You’ve seen the modern NFL championship rings. They’re massive. Honestly, they look more like diamond-encrusted brass knuckles than actual jewelry. When the Kansas City Chiefs dropped their 2024 ring, it had 505 diamonds and weighed enough to give a linebacker wrist fatigue. But if you go back to the beginning, specifically to the super bowl 1 ring, things were different. They were simpler. Smaller. In many ways, they were way more meaningful because nobody even knew if the "Super Bowl" would actually stick.
Back in 1967, it wasn't even called the Super Bowl. It was the "AFL-NFL World Championship Game." Catchy, right? The Green Bay Packers took down the Kansas City Chiefs, and then came the question of how to celebrate. Coach Vince Lombardi wasn't a guy who liked flashy nonsense. He wanted something that felt like a family heirloom, not a piece of theater.
The Design That Vince Lombardi Basically Built Himself
Most people assume a team just hires a jeweler and says, "Make it shiny." Not Lombardi. He was deeply involved in the creation of the super bowl 1 ring. He worked with Ken Westerlund from Jostens, but he didn't just sign off on a sketch. Lombardi arrived at the meeting with a very specific vision.
He wanted the ring to tell a story.
The centerpiece? A single, one-carat diamond.
One diamond for one championship.
It sat on a globe-shaped top, which was a bit of a flex since they were calling themselves "World Champions" after beating a team from Kansas. The ring was made of 10-karat yellow gold. If you saw it today, you might mistake it for a high-end class ring. But that’s the charm. You could actually wear it to dinner without looking like you were carrying a chandelier on your finger.
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The Little Details You’d Miss
If you look at the side (the shank) of an original super bowl 1 ring, you’ll see the words "Harmony," "Courage," and "Valor." That was Lombardi’s credo. It wasn't just about the score. It was about the philosophy of that Packers era. There’s also the Lombardi family coat of arms tucked in there. It’s incredibly personal.
Why the Super Bowl 1 Ring is Worth a Fortune Today
You might think a ring with one diamond wouldn't be worth much compared to the modern ones that cost $40,000 to manufacture. You'd be wrong. In 2016, legendary Packers guard Jerry Kramer put his super bowl 1 ring up for auction.
The final price? $125,475.
That’s a lot of tuition money. In fact, that’s exactly why he sold it. Kramer was 80 at the time and wanted to set up a college fund for his five grandkids. He kept his Super Bowl II ring because it meant too much to him, but the first one? It served a new purpose. It’s wild to think that a piece of jewelry that cost a few hundred bucks to make in the 60s could buy a house in some parts of the country today.
The "Salesman Samples" Trap
Here is something that trips up collectors all the time. There are a lot of "authentic" rings floating around that are actually salesman samples. Back then, Jostens would make these to show off the design. They look almost identical, but they usually have a different name on the side or are made of non-precious metal. If you find one in your grandpa’s attic, check the engraving. If it doesn't have a player's name and number, it’s probably a sample. Still cool? Yes. Worth six figures? Definitely not.
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Comparing the OG Bling to Today’s Monsters
It’s actually kind of funny to put the super bowl 1 ring next to something like the Buccaneers' Super Bowl LV ring. The Bucs' ring has a top that literally flips open to reveal a hand-engraved miniature version of their stadium.
The super bowl 1 ring doesn't do tricks. It doesn't have hidden compartments.
It just exists.
- Size: The original was a size 10 to 12 for most players. Modern rings are often size 14 or 15.
- Carat Weight: 1 carat in 1967. Over 15 carats in 2024.
- Materials: Pure gold vs. platinum and "white gold" alloys.
- Wearability: You can wear the 1967 ring to the grocery store. You wear the 2024 ring to a trophy case.
There’s a growing segment of NFL fans who actually prefer the old style. On forums like Reddit, people argue that the new ones are "tacky" or "too much." There's something to be said for the "if you know, you know" vibe of the original Packers jewelry. It didn't need to scream to be noticed.
The Mystery of the Missing Rings
Not every super bowl 1 ring is accounted for. Over the decades, some have been lost in moves, stolen, or even misplaced in the most "NFL player" ways possible. Take John Schmitt from the New York Jets (Super Bowl III). He lost his ring in the ocean while surfing in Hawaii. It took 40 years for a lifeguard's family to track him down and return it.
While we don't have a specific "missing" list for the first Super Bowl, several have vanished from estate sales or private collections. Because the NFL only funded about 150 rings back then (teams now order up to 900 for everyone from the QB to the janitor), they are incredibly rare. If a player wasn't a "star," their ring might have just been sold off during lean years without any fanfare.
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How to spot a real one
If you ever find yourself looking at one of these, check the inner band. It should have a 10K stamp and the Jostens maker's mark. The weight is also a dead giveaway. Real gold has a specific "heft" that the cheap replicas you see on eBay just can't match. Those knockoffs usually weigh about as much as a stack of pennies.
What This Ring Teaches Us About the NFL
The super bowl 1 ring represents the bridge between the "tough guy" era of leather helmets and the billion-dollar spectacle we have now. When those Packers players put those rings on, they weren't thinking about TikTok or endorsement deals. They were thinking about the $15,000 winner's check—which was a massive amount of money to them—and the fact that they’d proven the "old" NFL was better than the "upstart" AFL.
The ring was a receipt. It was proof they were the best in a world that was just starting to pay attention.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans and Collectors
If you're fascinated by this piece of history, you don't need $125,000 to get close to it. Here is how to dive deeper:
- Visit the Hall of Fame: The Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, has a rotating display of championship rings. Seeing the Super Bowl 1 ring in person next to a modern one is the only way to truly appreciate the scale.
- Verify Before You Buy: If you’re looking at "memorabilia" auctions, always ask for the LOA (Letter of Authenticity) from a reputable source like PSA/DNA or Heritage Auctions.
- Check the "Ring of Fame" Exhibits: Many older stadiums or team museums (like the Packers Hall of Fame at Lambeau Field) have high-quality replicas or donated player rings on display.
- Study the "Jostens" History: Looking at the manufacturer's archives can tell you more about the specific gold alloys used in 1967, which helps in identifying authentic pieces versus 1970s-era remakes.
The first ring wasn't about the diamonds. It was about the fact that they finally had a game that mattered enough to warrant one. That 1-carat stone started an arms race that hasn't stopped for over 50 years.