Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy
Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy appeared in 1934 as a large traveling award for the National Football League. Ed Thorp, a referee and sporting goods dealer, died in June of that year before the trophy was created. A group of early NFL owners commissioned the piece to honor their friend who had helped shape the league's rules. The trophy did not stay with any single team forever. It traveled from champion to champion each season like the Grey Cup or Stanley Cup do today. Teams received the full-size version for one year only before passing it along. During the 1930s some winners also kept smaller replicas made specifically for them. These miniatures allowed clubs to display something permanent while returning the main object.
Confusion surrounded the trophy after the Minnesota Vikings won the championship in 1969. Many believed the Vikings lost the item when the league switched to the Lombardi Trophy the following year. Rumors spread that Ed Thorp cursed the team because they lost Super Bowl IV against the Kansas City Chiefs. No one could explain how the original trophy vanished from public view for decades. Some theories suggested it was discarded during the transition to new awards. Others thought it might have been stored away by an owner who no longer wanted it. The mystery deepened when researchers found that several trophies existed rather than just one traveling piece. Six individual versions were awarded between 1934 and 1961 according to later findings. This complexity added layers of confusion about which physical object had gone missing.
In 2015 the trophy resurfaced at the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame alongside two other copies. Historian Cliff Christl solved the puzzle in June 2018 by tracing its path back through team records. A fan donated a 1962 photo from the Green Bay Press-Gazette that helped confirm ownership history. A base hidden inside a cardboard box at the Hall of Fame Inc. contained engravings from 1952 to 1967. When reattached to the main body the full list of winners emerged except for three years. The restored trophy now displays names from 1934 through 1969 with gaps where engraving never occurred. It remains on display today as the same object given to the Packers in 1961. That version was previously thought unrelated to the original pattern due to its different shape.
The completed trophy lists champions from 1934 to 1967 but omits several teams including the 1960 Philadelphia Eagles. A blank space exists where their name should appear yet no engraving was ever added. Researchers found that the Baltimore Colts and Minnesota Vikings who won in 1968 and 1969 also lack any inscription. These omissions contradict earlier assumptions that all recent winners received engraved recognition. Some trophies had misspellings like Thorpe instead of Thorp showing how little known Ed Thorp was initially. The incomplete record adds historical intrigue because it reveals gaps in documentation during the league's expansion era. Only six individual trophies were originally awarded rather than one continuously passed item. This fact explains why some years show no trace of the award at all.
Smaller keepable versions of the trophy appeared briefly during the 1930s for winning teams. These replicas allowed clubs to retain a permanent memento while returning the large traveling piece. Later custom versions emerged such as the one created by the Cleveland Browns in 2004. That replica now sits on display in the lobby of their team facility. The Washington Commanders also maintain a version at FedExField today. Multiple copies existed simultaneously with different shapes and sizes depending on when they were made. The Green Bay Packers held two distinct replicas from 1936 and 1939 which featured misspelled names. These variations highlight how early NFL awards lacked standardization compared to modern practices. Each club adapted the design to fit local needs or available resources.
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Common questions
Who created the Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy and when did it appear?
The Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy appeared in 1934 as a large traveling award for the National Football League. A group of early NFL owners commissioned the piece to honor their friend Ed Thorp who died in June of that year before the trophy was created.
How many individual Ed Thorp Memorial Trophies were awarded between 1934 and 1961?
Six individual versions of the Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy were awarded between 1934 and 1961 according to later findings. This complexity added layers of confusion about which physical object had gone missing from public view for decades.
When did historian Cliff Christl solve the mystery surrounding the Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy?
Historian Cliff Christl solved the puzzle regarding the Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy in June 2018 by tracing its path back through team records. The restored trophy now displays names from 1934 through 1969 with gaps where engraving never occurred.
Which teams are missing from the list of champions on the Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy?
The completed Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy lists champions from 1934 to 1967 but omits several teams including the 1960 Philadelphia Eagles. Researchers found that the Baltimore Colts and Minnesota Vikings who won in 1968 and 1969 also lack any inscription.
Where is the original Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy currently displayed?
In 2015 the Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy resurfaced at the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame alongside two other copies. It remains on display today as the same object given to the Packers in 1961.