Promotion
Canadian Berger collects Super Bowl ring

Canadian Berger collects Super Bowl ring

By Teresa Varley

Steelers.com

The Super Bowl excitement returned for the Steelers when the players and coaches received their rings on Tuesday night.

The impressive ring, which has a diamond representing each of the team’s six Super Bowl Championships, was an immediate hit with the players as they were handed out.

“It’s very exciting to get another ring,” said linebacker James Farrior. “This is even better than the first. It’s a lot bigger, a lot more diamonds. Everybody loves it.

“We have six big diamonds, three on either side. We have the logo in the middle and there are diamonds under the logo. Our names are on the side with more diamonds. We have diamonds on the other side. It’s a lot of diamonds.”

Some joked about having to wear sunglasses while wearing the shiny ring, but they don’t mind that one bit.

“It’s a true bling, bling ring,” said wide receiver Hines Ward. “Mr. Rooney went out and really wanted to have something special being we are the first team to win six championships. The guys are really happy with the ring.”

The Super Bowl XLIII ring was designed and made by Jostens working with Dan Rooney and Art Rooney, II. The designs were also shown to Farrior, Ward, Ben Roethlisberger and James Harrison for their input before a final decision was made.

“It was exciting to be one of the first ones to get to look at the rings and be able to help pick it out for the whole group,” said Farrior. “It was exciting and special for all of us who helped do that.”

And that excitement came to a peak as the players one by one were handed their rings, trying them on and mugging for the camera.

“This ring solidifies the reflection of a great year, a lot of great players, coaches and staff coming together for one goal to win the Super Bowl,” said Ward. “Having the ring, you can always reflect back on that year, all of the faces of the guys who put in all of that time and energy to help us get to where we wanted to go. It caps off a great year.

“This is my second one in four years. That is what it is all about. It’s all of the hard work we put into it. When you see it on the ring they can’t take it away from you.”

In creating the ring that would recognize the first NFL franchise to win six Super Bowl championships, the Steelers wanted each of the different elements of the piece to reflect the historical significance of the accomplishment.

Six round, brilliant cut diamonds surround the Steelers logo to draw the eye to the ring crest, with each gem signifying a Super Bowl victory. The Steelers logo is formed with yellow, red and blue stones in the shape of hypocycloids sitting atop a football-shaped design created with 32 round diamonds. Seven diamonds at each tip of the football recognize the team’s seven AFC Championships and when combined, the 14 diamonds signify the number of Division titles in Steelers history.

One side of the ring depicts six Lombardi Trophies rising from Heinz Field to recognize the support and loyalty of Steelers fans. The score of the game – Pittsburgh 27, Arizona 23 – flanks the Lombardi trophies, with the official logo of Super Bowl XLIII on a field of green enamel included as well.

The opposing side of the ring is personalized with each individual player’s name and jersey number. That side also incorporates the Steelers helmet and the NFL shield to acknowledge both team and league.

The ring is cast in 14 karat yellow gold with black antique backgrounds to reflect the Steelers’ colors. The Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl XLIII ring weighs 104 grams (approximately 3.7 ounces) and incorporates 63 round, brilliant cut diamonds totaling 3.61 carats.