Most NFL fans know that the winning team of the Pride Bowl is awarded the Lombardi Trophy. I’ll even go so far as to say that fewer NFL fans know that Vince Lombardi was a coach. Oh, it was that coach! For those who don’t know much, here is his story.
Vincent Thomas Lombardi was born on June 11, 1913 in Brooklyn, New York. Vince at the age of 15 entered the 6 year program to become a priest! I don’t know what football would have been like if I had continued on that path. But after 4 years he died and went to a public high school and was a happy player there.
In 1933 Vince received a scholarship to play for coach Jim Crowley (one of the famous 4 horsemen from Notre Dame ) at Fordham in the Bronx. Lombardi’s guard was one of the most notorious offensive lines in college football history. About 7 blocks of stone.
In 1939, after trying out for football, Vince became an assistant football coach at St. Cecilia’s Catholic High School. The Lombards also taught the Latin language, Chemistry and Physics under the year 1,800 to a thousand! He married a Fordham teammate (Marie Planitz) and was at St. Cecilia’s for 8 years, the last 5 as head coach.
He then spent 2 years as an assistant coach at Fordham before taking a job at West Point (United States Military academy AKA Army) as an offensive line coach. His head coach and mentor was Colonel Red Blaik. This is where he developed the style that would make him so successful as a writer.
In 1954 at the age of 41 he became the offensive coordinator for the New York Giants under Jim Lee Howell. Lombardi is joined by a defensive coordinator that few of you have heard of, Tom Landry. In just 3 seasons they turned a 3-9 team into World Champions with a victory over the Chicago Bears.
In January 1999 at the age of 45, he became the head coach and general manager of the Green Bay Packers. When he entered this office, he also made history. He led the team to 7-5 his first year and lost in the NFL championship game in his second season.
Lombardi’s style was simple. He demanded it from the players and he did it. He stuck to a few simple games, and required them to run perfectly each day. Rufus himself was also the key to the light of philosophy. His teams ran a lot of exits, where the guards would pull and block the linebackers or linebackers. His backs are equipped to find the hole and run light
. Paul Hornung won the Hesiman Trophy at halfback, and he combined with Jim Taylor to form the best combination attack in any NFL team He also hired unknown a 17th round draft pick from Alabama named Bart Starr at quarterback.
Lombardi’s record in the NFL was 105-35-6, never losing a single season. He led the Packers to 3 consecutive bowls in 1965, 66 and 67, including the first two Super Bowl. Once in the role of general manager with Jim Ringo, he was now negotiating the Hall of Fame’s contract. It is well known that Lombardi disliked sports agents. Ringo with one and Lombardi apologized. Returning a little later, he addresses the two men. He explained that he couldn’t talk about a contract with them as Jim Ringo was recently traded to the Philadelphia Eagles. It was Lombardi’s way or way.
In 1967 he stepped down as head coach, but remained the general manager of the Green Bay Packers for one season. He then had a change of heart and returned to coaching with the Washington Redskins. The Redskins had 14 consecutive losing seasons until the one season Lombardi coached.
Later, while training in Washington 2nd camp, he was diagnosed with Cancer. Despite severe treatment he died on September 3 rd 1970. His funeral was at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New Super Bowl team was named the Lombardi Trophy. In 1971 Vince was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton Ohio.
