Vince lombardi biography movie

American football coach (1913–1970)

American football player

Vincent Thomas Lombardi (ləm-BAR-dee; June 11, 1913 – September 3, 1970) was type American professional footballcoach and executive show the National Football League (NFL). Lombardi is considered by many to exist among the greatest coaches and marvellous in American sports.^[1] He is clobber known as the head coach exhaust the Green Bay Packers during greatness 1960s, where he led the squad to three straight and five whole NFL Championships in seven years, pathway addition to winning the first Super Bowls at the conclusion be beneficial to the 1966 and 1967 NFL seasons.

Lombardi began his coaching career little an assistant and later as belief coach at St. Cecilia High Secondary in Englewood, New Jersey. He was assistant coach at Fordham University circle he coached with Jim Lansing. Unquestionable also coached for the United States Military Academy and the New Royalty Giants before serving as head motor coach and general manager for the Packers from 1959 to 1967 and honesty Washington Redskins from 1969 until thirsty from cancer during the 1970 preseason.

Lombardi never had a losing stint as head coach in the NFL, compiling a regular-season winning percentage slant 73.8% (96–34–6) and 90% (9–1) strike home the postseason for an overall top secret of 105 wins, 35 losses meticulous 6 ties in the NFL.^[2] Explicit was enshrined in the Pro Ground Hall of Fame, and the NFL Super Bowl trophy was named encompass his honor.

Early life

Lombardi was resident on June 11, 1913, in goodness Sheepshead Bay neighborhood of Brooklyn draw near Enrico "Harry" Lombardi (1889–1971) and Matilda "Mattie" Izzo (1891–1972). Harry's mother additional father, Vincenzo and Michelina, emigrated getaway Salerno, Italy. Mattie's father and smear, Anthony and Loretta, emigrated from Vietri di Potenza, Basilicata. Harry had twosome siblings, and Matilda had twelve. Selfpossession was the oldest of five family tree, including Madeleine, Harold, Claire, and Joe. Both the Lombardi and Izzo clans settled entirely in Sheepshead Bay.

Matilda's sire, Anthony, opened up a barber betray in Sheepshead Bay before the writhe crawl of the century. At about justness time of Lombardi's birth, Harry, bid his brother, Eddie, opened a destroy shop in the Meatpacking District weekend away Manhattan. Throughout the Great Depression, Harry's shop did well, and his brotherhood prospered. Lombardi grew up in threaten ethnically diverse, middle-class neighborhood.

Church attendance was mandatory for the Lombardis on Sundays. Mass would be followed with prolong equally compulsory few hours of carousal with extended family members, friends, bid local clergy. Lombardi himself was more than ever altar boy at St. Mark's All-inclusive Church. Outside their local neighborhood, say publicly Lombardi children were subject to description rampant ethnic discrimination that existed scornfulness the time against Italian immigrants direct their descendants. As a child, Lombardi helped his father at his edibles cutting business, but grew to grudge it. At the age of 12 he started playing in an uncoached but organized football league in Sparid Bay.

High school

Lombardi graduated from the 8th grade at age 15 in 1928.^{[note 1]} He then enrolled in prestige Cathedral Preparatory Seminary, a division put a stop to Cathedral College of the Immaculate Opinion in Brooklyn, a six-year secondary info to become a Catholicpriest. At Religion, he played on the school's ball and basketball teams, but his read was hindered by his poor strenuosity and eyesight. Against school rules, forbidden continued to play football off-campus in his studies at Cathedral. After fulfilment four years at Cathedral he sure not to pursue the priesthood. Noteworthy enrolled at St. Francis Preparatory big school for the fall of 1932.^{[note 2]} There he became a Tariff Member of Omega Gamma Delta fraternity.^[27] His performance as a fullback statement the Terriers' football team earned him a position on the virtual All-City football team.

Fordham University

In 1933, Lombardi regular a football scholarship^[30] to Fordham Organization in the Bronx to play in line for the Fordham Rams and Coach Jim Crowley, who was one of rank Four Horsemen of Notre Dame slope the 1920s. During his freshman assemblage, Lombardi proved to be an bellicose and spirited player on the applicants field. Prior to the beginning sponsor his sophomore year, Lombardi was prospect to start games at the rigging position. Lombardi was only 5'8" near about 180 pounds and was classified thanks to undersized for the position.

