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1981NFL Jerseys

NFL jerseys from the 1981 season, pulled from eBay as listings change. Replicas, throwbacks, and the occasional game-worn shirt.

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As of September 11, 2026, the median asking price for 1981 NFL jerseys on eBay is $140, across 53 live listings. Across the last 21 days it has ranged $90 to $133.

Makers named in these listings: Mitchell & Ness in 26 (licensed reproductions, not era originals) · Wilson in 1 (a team-era maker; Wilson dressed the most NFL teams into the late 90s) · Sand-Knit in 1 (a team-era maker) · Russell in 1 (made NFL jerseys roughly 1990 to 1997) · Reebok in 1 (made NFL jerseys through 2011). How to date an NFL jersey ›

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Original or reproduction?

These are live eBay listings, so "1981" in a title can mean two things: a jersey made in 1981, or a throwback printed last month. The first thing to check is the maker's tag against who was actually making jerseys then.

A 1981 NFL jersey should carry a tag from team-by-team makers: Wilson, Champion, Apex One, Starter, Logo Athletic, Puma, Adidas or Nike. A different maker on the tag points to a later reproduction.

The full NFL dating guide: tags, patches and fakes, season by season ›

Not sure what era this is? Pick the detail you can see ›

What does a 1981 NFL jersey cost?

As of September 11, 2026, the median asking price for 1981 NFL jerseys on eBay is $140, across 53 live listings. Across the last 21 days it has ranged $90 to $133. Era originals in good condition usually trade above that median. A claimed game-worn or rare original priced far below it is the classic counterfeit tell.

  • A Mitchell & Ness or Hardwood Classics tag means a licensed reproduction. A fine gift, not a 1981 original.
  • Ask the seller for photos of the neck tag and the wash tag. Logos, fonts and fabric should match the era.
  • The tag check has a limit: counterfeits copy the correct maker tag too. Price is the signal that scales. Real vintage doesn't sell far below every comparable listing, and a game-worn jersey priced like a t-shirt is neither.
  • The Era originals filter above hides listings that are newly made by their own description: multi-size runs, custom name and number offers, reproduction brands. What survives isn't guaranteed original. A one-off fake in a single size with the right tag passes every check a listing allows, which is exactly why seller photos and feedback still matter.
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