How Much Does a Real NFL Ring Cost
Who Actually Gets a Super Bowl Ring
What Famous Rings Have Sold For
Do NFL Players Pay for Their Own Rings
Why Athletes Cannot Wear Jewelry on the Field
Is Number 69 Actually Banned
Get a Ring That Tells Your Own Story
A real NFL ring cost between 30,000 and 50,000 dollars to produce, though the final number depends heavily on the design. The NFL contributes a fixed amount, usually between 5,000 and 7,000 dollars per ring, covering up to 150 rings for the winning team. Everything beyond that comes directly out of the team owner’s pocket.
Design choices drive the cost up fast. The New England Patriots’ 2015 rings carried 205 diamonds and cost an estimated 36,500 dollars each, bringing the total bill for the team to roughly 5.475 million dollars. The Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl LVII rings went even further, featuring 529 diamonds, 38 rubies, and nearly 15 carats of gemstones, with an estimated cost of around 70,000 dollars per ring.
Compare that to 1985, when the Chicago Bears won Super Bowl XX and received rings costing just 4,000 dollars each, the exact amount the NFL provided at the time. The gap between then and now shows how far championship ring design has evolved into a genuine art form built around diamonds, gemstones, and personalised team history.
Every player on the 53 man roster, the full coaching staff, and front office executives receive a ring automatically. Beyond that, it comes down entirely to the team owner’s discretion.
Do NFL waterboys get a ring? Yes, in many cases. It is not mandated by the league, but plenty of franchises choose to include training staff, equipment managers, and support personnel in the ring distribution as a way of recognising their contribution to the season.
Do the janitors get a Super Bowl ring? Some do. Owners have full discretion over who beyond players and coaches receives a ring, and that has historically included cheerleaders, marketing staff, and yes, even janitorial staff in certain organisations. These tend to be smaller, less elaborate versions sometimes referred to as B or C level rings, often without the same diamond count as the player rings.
Do NFL owners get a ring? Absolutely. Owners are typically among the first to receive a ring, and in many cases they are the ones who personally select the final design.
Are NFL rings real diamonds? Yes, the rings given to players, coaches, and most staff are made with genuine diamonds and real gold, typically yellow or rose gold. Lower tier rings given to some non player staff occasionally substitute cubic zirconia for select rubies, but the primary player rings are built with authentic stones throughout.
How much would Tom Brady’s Super Bowl ring be worth? Brady has won seven championships, and any single ring from his collection has been estimated at over 250,000 dollars if it ever went to auction, according to Rick Harrison of Pawn Stars. His full collection is worth millions.
How much is Patrick Mahomes’ ring worth? While Mahomes has not sold any of his rings, his Super Bowl LVII Chiefs ring was among the most expensive ever produced, with an estimated manufacturing cost around 70,000 dollars due to its diamond and ruby count. On the open market, a ring tied to a player of his stature would likely command a price well into six figures.
How much did Kobe’s dad sell his ring for? This one is actually basketball, not football, but it is one of the most talked about championship ring sales in sports history. Kobe Bryant gifted his father Joe Bryant a replica of his 2000 Lakers championship ring. It was first sold at auction in 2013 for 173,000 dollars, then resold again in 2024 for 927,200 dollars, setting a new record for any NBA championship ring ever sold.
Other notable sales include a former Eagles practice squad player’s Super Bowl LIX ring, which sold for 124,440 dollars in 2025, and Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who once sold one of his six rings for over a million dollars during a charity auction.
Players do not pay for the ring itself. The NFL and the team cover the full production cost between them. However, players are responsible for the taxes on the value of the ring as a form of income. In 2020, Kansas City Chiefs players reportedly paid around 11,000 dollars each in taxes on their rings, a relatively small cost compared to the championship bonus they received that same season.
This is one of the most common questions from younger players and parents. Are football players allowed to wear jewelry? In American football, jewelry including rings, necklaces, and bracelets is generally prohibited during play for safety reasons, since loose items can cause injury during contact.
Are soccer players allowed to wear rings? Under the IFAB Laws of the Game, the long standing rule has stated that all jewelry including rings, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings must be removed before play, with no exceptions for taping items down. This is why you will almost never see a professional footballer wearing a ring during a match, regardless of sentimental value.
It is worth noting that as of the 2026/27 rule cycle, IFAB has begun shifting language from a blanket jewelry ban toward permitting certain non dangerous accessories if they are safely and securely covered, while still forbidding anything considered dangerous. This change was introduced partly to account for cultural, religious, and medical reasons players may have for wearing certain items. Enforcement still varies by referee discretion, so most professional players continue to remove jewelry entirely before matches.
Why can’t you wear jewelry in soccer? The primary reason is player safety. A ring or bracelet caught during a tackle or collision can cause serious injury to either the wearer or another player. This is the same logic applied across most contact sports.
Are soccer refs allowed to wear jewelry? Referees are generally held to the same standard as players when it comes to dangerous items, though enforcement on officials is less publicly discussed than the rules applied to players.
Why can’t athletes wear jewelry in general? Across most organised contact sports, the reasoning is consistent. Anything that can snag, cut, or break during physical contact is treated as a safety hazard, regardless of how meaningful the item is to the wearer.
Can you play soccer with permanent jewelry? Permanent jewelry, including welded bracelets that cannot be removed, still falls under the same restriction. Most leagues require it to be removed entirely rather than taped or covered, meaning players with permanent pieces may need to have them cut off before a match if they wish to comply with current rules.
The 2:1:1 rule, by contrast, has nothing to do with sports regulations. It is a styling guideline used in everyday fashion, suggesting two subtle pieces, one medium piece, and one statement piece to create a balanced jewelry look. It is a fashion concept entirely separate from any athletic competition rule.
Is number 69 banned in football? Not in the NFL. The number 69 is a completely legal jersey number and is commonly worn by offensive linemen, since that position is assigned numbers in the 50 to 79 range. There is no NFL rule against it.
The confusion often comes from basketball. No NBA player has ever worn the number 69, and while the league has never officially confirmed a ban, it is widely believed to be an unofficial, unwritten exclusion. Football and basketball are simply different here, and the NFL has no such restriction.
| Topic | Quick Answer |
|---|---|
| Average Super Bowl ring cost | 30,000 to 50,000 dollars |
| NFL contribution per ring | 5,000 to 7,000 dollars |
| Most expensive ring sold | Kobe Bryant’s gifted ring, 927,200 dollars (NBA) |
| Do players pay for rings | No, but they pay tax on the value |
| Jewelry allowed in soccer | No, with limited 2026/27 exceptions for safe accessories |
| Is 69 banned in NFL | No, it is a standard offensive line number |
Championship rings carry meaning because they are built around a specific story, a specific season, a specific moment that mattered. You do not need to win a Super Bowl to own a ring that carries the same level of personal significance.
At RingsWear, every ring is built around natural, genuine gemstones, and we offer customisation on customer demand. Whether you want a specific engraving, a particular stone combination, or a design that reflects your own milestone, we can build it around what matters to you.
If you have an idea for a custom piece, contact us and we will work with you directly on the design. You can also browse our full Ruby Rings collection for inspiration, or learn more about ring fundamentals at Wikipedia’s Super Bowl ring entry.
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