Vince Lombardi Trophy

The Vince Lombardi Trophy is the award given each year to the winning team of the National Football League's championship game, the Super Bowl. It is named to honor Vince Lombardi, the coach who led the Green Bay Packers to victory in the first two Super Bowl games.

The idea for the trophy came during a lunch in 1966 between NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle and a Tiffany & Co. vice president named Oscar Riedner. Riedner sketched the design on a cocktail napkin. The original trophy was made by Tiffany & Co. in Newark, New Jersey, and later ones were handmade in Parsippany, New Jersey and Cumberland, Rhode Island.

The first trophy was awarded to the Green Bay Packers after they won Super Bowl I in 1967. After Vince Lombardi passed away, the trophy was renamed in his memory. Since then, a new trophy has been made each year for the winning team to keep forever. Usually, the trophy is given to the team's owner on the field, but it used to be given in the locker room.

Appearance

The Vince Lombardi Trophy is 22 inches tall and weighs about 7 pounds. It looks like a football on a three-sided stand and is made of sterling silver.

The words "Vince Lombardi Trophy" and the Roman numerals for the Super Bowl year are on the trophy, along with the NFL shield on the base. After the trophy is given out, it goes back to Tiffany's. There, the names of the teams, the date, the location, and the game's final score are added. Then, it is given to the winning team to keep. Smaller copies are made for everyone on the winning team.

For the first four Super Bowls, both the NFL and AFL logos were on the trophy. Starting from Super Bowl V, only the NFL shield appeared on the front. From Super Bowl XXXVIII onward, the shield looked frosted. Since Super Bowl XLIII, a slightly different frosted NFL shield has been used. Apart from the logo, the trophy's design has stayed the same since the first Super Bowl. Some teams, like the Green Bay Packers and the New England Patriots, have three of the designs.

Teams with most Vince Lombardi Trophies

Main article: List of Super Bowl champions

The Super Bowl is the big championship game of the NFL, usually held in early February. It decides the winner of the season that started the year before. For example, Super Bowl 50, played on February 7, 2016, decided the champion for the 2015 season.

Some teams have won the Vince Lombardi Trophy, the award given to the Super Bowl winner, more than others. The Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots have each won it six times. Other teams with many wins include the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers with five each, and the Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, and Kansas City Chiefs with four each.

Players and coaches can also earn fame for their Super Bowl wins. Tom Brady, a famous quarterback, won seven Super Bowls during his career. Bill Belichick, a well-known coach, has won eight Super Bowls, more than any team or player.

Presentation ceremony

Since 1996, the Vince Lombardi Trophy has been given to the winning team on a special stage on the football field. A special guest from the TV network that broadcasts the game helps present the trophy. Different people have helped with the presentation over the years.

Usually, the team's owner, coach, main player, and the best player of the game are recognized when the trophy is given. Special theme music plays while the trophy is handed over.