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Few possessions are more prized in the NFL than a Super Bowl ring. Some players fought their entire careers to get one yet never managed it.
While the sentimental value of these rings is often incalculable, their fiscal value is very real. This can often be capitalized on by players who are down on their luck or simply want to raise funds.
A number of former NFL players have auctioned their Super Bowl rings in the past. Lawrence Taylor’s 1991 ring broke the record for the most valuable Super Bowl ring ever sold.
But Taylor is not the only player who sold his championship jewelry. Here are five players who sold their Super Bowl rings.
#1 William Perry
William "The Refrigerator" Perry is one of the most popular figures in NFL history, not only because of his imposing size, but also because of how he approached the game.
For a generation of British NFL fans who were just being introduced to the sport on free-to-air television, William Perry of the Chicago Bears was one of the most recognizable stars in the league.
He was part of the '85 Bears team that dominated the NFL and won the Super Bowl. So vast was Perry’s hand measurements that his Super Bowl ring remains the largest of any professional football player. He has a size 25 ring, which is way larger than the 10-12 average for an adult male.
Perry’s 1985 Super Bowl ring was auctioned for $203,150 in 2015. Perry, however, wasn’t actually in charge of the process. He had sold his ring to a private collection in order to raise funds.
#2 Gary Brackett
Indianapolis Colts linebacker Gary Brackett was Peyton Manning's former teammate. He was a member of the team that won the Super Bowl in 2006.
As an undrafted free agent, Brackett worked his way up to become a key figure in Tony Dungy’s defense. He represented the Colts for nine seasons until his retirement in 2011.
However, retirement brought about difficulties for the former linebacker as his financial security collapsed. This was due, in part, to the COVID-19 pandemic.
By 2021, he was in debt to the tune of just under $4 million. He was forced to file for bankruptcy. Selling most of his possessions was the next step. This included his 2006 Super Bowl ring.
After seeing 11 businesses crumble in the wake of the pandemic, Brackett’s ring only returned $60,000 at auction. Colts owner Jim Irsay was rumored to have been involved in the bidding.
#3 Jim Langer
Jim Langer was an effective center known for his blocking ability. He was part of the Miami Dolphins team that won every single game en route to the title in 1972. It was the last perfect season in NFL history.
He auctioned off his Super Bowl ring back in 2015. While not the ornate piece that players who have won championships in the modern era receive, Langer’s ring was a piece of sporting history and sold for around $37,000.
Langer's name was even engraved into the design of the ring, such was the level of detail the designers went to at the time.
#4 Jerry Kramer
Jerry Kramer is a Green Bay Packers legend. He spent the entirety of his professional career with the Wisconsin franchise.
Kramer was part of the Packers team that won two Super Bowls and five NFL championships prior to the merging of the two leagues. His 1967 Super Bowl ring was long sought-after because it came from the first Super Bowl ever played.
Kramer turned 80 in 2016 and wanted to raise funds to help send his grandchildren to college. He looked at selling off memorabilia and some of his personal possessions.
The 1967 Super Bowl ring was included and sold for a fee of $125,000.
#5 Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Taylor may well be the greatest player to have ever played in the NFL. Bill Belichick certainly thinks so, and the pair worked closely together during their time with the New York Giants.
Taylor was a star pass rusher who could find his way to the quarterback with ease. He was the de-facto leader of the Giants team which won the Super Bowl in 1991.
Taylor is thought to have earned $50 million from his time in the NFL. However, a string of difficult situations, including legal battles, have seen that fortune decrease significantly.
It’s unclear just why Taylor put his 1991 Super Bowl ring up for auction, or whether he needed the money from it. However, it did prove to be a record-breaking seller. The ring being sold for $230,401 is testament to Taylor's popularity.
