Who was Ed Thorp?
Ed Thorp was an NFL referee, rules expert, and sporting goods dealer who was well-known to many of the league's early owners. He died in June 1934, and the NFL championship trophy was created in his honor later that year.
Questions about Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy
Short answers, pulled from the story.
How did the Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy work?
It was a traveling trophy, passed from one NFL champion to the next each season. Each winning team's name was inscribed on it, but the team did not keep the trophy permanently. For a period in the 1930s, teams also received a smaller replica they were allowed to keep.
Which team won the Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy most often?
The Green Bay Packers won it eight times, in 1936, 1939, 1944, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, and 1967. The Chicago Bears won it five times, and the Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions each won it four times.
Why was the trophy's name sometimes misspelled on the replicas?
Some replicas, including the ones won by the Green Bay Packers in 1936 and 1939, have the name spelled as Thorpe rather than Thorp. This suggests Ed Thorp was not a widely recognized name even among those producing the trophy at the time.
Where is the Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy today?
The original traveling trophy is on full display at the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame. It was rediscovered there in 2015, and its missing base was found in a cardboard box and reattached in 2018, completing the list of engraved winners.
Why is the 1960 Philadelphia Eagles championship not engraved on the trophy?
The source does not explain why. The Eagles are the only champion from 1934 through 1967 with no engraving on the trophy, though a space was left for them. The 1968 and 1969 champions also lack engravings.