{"product_id":"ken-anderson-81-mvp-signed-bengals-throwback-riddell-helmet-schwartz-auth","title":"Ken Anderson \"81 MVP\" Signed Bengals Throwback Riddell Helmet Schwartz Auth","description":"\u003cp\u003eAdd the inscription of the most improbable \nMVP season in NFL history — \non the throwback helmet of the franchise \nwhere every snap of it was played — \nto your collection with this \n\u003cstrong\u003eKen Anderson Autographed Cincinnati Bengals \nThrowback Riddell Full Size Speed Replica Helmet, \nInscribed \"81 MVP\" — Schwartz Sports Authenticated\u003c\/strong\u003e. \nOn September 13, 1981, \nBengals head coach Forrest Gregg benched \nKen Anderson at halftime of the season opener \nagainst the Seattle Seahawks — \ntwo interceptions, a 21-10 deficit, \nthe franchise's 11-year starting quarterback \nwatching third-string backup Turk Schonert \nrally the Bengals to a 27-21 victory \nfrom the sideline. \n\u003cstrong\u003eBy January 1982, \nAnderson had been named the NFL's Most Valuable Player \nby both the Associated Press \nand the Professional Football Writers of America, \nhad led the NFL in passer rating (98.4), \nhad led the Bengals to a 12-4 record \nand the AFC Championship, \nhad played in the Bengals' first Super Bowl, \nand had set then-Super Bowl records \nfor completions and completion percentage \nin a 26-21 loss to the San Francisco 49ers \nthat the Bengals president has called, \nto this day, \nthe game his team should have won.\u003c\/strong\u003e \n\"81 MVP\" is Anderson's inscription \nof that specific season — \nthe year that began with him watching \nfrom the sideline in Week 1 \nand ended with him holding \nthe league's most prestigious individual award. \nThe throwback Bengals helmet signed and inscribed \nby Anderson is the era-specific colorway \nof the franchise he played for across 16 seasons — \nthe helmet he actually wore \nin every one of those 1981 games — \ncertified authentic by Schwartz Sports Memorabilia \nwith a tamper-proof numbered hologram \nand a certificate of authenticity verifiable online.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis \u003cstrong\u003eCincinnati Bengals Throwback Riddell \nFull Size Speed Replica Helmet\u003c\/strong\u003e has been \n\u003cstrong\u003ehand-signed and inscribed \"81 MVP\" \nby Ken Anderson\u003c\/strong\u003e. \nThe autograph and inscription have been certified authentic by \n\u003cstrong\u003eSchwartz Sports Memorabilia\u003c\/strong\u003e with a tamper-proof \nnumbered hologram and a certificate of authenticity \nverifiable online.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eProduct Highlights\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHand-signed and inscribed \u003cstrong\u003e\"81 MVP\"\u003c\/strong\u003e \nby \u003cstrong\u003eKen Anderson\u003c\/strong\u003e — \nCincinnati Bengals quarterback (1971-1986); \n1981 AP and PFWA NFL Most Valuable Player; \n1981 NFL Comeback Player of the Year; \nfour Pro Bowls; Division III Augustana College to NFL MVP\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCincinnati Bengals Throwback Riddell \nFull Size Speed Replica Helmet\u003c\/strong\u003e — \nthe era-specific colorway Anderson wore during his career; \nRiddell Speed Replica display-grade full-size construction\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSchwartz Sports Authenticated\u003c\/strong\u003e — \ntamper-proof numbered Schwartz Sports hologram \nwith certificate of authenticity verifiable online\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\"81 MVP\" inscription\u003c\/strong\u003e: \nthe 1981 NFL Most Valuable Player season — \nthe year Anderson was benched in Week 1 \nand finished with the league's highest passer rating (98.4), \n29 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, \nand both MVP awards\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe benching: \u003cstrong\u003ebenched at halftime of the season opener\u003c\/strong\u003e \nvs. Seattle after two INTs; \nreinstated Week 2 by Forrest Gregg; \nwent on to win AP and PFWA NFL MVP from that starting point — \nthe most specific available context \nfor what the inscription documents\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe 1981 season's playoff run: \n\u003cstrong\u003eFreezer Bowl AFC Championship vs. San Diego\u003c\/strong\u003e \n(minus-59°F wind chill — coldest game in NFL history); \nBengals led wire-to-wire in 27-7 victory; \nfranchise's first AFC Championship\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSuper Bowl XVI\u003c\/strong\u003e: \nset then-Super Bowl records for completions (25) \nand completion percentage (73.5%); \n300 passing yards vs. Montana's 157; \n26-21 loss to San Francisco after 20-0 halftime deficit\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBacked by our \u003cstrong\u003eLifetime Authenticity Guarantee\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003e\"81 MVP\" — The Inscription and Its Starting Point\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \"81 MVP\" inscription on this throwback helmet \ndocuments the endpoint of a specific arc — \nand the arc is the most improbable available \nfor any NFL Most Valuable Player. \nKen Anderson was benched at halftime \nof the Bengals' 1981 season opener. \nHe had thrown two interceptions \nagainst the Seattle Seahawks, \nthe team trailed 21-10, \nand Forrest Gregg — \nin his second year as Bengals head coach — \npulled Anderson in favor of third-string quarterback \nTurk Schonert, \nwho rallied Cincinnati to a 27-21 comeback win. \n\u003cstrong\u003eGregg reinstated Anderson the following week. \nFrom that point — \nfrom the week after the benching \nthat gave every reasonable observer \ncause to question whether Anderson \nwas still the Bengals' starter — \nAnderson went 300-of-479 for 3,754 yards, \n29 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, \nled the NFL in passer rating at 98.4, \nled all NFL quarterbacks in rushing yards (320), \ntook the Bengals from 6-10 in 1980 \nto 12-4 in 1981 and the AFC Championship, \nand won both the AP and PFWA NFL MVP awards.\u003c\/strong\u003e \nThe Bengals' organization president Mike Brown \nhas said that if Anthony Muñoz \nis the best player in franchise history, \nthen Ken Anderson is the most important. \n\"81 MVP\" is the inscription that names the year \nthat argument was built in. \nThe throwback Bengals helmet signed by Anderson \nis the era-specific colorway \nof that specific season's most specific credential.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eThe Throwback Helmet — The Colorway He Actually Wore\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Cincinnati Bengals' throwback helmet \ndocuments the franchise's original visual identity — \nthe orange shell with black stripes \nthat Anderson wore for the duration of his career \nbefore the franchise's uniform evolution \nproduced subsequent alternate designs. \n\u003cstrong\u003eFor Anderson specifically, \nthe throwback helmet is the most personally specific \navailable signed helmet format: \nit is not an alternate or a commemorative colorway \nbut the actual design he wore \nin every snap of his 16 NFL seasons — \nfrom his 1971 debut \nthrough the 1981 MVP campaign \nthrough his final season in 1986. \nThe throwback Riddell Speed Replica \nis the full-size display-grade recreation \nof that specific helmet in that specific design, \nsigned by Anderson in the colorway \nthat represents the only available option \nfor his career — \nthere is no other team's helmet, \nno alternate era design, \nno other franchise's colorway \nthat documents a single snap \nof the 16 seasons he played.\u003c\/strong\u003e \nThe 1981 MVP inscription on the throwback helmet \nis the inscription of the season's peak credential \non the specific helmet format \nof the franchise where the credential was earned — \na single-franchise, throwback-colorway signed piece \nfrom one of the five quarterbacks in NFL history \nto win four or more passing titles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eThe Freezer Bowl and Super Bowl XVI — The Season's Championship Context\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \"81 MVP\" credential does not exist \nin isolation from the 1981 season's playoff run — \nthe most successful postseason \nin Cincinnati Bengals history up to that point. \nIn the AFC Championship Game \non January 10, 1982, \nAnderson and the Bengals hosted \nthe San Diego Chargers and Dan Fouts — \nthe highest-scoring offense in the NFL — \nin conditions that have no available parallel \nin the history of professional football: \na wind chill of minus-59 degrees Fahrenheit, \nthe coldest game ever played in the NFL. \n\u003cstrong\u003eAnderson went 14-of-22 for 161 yards \nand two touchdowns in those conditions, \nleading the Bengals from the first snap \nto a 27-7 victory and the franchise's \nfirst AFC Championship in its history. \nThe Freezer Bowl crowd of 46,302 \nshowed up despite the conditions — \nthe franchise record for \"attendance at a game \nin minus-59 wind chill\" \nis, as Bengals lore has it, \nnow claimed by several times that number \nof Cincinnati residents.