When it comes to sports memorabilia, nothing tips the scale quite like the Super Bowl ring; a piece so coveted and diamond-drenched that it blurs the line between trophy and treasure. The championship may dominate headlines for its game-changing plays and headline-making halftime performances, but for the winning team, it’s the ring that endures.
More than a flashy souvenir, the Super Bowl ring is wearable proof of greatness. For players, it’s the final punctuation mark on a season of grit, triumph and teamwork. For collectors, it’s a tangible slice of sports history, tied to the hands that caught, threw, or coached the win. And for designers? It’s become the ultimate canvas, where championship stories are told in pavé diamonds and precise, symbolic detail.
From the humble gold bands of the 1960s to today’s multi-carat, symbol-packed masterpieces, these rings have evolved into storytelling powerhouses, dripping with symbolism, personal touches and diamonds that do far more than sparkle.
We’re diving into how the Super Bowl ring became the sport’s most dazzling status symbol, who gets one, how much they’re worth and why natural diamonds remain central to their meaning.
What is a Super Bowl ring?
The Super Bowl has served as the final game of every NFL season since 1966 with the Green Bay Packers taking victory in the first ever championship final (held on January 15, 1967) led by their coach Vince Lombardi.
But the Packers’ coach didn’t just win the first Super Bowl; he made sure his team had something lasting to show for it.
After beating the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl I, Lombardi worked with memorabilia company Jostens to design a ring that symbolized the gravity of the victory1.
Not only is it a tradition that endures today, but NFL players strive to wear the majestic ornament as a symbol of their sporting achievement. Super Bowl rings are handed out to the winning team in June, just as players report for offseason training. It’s a rare pause before the next season begins and a final chance to hold the previous season’s win in your hand2.
What a Super Bowl Ring symbolizes
A Super Bowl ring is more than just a symbol of victory.
Each ring is designed to mirror a team’s journey: from comeback wins to dominant seasons, underdog stories to dynastic runs. Details such as player names, team colors, final scores and even game-defining moments are built into the design3.
For players, it’s often the most meaningful item they’ll ever earn, more personal than a trophy, and more wearable than a medal.
The basic elements of Super Bowl ring design
While each Super Bowl ring is unique, most share a core set of design features, all chosen to tell the story of the season.
Team logo and colors
This is often front and center, showcasing the winning team’s identity with gemstones in team colors for instant recognition.
Lombardi Trophy imagery
The trophy, or a stylized football, often appears prominently, signaling the ultimate victory.
Diamonds and gemstones
Diamond counts often carry symbolic meaning, typically marking scores or comebacks.
Player details
Each ring is personalized with the player’s name, number and sometimes position or MVP status4.
Season and game markers
Expect Roman numerals, final scores and other nods to the exact Super Bowl and season it commemorates.
Hidden interior engravings
Inside the band, you’ll often find private details, team mottos, dates or one-word mantras from the locker room, etched for the wearer alone5.
The history of Super Bowl rings
The Super Bowl ring wasn’t always the dazzling, diamond-studded statement it is today. Its origin traces back to a modest but meaningful gesture that would spark one of the NFL’s most enduring traditions.
The first Super Bowl ring in 1966
After the Green Bay Packers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10 in what was then called the AFL-NFL Championship Game, Vince Lombardi approached memorabilia jewelers Jostens with a simple but symbolic idea.
The result: a gold ring featuring a single diamond set inside a globe outline6. From that point on, the rings would only grow in size, in sparkle and in storytelling ambition.
How Super Bowl ring designs changed through the decades
1970s to 80s: From subtle to statement
Super Bowl rings of the 1970s were modest, simple gold bands, often with a single diamond, like the Miami Dolphins’ 1972 ring marking their perfect season. But as the NFL’s profile grew, so did the ambition behind the design. The Steelers’ 1978 ring introduced a cluster of diamonds with star-shaped detailing, signaling a shift toward bolder styles7.
By 1987, Washington’s Super Bowl XXII ring took it to new levels: 1.4 carats of diamonds formed a football flanked by Lombardi Trophies, framed in red rubies, with engraved slogans, game scores and player names, turning each ring into a miniature monument8.
