Robert Kraft Explains Why He Chose to Auction Off SBLI Ring For All In Challenge
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft put his coveted Super Bowl LI ring up for auction in the All In Challenge. This challenge raises money for children, the elderly, and those working on the front lines during the COVID 19 pandemic. So far, the challenge has raised upwards of $51 million, with all of that money going to Feeding America, Meals on Wheels, World Central Kitchen, and No Kid Hungry.
The opening bid for Kraft's ring was $75,000. 35 bids later, the ring sold for $1.025 million. The fan who won the auction will be flown from their home on Kraft's private jet to Gillette stadium, where he or she will be presented the ring, which features 238 diamonds, and is inscribed with "Greatest Comeback Ever."
Although Kraft had six rings to choose from, he chose his Super Bowl LI ring to auction off because it was the most special. Kraft discussed his reason for choosing his fifth Super Bowl ring over the others during an interview with Fox News on Tuesday.
“I have a good friend, Michael Rubin, who started the All-In Challenge,” Kraft said. “He said try and come up with something special that could garner a lot of support. I thought about our fifth Super Bowl and we were down 28-3 with two minutes to go in the third period and had a .04 chance of winning the game and 99.6 (percent) chance to lose. We came back and it was a great, great victory.
“In some ways I feel the mood of our country is a little down and we’re still the greatest country in the world. We’re going to come back. I thought our ring epitomized that.”
Kraft’s All In Challenge certainly aligns with the rest of the COVID 19 relief efforts that the Patriots organization has done so far: holding blood drives and testing for essential workers at Gillette, donating food to those in need, providing PPE and helping students in Massachusetts who needed supplies to learn at home. Kraft’s ring was the perfect symbol to provide hope and even more relief during this pandemic.
