Vince Lombardi Trophy
Tiffany & Co. vice president Oscar Riedner sketched the trophy on a cocktail napkin during lunch with NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle in 1966. The original design featured a football in a kicking position resting on a three concave sided stand. This first physical version weighed 107.3 ounces and stood at an unspecified height, though it was entirely made of sterling silver. The words World Professional Football Championship appeared inscribed on the base of that initial piece. Green Bay Packers received this specific trophy on the 15th of January 1967 after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl I. The company produced these early versions in Newark, New Jersey before moving operations to Parsippany, New Jersey. As of 2017, manufacturing shifted again to the Forest Hill facility in Cumberland, Rhode Island.
Vince Lombardi died in September 1970, prompting the league to officially rename the award in his memory. The trophy had previously been known simply as the World Professional Football Championship or the Super Bowl Trophy. It appeared for the first time under its new name when presented to the Baltimore Colts following their victory over the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl V. Marie Lombardi, the widow of Vince Lombardi, personally handed out the trophy during that ceremony instead of the commissioner. The change honored the coach who led the Green Bay Packers to victories in the first two Super Bowl games. No other NFL championship trophy carries the name of a specific individual like this one does.
Super Bowl XXX in January 1996 marked the shift from locker room presentations to field-based ceremonies. Before that year, the commissioner held the trophy inside the winning team's locker room and handed it directly to the owner. Since 1996, a stage constructed on the field holds the trophy while network personalities handle the presentation ceremony. Terry Bradshaw has hosted every Fox broadcast since Super Bowl XXXI except for Super Bowl XLVIII when Michael Strahan substituted. Jim Nantz manages CBS duties starting from Super Bowl XXXV while Dan Patrick covered NBC events from Super Bowl XLIII through Super Bowl LII. Mike Tirico took over NBC hosting duties beginning with Super Bowl LVI. Packers president Bob
Harlan accepted the trophy on behalf of the community after Super Bowl XXXI and again after Super Bowl XLV alongside Mark Murphy.
Rob Gronkowski used the Super Bowl LIII Vince Lombardi Trophy as a bat during a Boston Red Sox season opener on the 9th of April 2019. The retired tight end bunted a practice pitch thrown by Julian Edelman leaving a baseball-sized dent in the silver surface. This incident marked his third overall dent and the sixth for his former New England Patriots team. A humorous documentary-style video released by the Patriots about the event gained significant popularity among fans. Stacey James, vice president of media relations for the Patriots, stated they would keep the dent to tell the story rather than fixing it immediately. The NFL shield on the front of the trophy changed
appearance starting with Super Bowl XXXVIII taking on a frosted look before redesigning again at Super Bowl XLIII.
Pittsburgh Steelers hold six victories spanning years 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 2005, and 2008 while New England Patriots claim six titles from 2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016, and 2018. Dallas Cowboys won five championships between 1971 and 1995 including back-to-back wins in 1992 and 1993. San Francisco 49ers secured five trophies during seasons 1981, 1984, 1988, 1989, and 1994. Green Bay Packers earned four awards in 1966, 1967, 1996, and 2010. Tom Brady won seven Super Bowls as an individual player more than any single franchise ever achieved. Bill Belichick holds eight career victories as a coach surpassing both team and player records. The league originally played games in early to mid-January before moving
the event to early February starting with Super Bowl 50 on the 7th of February 2016.
Continue Browsing
Common questions
Who designed the Vince Lombardi Trophy and when was it created?
Tiffany & Co. vice president Oscar Riedner sketched the trophy on a cocktail napkin during lunch with NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle in 1966. The original design featured a football in a kicking position resting on a three concave sided stand made entirely of sterling silver.
When did the Vince Lombardi Trophy receive its current name after Vince Lombardi died?
The league officially renamed the award to honor Vince Lombardi following his death in September 1970. It appeared for the first time under its new name when presented to the Baltimore Colts following their victory over the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl V.
Where is the Vince Lombardi Trophy manufactured as of 2017?
As of 2017, manufacturing shifted again to the Forest Hill facility in Cumberland, Rhode Island. The company previously produced these early versions in Newark, New Jersey before moving operations to Parsippany, New Jersey.
What happened to the Vince Lombardi Trophy during Rob Gronkowski's baseball incident in 2019?
Rob Gronkowski used the Super Bowl LIII Vince Lombardi Trophy as a bat during a Boston Red Sox season opener on the 9th of April 2019. This action left a baseball-sized dent in the silver surface which became his third overall dent and the sixth for his former New England Patriots team.
Which teams have won the most Vince Lombardi Trophies according to the script text?
Pittsburgh Steelers hold six victories spanning years 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 2005, and 2008 while New England Patriots claim six titles from 2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016, and 2018. Dallas Cowboys won five championships between 1971 and 1995 including back-to-back wins in 1992 and 1993.