An important relic from one of the NFL’s greatest quarterbacks, this helmet was confirmed to be worn in at least 10 games during the 2003-04 season by Peyton Manning – in which the Colts legend tossed 29 touchdown passes and won his first MVP award.
Key Deal Points
- Asset was described by Heritage Auctions, who brought it to the public market in 2021 as an “absolutely perfect representation from one of the all-time Mount Rushmore figures of NFL quarterbacking.”
- Authenticated and photomatched by MeiGray and Sports Investors Authentication to 10 games during the 2003-04 NFL season, including an AFC Championship Game matchup with Tom Brady
Valuation Analysis
“Game-worn NFL helmets tell a story through their scrapes, nicks and even their styles. It’s a rapidly growing segment of the sports memorabilia hobby…Unlike jerseys, which seem to be changed on a fairly regular basis, collectors and dealers who have spent years studying the life of an NFL helmet say they are nearly always used again from one year to the next.”
– Rich Mueller , Sports Collectors Daily
Peyton Manning
Nicknamed “The Sheriff”, Manning is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time. Manning holds many NFL records, including AP MVP awards (5), Pro Bowl appearances (14), 4,000-yard passing seasons (14), single-season passing yards (5,477 in 2013), and single-season passing touchdowns (55 in 2013).
He is also tied with Sammy Baugh for the most first-team All-Pro selections for a quarterback (7), and is third in career passing yards (71,940) and passing touchdowns (539). Having helped lead both the Colts and Broncos to two Super Bowls each, Manning is the first starting quarterback to have multiple Super Bowl starts with more than one franchise. He was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2017 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.