1969 Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl IV Championship Ring — Salesman Sample
On January 11, 1970, the Kansas City Chiefs stunned the heavily favored Minnesota Vikings 23-7 in Super Bowl IV, closing the book on the AFL-NFL era with a victory that proved the American Football League belonged on the same field as the NFL. This is an official Jostens salesman sample of the championship ring issued to legendary head coach Hank Stram, crafted in 10k gold with cubic zirconia stones in place of diamonds.
What is a salesman sample?
Salesman samples were produced by the ring manufacturer — in this case Jostens — on the exact same machines and dies as the player- and staff-issued originals, meaning the construction, detail, and craftsmanship are completely identical. The primary difference is that samples use cubic zirconia (CZ) stones in place of diamonds. Everything else — the design, the gold, the engravings — is indistinguishable from the rings issued to the championship team. Samples like this were used by sales reps to show teams ring designs, and were never sold to the public, making them exceptionally rare today.
Super Bowl IV was the final AFL-NFL World Championship Game before the two leagues merged, and the Chiefs' win evened the series between them at two games apiece. The Vikings were 12-2 and 13½-point favorites, and plenty of observers still doubted the AFL could compete. Kansas City answered by finishing second in the AFL West, then winning both of its playoff games on the road, beating the Jets 13-6 and the Raiders 17-7, before dismantling Minnesota.
During the game Head Coach Hank Stram was the first coach ever wired for sound during a Super Bowl. His recorded comments contributed to one of the most famous highlight films ever produced by NFL films. Len Dawson, who had missed six games with an injury during the season, was named Super Bowl MVP after completing 12 of 17 passes for 142 yards and a touchdown.
| Championship | Super Bowl IV (1969 season) |
| Style | Hank Stram, Head Coach (Staff-issued) |
| Type | Salesman sample |
| Material | 10k Gold |
| Stones | Cubic zirconia (CZ) |
| Manufacturer | Jostens |
| Result | Kansas City Chiefs defeated Minnesota Vikings, 23-7 |
| Regular Season Record | 11-3 |
1969 Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl Ring — Quick Facts
- Super Bowl IV was played January 11, 1970, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana.
- It was the final AFL-NFL World Championship Game before the leagues merged, and the Chiefs' win tied the series at two games each.
- The Chiefs finished second in the AFL West at 11-3 behind the Raiders, then won two playoff games on the road to reach the Super Bowl.
- Len Dawson was named Super Bowl MVP after missing six games earlier in the 1969 season with an injury.
- Hank Stram won three AFL titles (1962, 1966, 1969) and Super Bowl IV, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003.
- Stram passed away on July 4, 2005.