Joe Montana Super Bowl XXIV Jersey Sells for $1.515M

A game-worn Joe Montana jersey linked to Super Bowl XXIV sold for $1.515 million on Thursday, setting what an alternative asset firm described as a new benchmark for NFL memorabilia valuations. Treasure Trove said it acquired the jersey and called the transaction the highest reported price for an NFL memorabilia item of this kind.

The firm said the sale topped the prior record of $1.39 million, set in November 2023 for a Tom Brady jersey worn in his final professional game. Officials tied the Montana jersey directly to the championship game, which Treasure Trove said supported the item’s authenticity and buyer interest.

Super Bowl XXIV link and the on-field performance

The jersey dates to Super Bowl XXIV in 1990, when Montana quarterbacked the San Francisco 49ers to a 55-10 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. The firm described the game as one of the most lopsided outcomes in Super Bowl history, adding that the scale of the win reinforced the jersey’s significance.

In that contest, Montana recorded 297 passing yards and five touchdowns and was named the Most Valuable Player. Treasure Trove said the combination of the result and the individual statistics helped explain the level of demand for the piece.

Why scarcity matters for Montana’s Super Bowl uniforms

Treasure Trove said scarcity is a defining feature in Montana’s game-worn Super Bowl material. According to the firm, Montana used only three jerseys across his four Super Bowl appearances, tightening the supply of authenticated championship-game shirts available to collectors.

Joe Montana

The firm added that Montana reused the same uniform for Super Bowl XIX and Super Bowl XXIII. Treasure Trove said that limited inventory of verified jerseys is a central factor behind the strong interest seen in the latest sale.

Recent benchmarks and the valuation debate

Treasure Trove also pointed to its view that top-end sports memorabilia is undervalued compared with the broader trading card market. A.J. Scaramucci, the company’s CEO, said he sees what he called an investment dislocation in the category, arguing that game-worn items at this level are “dramatically and just freakishly underpriced” relative to trading cards.

The new record follows another high-profile Montana transaction: his Super Bowl XXIII jersey sold for $1.212 million in 2023. Treasure Trove described the sequence of prices as indicating steady appreciation for Montana artifacts tied to defining moments.

Montana, a Hall of Fame quarterback, finished 4-0 in Super Bowl appearances. Treasure Trove said that undefeated record is a significant driver of demand, differentiating his memorabilia from players who reached more Super Bowls but also took losses.

Even with record-setting sales, the firm flagged a key uncertainty for buyers: how quickly prices for game-worn football items will move toward valuation levels seen in other collectible segments. For now, Treasure Trove said legacy, documented performance, and constrained supply remain the main supports for interest in Montana’s championship jerseys.