It’s among the most sought-after awards in American sports, but why is it called the Vince Lombardi trophy? It’s bestowed to the winning team of the Super Bowl each year and is crafted from scratch by an unexpected luxury jeweler.
More than 200 million people tune into the game each year, but the Super Bowl had humble beginnings. It started in 1966 as part of a merger between the National Football League and the American Football League. It was originally titled the AFL-NFL World Championship Game until the Super Bowl name was adopted in the 1969 Super Bowl III.
In the present day, the Super Bowl is the annual final playoff game between the American Football Conference Champion and the National Football Conference champion historically played on a Sunday from mid-January to late February.
Of the NFL’s current 32 teams, 20 (11 NFC and 9 AFC) have won the Super Bowl and 15 (7 NFC and 8 AFC) hold multiple titles. The AFC’s Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots hold the record among AFC teams for the most Super Bowl titles at six each. The Patriots hold the record among AFC teams for the most Super Bowl appearances at 11. The NFC’s Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers hold the record among the NFC for the most Super Bowl titles at five each. The Cowboys hold the record among NFC teams for the most appearances with eight.
Since it first aired, the Super Bowl has become the most-watched sporting event on American television. In fact, the seven most-watched broadcasts in American television history are Super Bowls. Now that you know the history of the Super Bowl, here’s why it’s called the Vince Lombardi trophy.
Why is it called the Vince Lombardi trophy?
It’s called the Vince Lombardi trophy after Vince Lombardi, one of the great coaches in NFL history. Lombardi was the head coach of the Green Bay Packers from 1959 to 1967, leading the team to five NFL championships and victories in the first two Super Bowls (Super Bowl I and II). Lombardi’s coaching philosophy and success made him a legendary figure in the NFL.
After Vince Lombardi passed away in 1970, the NFL decided to name the trophy awarded to the Super Bowl champions in his honor. The first Lombardi Trophy was awarded to the Baltimore Colts, the winners of Super Bowl V in 1971. Since then, the trophy has been presented annually to the team that wins the Super Bowl, making it one of the most prestigious and recognizable awards in American sports.
Who makes the Lombardi trophy?
Iconic luxury jeweler Tiffany & Co. makes the Lombardi trophy from scratch every year. As the legend goes, Tiffany & Co. vice president Oscar Riedner sketched the trophy design on a cocktail napkin over lunch with NFL commissioner, Pete Rozelle, in 1966.
It’s “absolutely true,” Victoria Reynolds, Tiffany & Co. chief gemologist who previously ran business sales and sports marketing told Fast Company. “I think we all [think of] Mad Men—you know, these two guys sitting there and sketching—but it is, in fact, true.” She added, “It’s really a work of art. And because it’s so simple, any type of mistake would show right away. So, it really has to be perfect.”
Of course, “The security on that is quite something, as you can imagine. It’s done very discreetly. But it’s done with a full security team. […] It’s transported with absolute safety and secrecy,” Reynolds continued, and Fast Company reported that Tiffany & Co. has not disclosed the cost and valuation of each trophy.
However, SportingNews had said previously that the trophy costs $50,000 to make, but the physical trophy itself is estimated to be valued at around $10,000. It’s made out of sterling silver and takes around four months to put together. The Lombardi Trophy measures 20.75 inches high and weighs seven pounds.
