Scott Spina Jr. and his girlfriend boarded their flight home to New Jersey from Georgia with some valuable luggage: a championship ring from Super Bowl LI.
The ring, made of white gold molded into the shape of a football and emblazoned with 283 diamonds, was engraved with the words “GREATEST COMEBACK EVER,” a nod to the New England Patriots’ historic 25-point comeback victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
Spina had just written a check to a former Patriots player for the ring in September 2017. In all, the deal would be worth $32,000, but it was money Spina knew he didn't have.