1990s: Bigger, bolder, louder
By the 1990s, Super Bowl rings were evolving fast. The Cowboys’ 1995 ring featured 81 diamonds totaling five carats, marking a peak in both weight and symbolism and celebrating their three titles in just four seasons (1992, 1993, 1995).
Designs across the league followed suit. The Packers’ 1996 ring was the first to top 100 diamonds, setting a new benchmark for brilliance. Where the ’80s favored tradition, the ’90s embraced spectacle9.
2000s to 2020s: Design gets personal
In the 2000s and beyond, Super Bowl rings became more personalized and elaborate than ever. The Rams’ Super Bowl LVI ring, for example, holds the record for the highest diamond carat weight in championship ring history, featuring approximately 20 carats of white diamonds on white and yellow gold10. The Patriots’ Super Bowl LIII ring is another standout, featuring 1,274 diamonds11 alongside 20 blue sapphires, a design that packs symbolism and scale into every detail12.
Platinum began replacing gold and designs became more complex, with hidden symbols, pop-out logos and even hinged tops. Custom inscriptions, symbolic diamond counts and team colors turned each ring into a detailed record of the season, a reflection of the Super Bowl ring’s rich diamond history, where meaning and narrative are just as important as sparkle13.
The evolution of Super Bowl rings
Super Bowl rings have become showcases of innovation and precision. What began as modest gold bands has transformed into platinum-set sculptures featuring hundreds of diamonds, pop-out logos, removable tops and laser-cut engravings14.
Advances in diamond cut quality have let even the most compact details shine. With every facet precisely shaped to reflect maximum light, these fine cuts enhance the ring’s overall impact, turning miniature elements into standout features. A perfect example: marquise-cut diamonds, often used to represent Lombardi Trophies, like in the Patriots’ Super Bowl LI ring, where five sleek marquise gems symbolized New England’s five championships with elegance and precision15.
Why diamond counts differ
The number of diamonds in Super Bowl rings are often deeply symbolic. From honoring points scored to marking championship totals or Super Bowl numbers, each gem can represent a key part of the season.
In the Eagles’ Super Bowl LII ring, 127 diamonds are placed on the bezel, a nod to the jersey numbers of the three players who pulled off the legendary “Philly Special” play: Corey Clement (30), Trey Burton (88), and Nick Foles (9)16.
NFL Super Bowl rings explained
Each year, it’s the winning team, not the league, that designs and commissions the Super Bowl ring. The NFL contributes a standard allowance of $5,000 to $7,000 per ring for up to 150 rings, but that figure represents only a starting point. Today’s rings can cost upward of $50,000 each17, reflecting the intricate design, meticulous craftsmanship and use of natural diamonds chosen for their rarity and brilliance.
Owners often invest millions to bring these pieces to life, creating rings that serve as enduring symbols of one of the rarest achievements in professional sport.
Who designs and makes Super Bowl rings?
Super Bowl rings are crafted by specialist jewelers, most often Jostens, Jason of Beverly Hills or Tiffany & Co18. While these jewelers lead the design and bring technical expertise, the teams play an active role in shaping the final product. From gemstone layout to slogans, logos and personal touches, the design process is a true collaboration. In 2007, Giants legend Michael Strahan famously pushed for a bold look, asking for a ring “you could see from 10 tables away.”19
Common materials and features
Modern Super Bowl rings combine high-end materials with storytelling design. Traditionally made from yellow or white gold, many now use platinum to enhance durability and shine. Natural diamonds remain the centerpiece with counts reaching into the hundreds, often paired with sapphires, rubies or other colored gemstones to reflect team identity.
Interior engravings have become a hallmark, featuring slogans, final scores or locker room mantras. In recent years, rings have introduced advanced mechanics: hinged tops, pop-out logos and removable compartments that add layers of surprise and innovation to the design.
Who gets a Super Bowl ring?
While players, coaches and core football staff are guaranteed a Super Bowl ring, the full list of recipients often extends far beyond the field. Team owners decide who else is honored, which can include practice squad members, trainers, marketing staff, front-office executives, cheerleaders and even stadium workers. In some cases, anyone who played a meaningful role in the team’s success may be rewarded20.
How much is a Super Bowl ring worth?
Super Bowl rings typically cost between $30,000 and $50,000 to produce. Teams often foot the rest of the bill, a total that can exceed $5 million.
