The legacy of the 1980 Winter Olympics continues to captivate sports collectors. A championship ring belonging to legendary coach Herb Brooks from the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” Winter Olympics has sold for a whopping $549,000 at Heritage Auctions.

The sale shows how valuable and important this historic moment is for sports fans and collectors. The “Miracle on Ice” refers to a 1980 Winter Olympics hockey game, in which Team USA shocked the world by defeating the heavily favored Soviet Union.

With a 4-3 scoreline, it is considered one of the biggest upsets in sports history. The team was coached by Herb Brooks and won the gold medal.

Herb Brooks received the ring after the 1980 Olympic win. It immortalized his coaching success and the historic victory. Later, it was sold as sports memorabilia and became very popular among collectors and fans.

Coaches do not get Olympic medals, so the gold ring was Brooks’ only award after the win. The ornament has five diamonds on the front. One side bears his name and the 1980 Olympics logo engraved, while the other shows the Soviet game result and the 4-2 gold medal win over Finland.

In 2015, Herb Brooks' family sent the ring to Heritage Auctions. At that time, his brother David Brooks bought it for a little over $113,000. Later, in 2026, David Brooks put it up for auction again. The family also added their original letter proving the ring is authentic.

Herb Brooks' enduring legacy

Herb Brooks played for the USA hockey team at the 1964 and 1968 Olympics. Later, he joined the University of Minnesota as an assistant coach in 1970-71 and then remained head coach from 1972 to 1979.

He led his team to NCAA championships in 1974, 1976, and 1979. His championship rings were also sold at an auction in 2015 for $14,340.

He was inducted into the US Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990 and the IIHF Hall of Fame in 1999. In 2006, he was posthumously inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Herb Brooks was a legendary coach known for his strong leadership and winning mindset. He inspired players to achieve the impossible, as characterized by Team USA's iconic victory.

Notably, his ring commanded a lower price than that of Mike Eruzione's jersey. Sold for $657,250 in 2013, the shirt remains the most valuable "Miracle on Ice" and Olympic hockey item ever sold, as per ESPN.

Nevertheless, the impact of Brooks and his ring extend far beyond the ice rink.

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Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Edited by

Sijo Paul