According to a source, Garfinkel asked a friend to make that winning bid, and the friend obliged. Ross paid for the friend’s bid. And on Drake’s birthday (Jan. 26), Garfinkel informed Drake that the team had the ball back.
“I made a plea out to get the ball,” Drake explained, standing on stage with Kenny Stills. “It sold at auction [for $18,678]. We were actually able to recover the ball. I have it. My team has it. [Garfinkel] wanted to give me the ball. I told him, ‘No, I want this to be at the stadium or the facility so the fans around the world, fans for the Dolphins or any team can come and see it and relish in the moment, because it’s definitely a part of NFL history.’”