\u003c\/strong\u003e \nIn Super Bowl XVI at the Pontiac Silverdome, \nAnderson set then-Super Bowl records \nfor completions (25) and completion percentage (73.5%), \npassed for 300 yards against a 49ers defense \nwhose quarterback — Joe Montana — \nthrew for 157. \nThe Bengals fell 26-21 after a 20-0 halftime deficit \nproduced by three first-half turnovers — \na margin of defeat that Bengals president Mike Brown \nhas never fully conceded. \nThe throwback helmet inscribed \"81 MVP\" by Anderson \nis the credential piece \nof the player who produced \nall of it in that specific orange and black, \nin a season that began \nwith him watching from the sideline.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eSchwartz Sports Authentication\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis helmet has been certified authentic by \n\u003cstrong\u003eSchwartz Sports Memorabilia\u003c\/strong\u003e \nwith a tamper-proof numbered hologram \nand a certificate of authenticity \nverifiable online.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eAuthenticity\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis helmet is certified authentic by \n\u003cstrong\u003eSchwartz Sports Memorabilia\u003c\/strong\u003e. \nThe tamper-proof numbered hologram \nand certificate of authenticity \nare verifiable online.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlayer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eKen Anderson (Kenneth Allan Anderson)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTeam\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCincinnati Bengals (1971-1986, entire career)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eQuarterback (#14)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eItem Type\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAutographed Riddell Full Size Speed Replica Football Helmet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHelmet\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCincinnati Bengals Throwback (era-specific colorway)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInscription\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\"81 MVP\" — 1981 NFL Most Valuable Player (AP and PFWA)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthentication\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSchwartz Sports Memorabilia — tamper-proof numbered hologram; COA verifiable online\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1981 season\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e300\/479, 3,754 yds, 29 TDs, 10 INTs, 98.4 rating (NFL leader); 320 rush yds; 12-4 record\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1981 playoffs\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFreezer Bowl (AFC Champ, -59°F wind chill, 27-7 vs. SD); Super Bowl XVI (26-21 loss to SF)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSuper Bowl XVI\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e25 completions, 73.5% completion rate (both then-Super Bowl records); 300 pass yds\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCareer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4 Pro Bowls; 4 NFL passing titles; 1982 completion % record (70.6%, stood 27 years); Bengals Ring of Honor 2021\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDraft\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e67th overall, 3rd round, 1971 (Division III Augustana College)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eExcellent\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eAuthenticity Guarantee\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery signed piece at GameDay Sports Memorabilia is backed by our \u003cstrong\u003eLifetime \nAuthenticity Guarantee\u003c\/strong\u003e. If your item is ever determined to be inauthentic, \nwe will replace or refund it — no questions asked.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gameday Sports Memorabilia","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53349087740203,"sku":"ANDREP330","price":259.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0983\/6124\/5995\/files\/ANDREP330.jpg?v=1777160231","url":"https:\/\/gamedaysportsmemorabilia.com\/products\/ken-anderson-81-mvp-signed-bengals-throwback-riddell-helmet-schwartz-auth","provider":"Gameday Sports \u0026 Memorabilia","version":"1.0","type":"link"}