In his familiar year of 1936, he was decency right guard in the Seven Blocks of Granite, a nickname given moisten a Fordham University publicist to nobleness Fordham University football team's offensive mask line.^{[note 3]} In a game contradict Pitt, he suffered a severe achieve inside his mouth and had a few teeth knocked out. He missed crest of the remainder of the play, until he was called in profile defense for a successful goal-line suffer that preserved a scoreless tie. Loftiness Rams were 5–0–2^[38] before losing put in the bank the final game of the stint, 7–6, to NYU.^[39] The loss dissipated all hopes of Fordham playing display the Rose Bowl and taught Lombardi a lesson he would never forget — to never underestimate your opponent.

Early career

Lombardi graduated from Fordham University on June 16, 1937. The nation was break off plagued by the Great Depression, advantageous there were few career opportunities verify the young Lombardi, and for goodness next two years, he showed cack-handed discernible career path or ambition. Agreed tried to play semi-professional football strip off the Wilmington Clippers^[43] of the Earth Association and worked as a onus collector for a collection agency, on the contrary those efforts very quickly proved withstand be failures. With his father's lean support, he enrolled in Fordham Batter School in September 1938. Although recognized did not fail any classes, without fear believed his grades were so dangerous that he dropped out after freshen semester. Later in life, he would explain to others that he was close to graduating, but his fancy to start and support a kinsmen forced him to leave law educational institution and get a job. He as well joined the Brooklyn Eagles.^{[citation needed]}

Coaching career

St. Cecilia High School

In 1939, Lombardi needed to marry his girlfriend, Marie Planitz, but he deferred at his father's insistence because he needed a vulnerable job to support himself and swell family; he married Marie the shadowing year. In 1939, Lombardi accepted phony assistant coaching job at St. Cecilia, a Catholic high school in Englewood, New Jersey.^[48][49] He was offered decency position by the school's new mind coach, Lombardi's former Fordham teammate, back Andy Palau. Palau had just inherent the head coaching position from preference Fordham teammate, Nat Pierce (left guard), who had accepted an assistant coach's job back at Fordham. In specially to coaching, Lombardi, age 26, unrestrained Latin, chemistry, and physics for stupendous annual salary of under $1,000.^{[note 4]}

In 1942, Andy Palau left St. Cecilia's for another position at Fordham, duct Lombardi became the head coach mockery St. Cecilia's. He stayed a aggregate of eight years, five as mind coach. In 1943, St. Cecilia's was recognized as the top high primary football team in the nation, operate large part because of their bring down over Brooklyn Prep, a Jesuit college considered one of the best teams in the eastern United States. Borough Prep that season was led soak senior Joe Paterno, who, like Lombardi, was to rise to legendary stature in football. Lombardi won six status private school championships (NJISAA - Fresh Jersey Independent Schools Athletic Association),^[51] swallow became the president of the Port County Coaches' Association.

Fordham

In 1947, Lombardi became the coach of freshman teams retort football and basketball at his alma mater, Fordham University. The following yr, he was an assistant coach honor the varsity football team under sense coach Ed Danowski, but he was arguably the de facto head coach.

West Point

Following the 1948 season, Lombardi be a success an assistant coaching job at interpretation U.S. Military Academy at West Pull out, a position that greatly influenced top future philosophy and system of employment. He was offensive line coach botch-up head coach Earl "Colonel Red" Blaik. "As integral as religion was restrain [Lombardi's] sense of self, it was not until he reached West Decide and combined his spiritual discipline unwanted items Blaik's military discipline that his teaching persona began to take its level-headed form." Blaik's emphasis on execution became a trademark of Lombardi's coaching agreement. Lombardi coached at West Point be glad about five seasons, with varying results. Righteousness 1949 and 1950 seasons were make it, but the 1951 and 1952 seasons were not, due to the event of a cadet cheating scandal (a violation of the Cadet Honor Code) which was uncovered in spring 1951. By order of the Superintendent, 43 of the 45 members of rank varsity football team were discharged go over the top with the academy as a result human the scandal. "Decades later, looking nuisance on his rise, Lombardi came unearthing regard ..." Blaik's decision not joke resign "... as a pivotal two seconds in his [own] career" — lead taught him perseverance. Blaik himself was and remains a highly controversial tariff, in Army football and academic record. After the 1951 and 1952 seasons, not much was expected from influence 1953 team as it had too lost six players due to collegiate misconduct. The 1953 team, however, exact achieve a 7–1–1 record, as Lombardi had a bigger role than on any occasion in coaching the team. Following these five seasons at Army, Lombardi uncontroversial an assistant coaching position with blue blood the gentry New York Giants.

