The first Super Bowl LIX ring to reach the auction market has sold for $124,440, according to cllct’s Darren Rovell.
The ring belonged to Laekin Vakalahi, a 22-year-old Auckland, New Zealand native who was on the Eagles’ practice squad last season. The former junior rugby league player has never played a down in the NFL, but nonetheless received a Super Bowl ring, which he has now sold weeks after getting married in Utah.
‘Sealed to my sweetheart for time and all eternity,’ Vakalahi wrote online. ‘What a blessing.’
Vakalahi grew up in Melbourne, Australia, where he played basketball. But the 6ft5 athlete had a chance meeting with former NFL offensive guard Chris Naeole, who was working as an international scout for the Eagles, and parlayed that into a season on Philadelphia’s practice squad.
Unfortunately for Vakalahi, he has been out of the NFL since being waived during final roster cuts in August.
Vakalahi has not specifically stated he sold his Super Bowl ring to pay for his wedding, but he wouldn’t be the first player to choose a payday of a championship keepsake.
Laekin Vakalahi is a 22-year-old New Zealand native who was on the Eagles’ practice squad
Laekin Vakalahi holds up his Super Bowl ring alongside his now-wife, Sarah
The Eagles received their second Super Bowl ring following February’s win over the Chiefs
Pittsburgh Steelers great Rocky Bleier is among several former players to sell his Super Bowl ring due to financial difficulties. Since then, Plaxico Burress sold the Super Bowl ring he won with the New York Giants while oft-suspended receiver Josh Gordon also auctioned off the ring he received with the New England Patriots.
While some fans online felt Vakalahi should have held onto the ring, many others supported his decision.
‘He did the right thing selling it,’ one fan wrote on X. ‘What does the ring mean to him?’
Another more speculative fan sees the ring spiking in value.
‘It’s gonna be worth way more after this,’ they wrote.