---
slug: "lombardi-trophy"
title: The Lombardi Trophy
depth_tier: entry
side: UNIVERSAL
category: "Culture & Lifestyle"
source_id: "CUL-0011"
created: 2026-04-21
updated: 2026-04-21
canonical: https://learningfootball.xyz/terms/lombardi-trophy
aliases:
  - Lombardi Trophy
  - Vince Lombardi Trophy
  - Super Bowl trophy
---
# The Lombardi Trophy

## Short Definition

The sterling silver Super Bowl championship trophy named after Vince Lombardi—designed by Tiffany and Co. and the ultimate symbol of NFL achievement.

## Definition

The Vince Lombardi Trophy is the championship award presented to the winner of the Super Bowl each year, named after Vince Lombardi—the legendary Green Bay Packers coach who led the team to the first two Super Bowl victories in 1967 and 1968. Designed by Tiffany and Co., the trophy is a sterling silver football mounted on a kite-shaped stand, measuring approximately 22 inches tall and weighing 7 pounds. A new trophy is commissioned and crafted for each champion.

The trophy is named after Lombardi both to honor his championships and to capture his philosophy—his famous statement that "winning isn't everything, it's the only thing" became the defining ethos of competitive football and a cultural touchstone far beyond the sport. Lombardi's image and words remain among the most cited in American sports culture, and the trophy carrying his name functions as a symbol of that ethos made physical.

The trophy's cultural significance extends beyond the game. Images of coaches and players hoisting the Lombardi Trophy are among the most reproduced in American sports photography. The moment of presentation—on the field after the final whistle—is a standard visual of championship victory in American culture. Players who win multiple Super Bowls are specifically identified by how many Lombardi Trophies they helped their teams earn.

The trophy's design has remained essentially unchanged since its first presentation in 1967, making it one of the most consistently recognized symbols in American sports. Its absence of a player or mascot—just a football in an ideal kicking position—gives it a universality that transcends any particular team or era.

## Example

"He's been in the league fourteen years, been to three Super Bowls, and he's never touched the Lombardi Trophy. Tonight that changes. That's what this whole thing is for."

## Common Confusion

The Lombardi Trophy is not retired and re-presented like most championship trophies—a new one is crafted by Tiffany and Co. and awarded each year. The winning team permanently keeps that year's trophy. There is no single physical Lombardi Trophy that travels between champions; each team's trophy is unique to their championship year.

## Related

- super-bowl-sunday
- hall-of-fame
- nfl-films
- vince-lombardi

---
Source: https://learningfootball.xyz/terms/lombardi-trophy