On the resale market, value depends on a mix of craftsmanship and context. Rings with higher gem counts and diamond carat weight tend to be the most valuable, especially those set with natural, high-quality gems. Who wore the ring matters, too: player-issued rings, particularly from iconic games or Hall of Famers, have fetched more than $1 million at auction. In contrast, staff-issued rings or high-end replicas typically range from $7,000 to $135,00021.
While materials matter, a ring’s true worth lies in its story, rarity and symbolism, making it one of the most meaningful awards in sports.
Super Bowl rings ranked
With Super Bowl rings going all the way back to 1967, narrowing them down is no easy feat. But based on design innovation, symbolism, historical relevance and fan reception, here are six of the most iconic, ranked from memorable to masterpiece:
6. Green Bay Packers – Super Bowl I
The very first Super Bowl ring set the tradition in motion with a modest but meaningful design. Crafted in 14-karat gold, it featured a single one-carat diamond set within a globe motif, a subtle nod to the new world championship game. Raised lettering around the stone read “WORLD CHAMPIONS GREEN BAY PACKERS 1966,” marking the Packers’ victory in what would later be known as Super Bowl I22.
5. Baltimore Colts – Super Bowl V
One of the first rings to truly lean into team identity and color, setting the tone for what was to come. Crafted by Jostens, the 1971 Baltimore Colts Super Bowl ring featured the team’s gold horseshoe logo set with seven vivid sapphires, framing a single central diamond. It was a subtle but significant shift, using gemstones not just for sparkle, but to tell a story23.
4. The Green Bay Packers – Super Bowl XLV
Four marquise-cut stones, one at each corner, represent the team’s four Super Bowl victories. Inside the iconic “G” logo sit 13 diamonds, a nod to the Packers’ 13 world championships to date. Altogether, the ring features 92 diamonds, marking 92 years of the team’s existence at the time of their win. A masterclass in subtle storytelling through design24.
3. New York Giants – Super Bowl XXV
One of the most iconic and valuable rings in Super Bowl history, and the second-highest ever sold at auction, belonged to New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor. His Super Bowl XXV ring, commemorating the Giants’ 1990 victory, sold for $230,401 in 2012. Designed with diamonds and classic Giants styling, the ring’s value wasn’t just in materials, but in its connection to Taylor, one of the most dominant defenders in NFL history25.
2. New England Patriots – Super Bowl LI
Widely regarded as one of the most elaborate Super Bowl rings ever made, the Patriots’ Super Bowl LI design features 283 diamonds, a precise reference to their stunning 28–3 comeback against the Falcons26. In 2020, team owner Robert Kraft’s version of the ring sold for over $1 million at auction, setting the record for the most expensive Super Bowl ring ever sold27.
1. Philadelphia Eagles – Super Bowl LIX
A modern masterpiece: 145 diamonds on the bezel to mark playoff points, pop-out wings, detailed engravings and hidden inscriptions make it one of the most personalized and visually bold rings in history28.
Why the Super Bowl ring still matters
A Super Bowl ring is more than a reward; it’s a record. Since 1967, these rings have evolved from simple gold bands into detailed objects of design that reflect a team’s journey through the season. Players, coaches and staff wear them not just to celebrate a win, but to mark what it took to get there.
Diamonds in Super Bowl rings aren’t just decorative. Their placement often reflects key stats: points scored, titles won or pivotal moments. Each diamond already carries value through its rarity and natural formation, and when set into a Super Bowl ring, that meaning is only emphasized. Combined with choices in metal, engraving and layout, the result is a clear, lasting symbol of achievement. Whether worn, passed down or sold, it remains a tangible reminder that some victories can be held in your hand.
FAQs
How do you tell if a Super Bowl ring is authentic?
Check the ring’s weight, materials, engravings and documentation. Diamond authentication, precise metalwork and personalized details are key signs of a genuine Super Bowl ring.
Are fancy colored diamonds used in Super Bowl rings?
Sapphires, rubies, and emeralds have been used in Super Bowl rings29, but fancy colored diamonds have not. However, they have appeared in other sports; for example, the Golden State Warriors’ NBA championship ring featured seven carats of yellow cushion-cut diamonds to mark the team’s seven titles30.
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