More than a decade after selling for the first time, a Tom Brady game-worn jersey from the 2012 season is leading the Super Bowl LIX Auction at Hunt with a current bid of $173,800.
The consignor is set up for a hefty return after buying the jersey for $30,505 through the official NFL Auction site in 2013. The jersey now has a high estimate of $450,000.
One of the few Brady gamers ever sold through NFL Auctions, it was originally attributed to a single game on Dec. 16, 2012, which saw Brady’s New England Patriots fall to the San Francisco 49ers, who came back from a 28-point deficit to secure a playoff berth.
Brady threw for 443 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions in the loss.
In the years since, thanks to the advent and proven value of a photo-match, the owner was able to match the jersey to images from a game on Dec. 10 as well. In that contest, Brady tossed four touchdowns with nearly 300 yards passing in a dominant 42-14 victory over the Houston Texans.
The added value provided by the newly-attributed game in addition to the massive growth of the game-worn memorabilia market over the last decade, particularly with respect to Brady material, has set up for a perfect storm of sorts.
In December 2024, a 2011 game-used Brady jersey, photo-matched to a forgettable loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers in which Brady failed to pass for 200 yards, sold for $246,000.
The same auction saw Brady’s final college game jersey sell for $792,000, a record for any college jersey, his 2002 NFL Pro Bowl jersey sell for $300,000 and even a signed “Official Podium” Super Bowl XLIX hat sell for $42,000 — more than $10,000 richer than the price the consignor paid for the Brady jersey back in 2013.
The consignor’s good foresight (or fortune) to pick up one of the few Brady jerseys to ever sell from NFL Auctions has set them up for a major payday.
Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct.