The Lombardi Trophy named after legendary Green Bay Packers head coach Vince Lombardi is awarded each year to the Super Bowl champion. And since the games inception in 1967 when it was originally called the NFL-AFL Championship an outstanding player from each contest has been named the games Most Valuable Player. From Bart Starrs back-to-back wins in 1967 and 68 to Malcolm Smiths heist last February the MVP award has gone to 43 different players over the course of the 48 Super Bowls played; Starr Terry Bradshaw and Tom Brady have each won it twice while Joe Montana picked up the award a record three times. This lot includes a phenomenal lineup of 43 autographed official Wilson footballs from those gridiron miracle makers. Almost every autograph was obtained in person by a dedicated collector whose profession and close ties to the NFL made this process possible over several decades.

The majority of the official game footballs (Super Bowls 19 through 48) are stamped with that years Super Bowl logo and/or the match-up location and date of the game (i.e. "Green Bay Packers vs. Denver Broncos - San Diego CA - January 25 1998"). Super Bowls I through 18 (from Bart Starr to Marcus Allen) are simply official Wilson NFL game footballs without the Super Bowl logos or logistical stamps (NFL did not do this for early Super Bowl game balls). All have been autographed in thick bold silver maker by the respective Super Bowl MVP from that season. Overall the signatures average 9/10 in our book. The formidable list reads like a "Whos Who of Football" with Joe Namath Len Dawson Chuck Howley Roger Staubach Franco Harris Lynn Swann Fred Biletnikoff Harvey Martin/Randy White (both from SB XII) Jake Scott (consignor's story tracking him down for this signature sounds like a CIA operation) Larry Czonka Marcus Allen Jim Plunkett John Riggins Richard Dent Phil Simms Doug Williams Jerry Rice Otis Anderson Mark Rypien Troy Aikman Emmitt Smith Steve Young Larry Brown Desmond Howard Terrell Davis Kurt Warner Ray Lewis Hines Ward Peyton Manning Eli Manning Santonio Holmes Drew Brees Aaron Rodgers and Joe Flacco. Super Bowl I through IV are Wilson "The Duke" footballs made of gorgeous reconditioned leather that has a lovely dark brown color to replicate early NFL game balls. The Joe Namath Len Dawson and two Bart Starr signed balls present beautifully with their bright silver autographs on the dark leather. When it comes to authentic signatures from footballs most exciting prime-time performers one cannot do any better than this remarkable collection!

Please note that five Super Bowl I through XLVIII MVP signed footballs are not a part of this lot but are represented in Lots 1026-1030. There are six game-used footballs from their respective Super Bowls (either NFL or PSA authenticated for game use) that are being sold individually (Lots 1025-1030) in this auction: Terrell Davis (XXXII) John Elway (XXXIII) Tom Brady (XXXVI and XXXVIII) Dexter Jackson (XXXVII) and Deion Branch (XXXIX). Terrell Davis signed two footballs: one is the game-used SB32 ball mentioned above (Lot 1025); the other is an official SB32 (not game-used) that is part of this lot - hence the reason there are 43 rather than 42 MVP signed balls.

All autographs pre-certified by PSA/DNA. SportsMemorabilia.com sticker cert# 194822 for Drew Brees autograph. Triumph Promotions holograms for both Bart Starr and Joe Namath autographs.

Includes a Letter of Provenance from collector Robert Zweigle.

The Robert Zweigle collection represents 40 years of assembling sports memorabilia items from college and professional football professional golf and NCAA basketball. Bob Zweigle was a major supplier of promotional products to the NFL who personally attended 38 Super Bowls working closely with NFL personnel and establishing unique connections that helped grow his collection. He designed/produced Super Bowl press pins from XXV through XXXIX (the final year the NFL produced its own pins). He also designed/produced the Player Participation Trophy and Player of the Game Trophy for the Pro Bowl as well as the Arena Bowl Championship Trophy. He made it a personal quest to obtain in-person autographs on important memorabilia items at many sporting events wherein he had rare and unusual access.