10,000-$20,000)
-12/11/2005 Brian Urlacher “The Bus Game” Chicago Bears game worn jersey (MeiGray) (Est. $20,000-$40,000)
– November 17, 1956 Jim Brown Syracuse six touchdown game attributed football (Est. $25,000-$50,000)
-Several Pro Football Hall of Fame player worn gold jackets
Bidding is now underway at HuntAuctions.com. The auction will conclude with a live finale from New Orleans on Saturday, Feb. 8.
