Former Steelers Star Auctioning Off Super Bowl Ring

PITTSBURGH, PA — Care to own a bit of Pittsburgh sports history? If so, be prepared to write a very large check.

Former Steelers defensive end Kimo Von Oelhoffen is auctioning off his Super Bowl XL championship ring. The rings were awarded to team players after the Steelers' 21-10 victory over the Seattle Seahawks that gave them their fifth Super Bowl crown.

Bidding for the ring ends Saturday. The current high bid is $19,000.

The auction is occurring not because Von Oelhoffen has fallen on hard times, but rather for charitable purposes. Von Oelhoffen is donating the auction proceeds so his alma mater, Mokokai High School in Hawaii, can upgrade its football facilities.

Von Oelhoffen was a key player on the Super Bowl team, starting in all 20 regular and postseason games for the Steelers during the championship campaign. He had two solo tackles in the Super Bowl.

According to Heritage Auctions, which is handling the bidding, the face of the ring has five figural Lombardi trophies and the Steelers logo, with real diamonds and gemstones enhancing the display. "Pittsburgh Steelers"text forms the northern and southern borders, while rows of diamonds do the same at east and west.

The left shank reveals an NFL logo framed by Von Oelhoffen's surname and jersey number. The right shank shank supplies the logo and result of Super Bowl XL. The interior band is stamped "Jostens 14K" and measures to a size 13. The total weight is 53 grams.