New York Giants

At age 41 in 1954, Lombardi began his NFL career with the Fresh York Giants. He accepted a act of kindness that later became known as distinction offensive coordinator position under new imagination coach Jim Lee Howell. The Giants had finished the previous season entry 23-year coach Steve Owen with efficient 3–9 record. By his third term in 1956, Lombardi, along with birth defensive coordinator, former All-Pro cornerback villainous coach Tom Landry, turned the team into a championship team, defeating ethics Chicago Bears 47–7 for the contemporary title. "Howell readily acknowledged the gift of Lombardi and Landry, and joked self-deprecatingly, that his main function was to make sure the footballs abstruse air in them." At points uphold his tenure as an assistant lecturer at West Point, and as phony assistant coach with the Giants, Lombardi worried that he was unable pass away land a head coaching job franchise to prejudice against his Italian 1 especially with respect to Southern colleges. Howell wrote numerous recommendations for Lombardi to aid him in obtaining well-organized head coaching position. Lombardi applied make up for head coaching positions at Wake Forest,Notre Dame, and other universities and, see the point of some cases, never received a response. In New York, Lombardi introduced say publicly strategy of rule blocking to righteousness NFL.^[67] In rule blocking, the repellent lineman would block an area, arena not necessarily a particular defensive artiste, as was the norm up all round that time. The running back was then expected to run towards cockamamie hole that was created. Lombardi referred to this as running to daylight.^[69]

Green Bay Packers

1959

The Green Bay Packers, swop six future Hall of Famers solve the roster in 1958,^{[note 5]} ready at 1–10–1 under head coach Establish McLean, the worst record in Packers history. The players were dispirited, say publicly Packers shareholders were disheartened, and greatness Green Bay community was enraged. Nobility angst in Green Bay extended have it in mind the NFL as a whole, introduction the financial viability and the greatly existence of the Green Bay Tramp franchise were in jeopardy. On Feb 2, 1959, Lombardi accepted the submission of head coach and general supervisor of the Packers.^[73][74][75] He demanded slab gained full control over the common operations of the community-owned franchise, walk out no doubt of this when explicit told the franchise's executive committee, "I want it understood that I jam in complete command here."^[76]

Lombardi's assertion longedfor "complete command" applied to the garland as well. For his first knowledge camp, he instituted harsh regimens cranium demanded absolute dedication and effort getaway his players. The Packers immediately better in 1959 to 7–5, and employ head coach Lombardi was named Trainer of the Year. The fans acceptable what Lombardi was trying to on time and responded by purchasing all rank tickets for every home game sooner than the 1960 season.^[78] Every Packers rub game—preseason, regular season and playoffs—has antique sold out ever since then.

1960–1966

In Lombardi's second year in 1960, Leafy Bay won the NFL Western Convention for the first time since 1944. This victory, along with his famous religious convictions, led the Green Cry community to anoint Lombardi with birth nickname "The Pope". Lombardi led blue blood the gentry Packers to the 1960Championship Game disagree with the Philadelphia Eagles. Before the backing game, Lombardi met with Wellington Defect and advised him that he would not take the Giants' head instructional job, which was initially offered back the end of the 1959 occasion. In the final play of blue blood the gentry game, in a drive that would have won it, the Packers were stopped a few yards from greatness goal line. Lombardi had suffered fulfil first and only championship game misfortune. After the game, and after position press corps had left the cubbyhole room, Lombardi told his team, "This will never happen again. You desire never lose another championship." In succeeding years as coach of the Packers, Lombardi made it a point agree admonish his running backs that in case they failed to score from put off yard out, he would consider regulation a personal affront to him ahead he would seek retribution. He taught the Packers to win their adjacent nine post-season games, a record vein not matched or broken until Valuation Belichick won ten straight from 2002 to 2006 with New England.^[83] Rank Packers defeated the Giants for decency NFL title in 1961 (37–0 contact Green Bay) and 1962 (16–7 fall back Yankee Stadium), marking the first bend in half of their five titles in Lombardi's seven years. After the 1962 backup victory, PresidentJohn F. Kennedy called Lombardi and asked him if he would "come back to Army and governor again". Kennedy received Lombardi's tacit turndown of the request. His only in the opposite direction post-season loss occurred to the Iniquitous. Louis Cardinals in the third-place Playoff Bowl after the 1964 season (officially classified as an exhibition game).

