The football used in the opening kickoff of Super Bowl LV is now on the auction block.
The NFL is selling the ball as well as coin tossed before the start of last Sunday’s game as part of its ongoing efforts to raise money for charity. Other items from the game are expected to follow.
Bidding for the ball was just over $5,000 and the coin had been bid up to $2,100 as of Tuesday but the auction won’t end until February 21.
Both items along with the remaining footballs scheduled for use in the game were authenticated by PSA prior to kickoff through the use of special ink not visible to the naked eye.
As it has since the turn of the new millennium, the NFL entrusted its on-field, anti-counterfeit measures to PSA. A company representative marked each of the 120 footballs (12 kicking balls and 54 balls each from both teams) and the coin toss coin with the company’s proprietary synthetic DNA, visible only when illuminated by a specific laser frequency. The nearly unnoticeable marks serve as a counterfeit deterrent and are virtually impossible to replicate as each marking has a 1-in-33 trillion chance of being reproduced.
“It’s always our distinct pleasure to team with the NFL to ensure the authenticity of each of these game-used items,” said PSA President Steve Sloan. “Our proprietary technology allows us to stay far ahead of the counterfeiters.”
The auction also includes a ball signed and inscribed by Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady, who won his seventh Super Bowl ring in Tampa Bay’s 31-9 win over Kansas City at Raymond James Stadium.
Proceeds from the memorabilia that goes to auction will benefit various team charities and non-profits through the NFL Foundation. The remaining items were split between the Chiefs and Buccaneers organizations.
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