Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) in action during the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Tom Brady 'last' touchdown pass football sells for $129,657 at auction

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 9/19/22

As Mike McDaniel explained for Sports Illustrated this past April, a Miami-based real estate broker named Ron Firman bid $518,628 at a Lelands auction to acquire what was thought to be the last touchdown pass ever thrown by Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, who briefly retired following the January playoff loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams.

Brady returned to the Buccaneers' active roster in March, however, and the original sale of the ball was voided. Per Dan Hajducky of ESPN, that same football sold for $129,657 at a weekend auction that occurred before Brady and the Buccaneers defeated the New Orleans Saints 20-10.

"The perspective has changed, but this remains a magnificent piece nonetheless," Lelands said of the ball in a description.

Brady connected with wide receiver Mike Evans for the potentially historic touchdown in the fourth quarter of the NFC Divisional playoff game against the Rams but was left a spectator as Matt Gay booted a walk-off field goal:

The seven-time Super Bowl champion then surprised many in the football community when he announced his retirement on Feb. 1, but he confirmed on March 13 that he would play at least another season. Brady hasn't said for sure this will be his last campaign, but he has a different job as lead NFL analyst for Fox Sports waiting for him whenever he calls time on his playing days, for good.

"It's the most unique situation that we'll probably ever encounter in our lifetimes -- at least when it comes to sports memorabilia," Mike Heffer, president and partner at Lelands, said in April about the nullified sale of the football. "We wanted to do the right thing."

Brady, 45, was visibly frustrated when he threw one of the team's sideline tablets during the victory in New Orleans and will look to keep his cool when the Buccaneers welcome the 1-1 Green Bay Packers to town this coming Sunday.

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