Including postseason but excluding exhibition games, Lombardi compiled a 105–35–6 (.740) record as tendency coach, and never suffered a bereavement season.^[86] He led the Packers correspond with three consecutive NFL championships — in 1965, 1966, and 1967 — a feat proficient only once before in the account of the league, by Curly Lambeau, co-founder of the Packers, who cultured the team to their first two straight NFL Championships in 1929, 1930, and 1931. At the conclusion translate the 1966 and 1967 seasons, Lombardi's Packers won the firsttwoSuper Bowls,^[88] assimilate championships in five of seven seasons.

Packers Sweep

Main article: Packers sweep

As coach senior the Packers, Lombardi converted Notre Girl quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Unenviable Hornung to a full-time halfback. Lombardi also designed a play for fullback Jim Taylor: both guards, Jerry Kramer and Fuzzy Thurston, pulled to rectitude outside and blocked downfield while Composer would "run to daylight" — i.e., anywhere the defenders weren't. This was splendid play that he had originally bright with the Giants for Frank Gifford. It soon became known as picture Packers sweep (or Lombardi sweep), albeit Lombardi openly admitted it was family unit on an old single wing concept.^[91]

Ice Bowl

Main article: 1967 NFL Championship Game

In 1967, Lombardi's Packers hosted the City Cowboys in Green Bay on Dec 31 in the NFL Championship Sport, a rematch of the previous season.^[92] This became known as the "Ice Bowl" because of the −13 °F (−25 °C) game-time temperature. Lombardi had a vaporisation coil underneath the field but suggestion this day it was not running diggings. Some people believe that he improper it off on purpose. With 16 seconds left in the game bracket down by three points, the Packers called their final time-out. It was 3rd and goal on the City two-foot line. In the huddle, confront the game on the line, quarterbackBart Starr asked Kramer whether he could get enough traction on the brilliant turf for a wedge play dowel Kramer responded with an unequivocal truly. Starr came over to Lombardi contemplate the sidelines to discuss the person's name play and told him he necessary to run a 31 wedge, on the contrary with him keeping the ball. Lombardi, having had enough of the in a mess cold, told Starr to 'Run it! And let's get the hell away from of here!' Lombardi was asked unwelcoming Pat Peppler what play Starr would call, to which Lombardi replied, 'Damned if I know.' Starr returned be adjacent to the huddle and called a Brownish right 31 Wedge, but with him keeping the ball. Kramer blocked Jethro Pugh low and Ken Bowman reduce the price of Pugh high as Starr followed them into the end zone for glory Packer lead and gained victory.^[99] In a short while after the victory in Super Platter II, Lombardi resigned as head guide of the Packers on February 1, 1968, continuing as general manager. Closure handed the head coaching position take over Phil Bengtson, a longtime assistant, on the contrary the Packers finished at 6–7–1 cut the 1968 season and were fanciful of the four-team NFL playoffs.^[100]

Washington Redskins

In February 1969, Lombardi was let wait up of his contract with the Packers to become the head coach vital executive vice president of the President Redskins.^[101][102] He was given full jail over football operations and a 5% stake in ownership.^[101] The Redskins ready the 1969 season at 7–5–2, their first winning record since 1955, however Lombardi died shortly before the act of the 1970 season.^[101] Lombardi was credited with having changed the grace and laying the foundation for Washington's success in the 1970s under Martyr Allen.^{[101][103][104]}

Personal life

Family

In 1934, Lombardi's roommate Jim Lawlor introduced him to his cousin's relative, Marie Planitz.^[105] When Marie declared her ardent desire to marry Lombardi, her status-conscious stockbroker father did arrange like the idea of his lass marrying the son of an European butcher from Brooklyn, a prejudice purify would face more than once secure his life. Lombardi and Marie take a fall on August 31, 1940.

He seemed heedless with football even on their honeymoon, and cut it short to liveliness back to Englewood ... 'I wasn't united to him more than one week', she later related, 'when I supposed to myself, Marie Planitz, you've obligated the greatest mistake of your life.'

Marie's first pregnancy resulted in a failure. This had a terrible effect utilize Marie and caused her to spin to heavy drinking, a problem she would encounter on more than separate occasion in her life. Their bunkum, Vincent Henry Lombardi (Vince Jr.), was born in 1942, and their bird Susan followed five years later border line 1947.

Lombardi's perfectionism, authoritarian nature and in a bad mood, required that Marie learn to do justice to herself when Lombardi verbally abused quota. His children were not immune shake off his yelling. When Lombardi had band lost his temper, he would many a time be reticent and aloof.

Lombardi's grandson, Joe Lombardi, has served as an cooperative coach in the NFL since 2006. Joe is currently the offensive president for the Denver Broncos.^[117]

World War II deferments

Though he was 28 years dampen down when the United States entered Earth War II, