The Lombardi Trophy

Every year football fans await the biggest battle of the year - the Super Bowl.  Held annually at the end of the football season, this national football championship game determines who wins the coveted Vince Lombardi Trophy. 

In the earlier years of football there were two leagues - the American Football League (AFL) and the National Football League (NFL).  These two leagues would play-off annually in a championship similar to that of the Super Bowl.  The winner of this contest would be awarded the World Championship Game Trophy, later called the Vince Lombardi Trophy in honor of dedicated coach and general manager Vince Lombardi.   

In the late 1960’s, the two leagues, the AFL and the NFL merged.  Both entities agreed to be recognized as one league and retained the name of the National Football League, or NFL.  This merger led to the birth of the Super Bowl, a competition between the American Football Conference (the teams affiliated with the old AFL) and the National Football Conference (teams affiliated with the former NFL).

Presented to the winning team on the field immediately following the Super Bowl, the Lombardi Trophy is stunning in it's appearance.  According to the official Vince Lombardi website, the trophy itself is valued at over $12,000 and is made of sterling silver.  The image itself is of a regulation football positioned for kick-off.  Each trophy is engraved with the wording “Vince Lombardi Trophy” and the National Football League (NFL) logo along with the name of the winning team.  The winning team determines where they will house the trophy. 

Lombardi Trophy Winners:

Some of the most exciting and memorable moments in football have been witnessed while teams were competing for the Lombardi Trophy.

·         2008 - New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning makes a great pass to David Tyree which leads to a touchdown in the final moments of Super Bowl XLII.  The Giants defeated the New England Patriots in a surprising upset.    

·         2004 - Kicker Adam Vinatieri leads New England Patriots to a victory over the Philadelphia Eagles when he kicks the winning field goal with only 4 seconds remaining in Super Bowl XXXVIII. 

·         1996 - Desmond Howard sets a Super Bowl record with a 99 yard kick-off return leading the Green Bay Packers to a victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI. 

·         1989 - With 39 seconds remaining in the game, Quarterback Joe Montana passes to Wide Receiver John Taylor for the game winning touchdown in Super Bowl XXIII.  The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 20-16.  

·         1976 - The talk of Super Bowl X was a catch made by Lynn Swann.  The action photo was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated.  The Pittsburgh Steelers would defeat the Dallas Cowboys 21-17. 

For decades to come families, friends, neighbors and co-workers will gather around the television to cheer on their favorite team hopeful that they will be the next recipient of the esteemed Vincent Lombardi Trophy.