Vince Lombardi Trophy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vince Lombardi Trophy |
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Malcolm Jenkins of the Philadelphia Eagles raises the Vince Lombardi Trophy at the Super Bowl LII parade in Center City, Philadelphia in February 2018
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| Sport | American football |
| Competition | NFL playoffs |
| Given for | Winning the Super Bowl |
| Country | United States |
| Presented by | National Football League |
| History | |
| First award | 1967 |
| Editions | 56 |
| First winner | Green Bay Packers |
| Most wins | Pittsburgh Steelers (6), New England Patriots (6) (Tied) (AFC) San Francisco 49ers (5), Dallas Cowboys (5) (tied) (NFC) |
| Most recent | Kansas City Chiefs |
The Vince Lombardi Trophy is the award given each year to the team that wins the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League (NFL). People often call it the "Lombardi Trophy" or just "the Lombardi."
The trophy is named after a famous NFL coach, Vince Lombardi. He led the Green Bay Packers to win the first two Super Bowl games ever.
The idea for the trophy came from a sketch on a napkin. In 1966, an executive from Tiffany & Co., Oscar Riedner, drew it during lunch with NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle. The first trophy was made by Tiffany & Co. in New Jersey. Today, new trophies are still handcrafted by the company.
The very first trophy was given to the Green Bay Packers on January 15, 1967. They won Super Bowl I against the Kansas City Chiefs. After Vince Lombardi passed away in 1970, the trophy was officially named in his honor. The Baltimore Colts were the first team to receive it as the Vince Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl V.
At first, the trophy was given to the winning team in their locker room. But since Super Bowl XXX in 1996, it has been presented on the field. The team owner usually accepts it there.
Unlike some other famous sports awards, a brand new Vince Lombardi Trophy is made every year. The winning team gets to keep their trophy forever. The trophy has also been a big part of the Super Bowl logo design since Super Bowl XLV.
Contents
What the Trophy Looks Like
The Vince Lombardi Trophy is about 22 inches (56 cm) tall. It weighs around 7 pounds (3.2 kg). The entire trophy is made from shiny sterling silver.
It shows a football ready to be kicked. This football sits on a stand with three curved sides. The words "Vince Lombardi Trophy" and the Roman numerals for that year's Super Bowl are carved into the base. The NFL shield logo is also on it.
After the Super Bowl, the trophy goes back to Tiffany's. They engrave the names of the teams, the date, location, and the final score. Then, it's sent back to the winning team. Smaller copies of the trophy are also made for each person on the winning team.
For the first four Super Bowls, both the NFL and the AFL logos were on the trophy. From Super Bowl V onwards, only the NFL shield was used. The shield's look has changed slightly over the years, but the trophy's main design has stayed the same.
The Time Rob Gronkowski Dented the Trophy
In April 2019, a famous player named Rob Gronkowski accidentally dented a Lombardi Trophy. He was at a baseball game and used the Super Bowl LIII trophy like a bat. He was trying to hit a practice pitch from his teammate Julian Edelman.
This left a baseball-sized dent in the trophy. The team, the New England Patriots, even made a funny video about it. A team official said they would probably keep the dent for a while. It helps them tell a fun story about the trophy!
Teams with the Most Lombardi Trophies
The Super Bowl is usually played in early February. It marks the end of the NFL season, which starts in September of the year before. For example, Super Bowl 50 was played in February 2016, but it was for the 2015 NFL season. The years below refer to the season, not the game date.
- Six Trophies:
- The Pittsburgh Steelers have won six times (1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 2005, 2008).
- The New England Patriots also have six wins (2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016, 2018).
- Five Trophies:
- The Dallas Cowboys have won five times (1971, 1977, 1992, 1993, 1995).
- The San Francisco 49ers also have five wins (1981, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1994).
- Four Trophies:
- The Green Bay Packers have won four times (1966, 1967, 1996, 2010).
- The New York Giants also have four wins (1986, 1990, 2007, 2011).
- The Kansas City Chiefs have four wins (1969, 2019, 2022, 2023).
- Three Trophies:
- The Las Vegas Raiders (including when they were the Oakland and Los Angeles Raiders) have three wins (1976, 1980, 1983).
- The Washington Redskins (now Commanders) have three wins (1982, 1987, 1991).
- The Denver Broncos also have three wins (1997, 1998, 2015).
No team has ever won three Super Bowls in a row. However, some teams have won many trophies in a short time. For example, the Pittsburgh Steelers won four Super Bowls in just six years (1974, 1975, 1978, 1979).
As an individual player, quarterback Tom Brady has won the most Super Bowls. He won seven trophies in his career, more than any single NFL team. Coach Bill Belichick has won eight Super Bowls, also more than any team or player.
How the Trophy is Presented
Since Super Bowl XXX in 1996, the trophy has been given to the winning team on a stage built on the field. A TV announcer from the network broadcasting the game usually hosts this ceremony.
The winning team's owner, coach, and quarterback are usually recognized. If someone other than the quarterback is the game MVP, they are also honored. A special song called "The Lombardi Trophy Theme" plays when the trophy is handed over.
Before 1996, the NFL commissioner would hold the trophy and give it to the team owner in the locker room. A special moment happened at Super Bowl V. Vince Lombardi's widow, Marie, presented the trophy instead of the commissioner.
From Super Bowl XL to Super Bowl LIII, a former NFL player would bring the trophy onto the field. This player was often a past Super Bowl MVP or a famous player from the city hosting the game.
See also
In Spanish: Trofeo Vince Lombardi para niños
- Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy – An older NFL Championship trophy (1934–1969)
- List of National Football League awards
