The NFL released a statement regarding Tom Brady's missing Super Bowl LI jersey (as well as Super Bowl XLIX jersey), that were being discovered in Mexico. Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo stated that investigation conducted by law enforcement officials played a contributing role in finding Brady's jerseys in the possession of an unsourced member of the international media.
As the NFL issued a statement Monday, the league and the New England Patriots' security teams have teamed up with the FBI and other law enforcement officials to retrieve the Super Bowl LI jersey sported by Brady, who earned the most valuable player award last month. According to the league, the credentialed member of the international media was held responsible for the possession of the jersey.
Acevedo said there was a suspect in the case. As the ongoing investigation went on last month, theft could be charged as a first-degree felony.
The Associated Press cited in a report that Diario La Prensa, a former executive of the tabloid from the Mexican Editorial Organization, a Mexico newspaper company, was involved in the case.
La Prensa, which is owned by the Mexican Editorial Organization, run multiple Spanish-language newspaper businesses in Mexico.
Brady's Super Bowl LI jersey valued at $500,000
The Patriots quarterback's Super Bowl LI game-worn jersey was reportedly disappearing during the interview in the locker room with the media following the Patriots' historic comeback victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Brady was expressing disappointment regarding the jersey being disappeared.
"It's unfortunate, because that's a nice piece of memorabilia," Brady said in an interview with the media earlier last month. "If it shows up on eBay or something, somebody let me know. I'll try to track that down. Those are pretty special ones to keep.
But what can you do? I'll take the ring. That's good enough for me."
The Patriots owner Robert Kraft said, according to Fox Business Network, that Brady's jersey being taken is like taking a great Chagall or Picasso.
The Houston police has initially determined Brady's Super Bowl LI jersey to be worth estimated $500,000. The Ken Goldin Auctions, a sports memorabilia and collectibles company, previously sold the same amount of games-used jerseys in the open market, according to ESPN. An auction company had placed his regular-season game-used jerseys at the range of $50,000 for sale.
The value of Brady's Super Bowl XLIX jersey has been undisclosed yet.
Authorities also recover another Super Bowl 50 item from Mexico
Law enforcement officials also recovered Super Bowl 50 game-used Denver Broncos helmet, which potentially belonged to pass rusher Von Miller, according to sources. Authorities were working to ensure that Miller's helmet, along with Brady's jerseys, are authentic. Authorities found Mauricio Ortega, a former director of La Prensa who stole Brady's jerseys and maybe Miller's helmet. The Mexican newspaper expressed regret to the NFL for the role Ortega played during the Super Bowl post-game interview in the locker room. Last week, the newspaper accepted Ortega's resignation due to health issues of his relatives.