Vince Lombardi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Vince Lombardi

Lombardi in the 1960s
Personal information
Born:	(1913-06-11)June 11, 1913 Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Died:	September 3, 1970(1970-09-03) (aged 57) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Career information
High school:	St. Francis Prep
College:	Fordham
Undrafted:	1937
Career history
As player:
Wilmington Clippers (1937) Brooklyn Eagles (1938)
As coach:
Salesianum School (1937) Assistant St. Cecilia HS (NJ) (1939–1941) Assistant St. Cecilia HS (NJ) (1942–1946) Head coach Fordham (1947–1948) Assistant Army (1949–1953) Assistant New York Giants (1954–1958) Offensive coordinator Green Bay Packers (1959–1967) Head coach & general manager Washington Redskins (1969) Head coach & general manager
As administrator:
Green Bay Packers (1959–1968) General manager
Career highlights and awards
2× Super Bowl champion (I, II) 5× NFL champion (1961, 1962, 1965–1967) 2× NFL Coach of the Year (1959, 1961) NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame Washington Commanders Ring of Fame
Career NFL statistics
Win–loss record: 96–34–6 Winning percentage: 73.8% Playoff record: 9–1 Overall record: 105–35–6
Coaching stats at PFR
Pro Football Hall of Fame

Vincent Thomas Lombardi (born June 11, 1913 – died September 3, 1970) was a famous American football coach and leader in the National Football League (NFL). Many people think Lombardi was the greatest coach in football history. He is also seen as one of the best coaches and leaders in all of American sports.

He is most famous for being the head coach of the Green Bay Packers in the 1960s. He led the team to win three straight and five total NFL Championships in seven years. He also won the first two Super Bowls at the end of the 1966 and 1967 NFL seasons.

Lombardi started his coaching career as an assistant coach. Later, he became a head coach at St. Cecilia High School in Englewood, New Jersey. He was an assistant coach at Fordham University and for the United States Military Academy. He also coached for the New York Giants before becoming the head coach of the Green Bay Packers from 1959 to 1967. After that, he coached the Washington Redskins in 1969.

As a head coach in the NFL, he never had a losing season. His regular-season winning percentage was 73.8% (96 wins, 34 losses, 6 ties). In the playoffs, he won 90% of his games (9 wins, 1 loss). His overall record in the NFL was 105 wins, 35 losses, and 6 ties.

He died suddenly from cancer in 1970. The year after his death, he was honored in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The NFL's Super Bowl trophy was also named after him.

Lombardi's Early Life

Lombardi was born on June 11, 1913, in the Sheepshead Bay area of Brooklyn, New York. His parents were Enrico "Harry" Lombardi and Matilda "Mattie" Izzo. His grandparents came from Italy. Vince was the oldest of five children. Both his family and his mother's family lived in Sheepshead Bay.

Vince's grandfather, Anthony, had a barber shop. His father, Harry, and his uncle, Eddie, opened a butcher shop in Manhattan. Even during the Great Depression, Harry's shop did well. Lombardi grew up in a diverse, middle-class neighborhood.

St Mark's Church

Going to church was a must for the Lombardi family on Sundays. After church, they would have dinner with family and friends. Vince was an altar boy at St. Mark's Catholic Church. Outside their neighborhood, Italian immigrants and their families often faced unfair treatment. As a child, Lombardi helped his father at the butcher shop but did not like it. When he was 12, he started playing in an organized football league in Sheepshead Bay.

High School Days

Lombardi finished eighth grade at age 15 in 1928. He then went to Cathedral Preparatory Seminary in Brooklyn. This was a six-year program to become a Catholic priest. At Cathedral, he played baseball and basketball. However, he was not very athletic and had poor eyesight. He kept playing football off-campus, even though it was against school rules.

After four years, he decided not to become a priest. In the fall of 1932, he enrolled at St. Francis Preparatory high school. He became a key player as a fullback on the football team. His strong performance earned him a spot on the virtual All-City football team.

College Football at Fordham

In 1933, Lombardi received a football scholarship to Fordham University in the Bronx. He played for the Fordham Rams under Coach Jim Crowley. Crowley was one of the famous Four Horsemen from Notre Dame in the 1920s. In his first year, Lombardi was a tough and energetic player.

By his senior year in 1936, he was a right guard in the "Seven Blocks of Granite". This was a nickname for Fordham's strong offensive line. In one game, he got a bad cut in his mouth and lost several teeth. He still came back to play defense and helped his team save a scoreless tie. The Rams had a great season but lost their final game. This loss taught Lombardi a lesson: never underestimate your opponent.

Starting His Career

Lombardi graduated from Fordham University on June 16, 1937. It was still the time of the Great Depression, so jobs were hard to find. For the next two years, he didn't have a clear career path. He tried playing semi-professional football and worked as a debt collector, but these didn't last. With his father's help, he started Fordham Law School in September 1938. He left after one semester, feeling his grades were not good enough. He later said he left to start a family. He also played for the Brooklyn Eagles.

Lombardi's Coaching Journey

High School Coaching

In 1939, Lombardi wanted to marry his girlfriend, Marie Planitz. His father insisted he get a steady job first. He married Marie the next year. In 1939, Lombardi became an assistant coach at St. Cecilia. This was a Catholic high school in Englewood, New Jersey. His former Fordham teammate, Andy Palau, offered him the job. Lombardi, at 26, also taught Latin, chemistry, and physics. He earned less than $1,000 a year.

In 1942, Lombardi became the head coach at St. Cecilia's. He stayed there for eight years, with five as head coach. In 1943, St. Cecilia's was named the top high school football team in the nation. This was partly due to their win over Brooklyn Prep, a top team led by future legendary coach Joe Paterno. Lombardi won six state championships for private schools.

Coaching at Fordham and West Point

In 1947, Lombardi returned to his old school, Fordham University, to coach freshman football and basketball. The next year, he was an assistant coach for the main football team.

After the 1948 season, Lombardi took an assistant coaching job at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. This job greatly shaped his coaching style. He was the offensive line coach under head coach Earl "Colonel Red" Blaik. Blaik's focus on perfect execution became a key part of Lombardi's coaching. Lombardi coached at West Point for five seasons. He learned about perseverance from Blaik during tough times, like a cheating scandal that affected the team.

New York Giants

In 1954, at age 41, Lombardi started his NFL career with the New York Giants. He became the offensive coordinator under head coach Jim Lee Howell. The Giants had a poor record the year before. By his third season in 1956, Lombardi, along with defensive coordinator Tom Landry, helped turn the team into champions. They beat the Chicago Bears 47–7 for the league title.

Lombardi worried that he couldn't get a head coaching job because of unfair treatment against his Italian background. Howell wrote many letters to help him. In New York, Lombardi brought a new strategy called "rule blocking" to the NFL. Instead of blocking a specific player, offensive linemen would block an area. The running back would then run towards any open space. Lombardi called this "running to daylight."

The Green Bay Packers Era

Taking Command in Green Bay

In 1958, the Green Bay Packers had their worst record ever, 1 win, 10 losses, and 1 tie. The team and fans were very upset. On February 2, 1959, Lombardi became the head coach and general manager of the Packers. He demanded full control over the team's football operations. He told the team's leaders, "I want it understood that I am in complete command here."

Lombardi also took "complete command" of the players. He started tough training and demanded total dedication from them. The Packers quickly improved in 1959, finishing with 7 wins and 5 losses. Lombardi was named Coach of the Year. Fans loved what Lombardi was doing and bought all the tickets for every home game in the 1960 season. Every Packers home game has been sold out ever since.

Winning Championships

In Lombardi's second year, 1960, Green Bay won the NFL Western Conference. This was their first time since 1944. Lombardi led the Packers to the 1960 Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles. In the last play of the game, the Packers were stopped just short of the goal line. Lombardi lost his first and only championship game. After the game, he told his team, "This will never happen again. You will never lose another championship."

He coached the Packers to win their next nine playoff games. This was a record that lasted for many years. The Packers beat the Giants for the NFL title in 1961 (37–0) and 1962 (16–7). These were the first two of their five titles in Lombardi's seven years. After the 1962 win, President John F. Kennedy even asked Lombardi if he would coach the Army team again.

Lombardi's overall record as head coach, including playoffs, was 105 wins, 35 losses, and 6 ties. He never had a losing season. He led the Packers to three straight NFL championships in 1965, 1966, and 1967. This had only happened once before in league history. At the end of the 1966 and 1967 seasons, Lombardi's Packers won the first two Super Bowls. This meant they won five championships in seven seasons.

The Packers Sweep Play

As the Packers coach, Lombardi changed Heisman Trophy winner Paul Hornung from a quarterback to a full-time halfback. Lombardi also created a special play for fullback Jim Taylor. In this play, both offensive guards, Jerry Kramer and Fuzzy Thurston, would move outside and block defenders. Taylor would then "run to daylight," meaning he would run where there were no defenders. This play became famous as the Packers sweep (or Lombardi sweep).

The Ice Bowl Game

In 1967, Lombardi's Packers played the Dallas Cowboys in Green Bay on December 31. This was the NFL Championship Game, and it was a very cold day. The game became known as the "Ice Bowl" because the temperature was −13°F.

With 16 seconds left and the Packers down by three points, it was 3rd down and goal at the Dallas two-foot line. In the huddle, Quarterback Bart Starr asked Jerry Kramer if he could get enough grip on the icy field for a short run play. Kramer said yes. Starr then told Lombardi he wanted to keep the ball himself on the play. Lombardi, tired of the cold, told Starr to "Run it! And let's get the hell out of here!" Starr ran the play, following Kramer's block, and scored the winning touchdown.

Washington Redskins

After winning Super Bowl II, Lombardi stepped down as head coach of the Packers on February 1, 1968. He stayed on as general manager. He gave the head coaching job to Phil Bengtson, a longtime assistant.

In February 1969, Lombardi became the head coach and general manager of the Washington Redskins. The Redskins finished with 7 wins, 5 losses, and 2 ties. This was their first winning record since the 1955 season. Lombardi died during the 1970 preseason. However, he was praised for changing the team's culture in his one season, setting them up for success later.

Lombardi's Personal Life

Family Life

In 1934, Lombardi met Marie Planitz. Her father, a stockbroker, did not like the idea of his daughter marrying the son of a butcher. But Lombardi and Marie got married on August 31, 1940.

Their son, Vincent Henry Lombardi (Vince Jr.), was born in 1942. Their daughter, Susan, was born five years later in 1947.

Lombardi's grandson, Joe Lombardi, has also been an assistant coach in the NFL since 2006. In 2009, he helped the New Orleans Saints win Super Bowl XLIV. He also helped quarterback Drew Brees win a Super Bowl MVP award.

Strong Beliefs and Values

Three things were always important in Lombardi's life: his Catholic religion, his family, and football. He went to Mass every day. When he was 12, he even thought about becoming a priest.

When Lombardi became a high school coach in 1942, he took his team to Sunday Mass before every home game. He often stopped at St. Willebrord Church on his way to work for the Green Bay Packers to pray. He was also a Fourth Degree in the Knights of Columbus.

Fighting Against Unfair Treatment

In 1960, some NFL teams still had rules that treated players differently based on their race. But Jack Vainisi, the Packers' Scouting Director, and Lombardi decided to ignore these unfair rules. They wanted to find the most talented players, no matter their background. Lombardi said he saw his players as "Packer green," not black or white.

Lombardi's views against unfair treatment were unusual for football coaches during the civil rights movement. When he joined the Packers, they had only one black player. By 1967, they had 13 black players, including many All-Pros.

During his first training camp, Lombardi heard about a player being treated unfairly because of their race. He warned his team that any player who showed prejudice would be kicked off the team.

Lombardi also told all businesses in Green Bay that if they did not treat his black and white players equally, the entire team would stop going there. He made a rule that the Packers would only stay in places that accepted all his players. By 1967, the Packers were the only NFL team with such a policy.

Lombardi's strong beliefs about fairness came from his religious faith and the unfair treatment he had faced as an Italian-American. He demanded "Nothing But Acceptance" from players and coaches towards all people. He would quickly remove a coach or player if they showed disrespect towards others based on who they were. His son, Vince Lombardi, Jr., said, "He saw everyone as equals... My father would've felt, 'I hope I've created an atmosphere in the locker room where this would not be an issue at all. And if you do have an issue, the problem will be yours because my locker room will tolerate nothing but acceptance.'"

When Lombardi arrived in Washington, he was aware of tight end Jerry Smith's personal life. Lombardi told Smith that his personal life would never be an issue as long as he coached the Redskins. Smith would only be judged on his performance and contribution to the team. Under Lombardi, Smith played very well and was named a First Team All-Pro.

Political Views

Lombardi was a lifelong Democrat with open-minded views on civil rights. He supported John F. Kennedy in the 1960 presidential election and Robert F. Kennedy in the 1968 primaries. He also supported Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson. However, in the 1960s, he became uncomfortable with the youth protest movements.

Illness and Death

Lombardi had health problems as early as 1967. On June 24, 1970, he was admitted to Georgetown University Hospital. Tests showed he had a fast-growing cancer in his colon. On July 27, doctors found that the cancer was very serious. Lombardi and his family, friends, and former players visited him in the hospital. He even received a phone call from President Nixon. Lombardi died in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, September 3, 1970, at age 57.

His funeral was held on September 7 at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan. Many people attended, including team owners, coaches, players, and friends. Lombardi was buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Middletown Township, New Jersey.

Honors and Legacy

• In May 1967, Lombardi received Fordham University's highest honor, the Insignis Medal, for being a great teacher.
• On January 13, 1969, he was inducted into the Knights of Malta.
• He was inducted into the Fordham University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1971.

Statues of Vince Lombardi and Curly Lambeau at Lambeau Field.

• In 2003, a 14-foot statue of Lombardi was placed outside Lambeau Field, the Packers' stadium.
• In 1968, Highland Avenue in Green Bay, where Lambeau Field is located, was renamed Lombardi Avenue.
• The Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University is named after him.
• One of the middle schools in Green Bay is named Lombardi Middle School.
• The football field at Old Bridge High School in Old Bridge, New Jersey, is named Lombardi Field.
• A plaque honoring him was placed in a square in Brooklyn, New York, in 1974.
• The Vince Lombardi Service Area on the New Jersey Turnpike is named for him.
• In 1970, the NFL's Super Bowl Trophy was renamed the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
• In 1970, the Rotary Club of Houston created the Lombardi Award. This award is given each year to the best college football lineman or linebacker.
• In 1969, Lombardi received the Silver Buffalo Award, the highest adult award from the Boy Scouts of America.
• Lombardi was honored in the NFL's Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971.
• He was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1976.
• Lombardi is a member of the Ring of Fame of the Washington Commanders.
• In 2008, Lombardi was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.
• Lombardi appeared on a U.S. Postage stamp issued on July 25, 1997.

Head Coaching Record

Source:

• The Packers played in the third-place Playoff Bowl in Miami after the 1963 and 1964 seasons;
  these are categorized as exhibition games.

See Also

In Spanish: Vince Lombardi para niños

• List of Knights of Columbus
• List of National Football League head coach wins leaders
• List of National Football League head coaches by playoff record
• List of Super Bowl head coaches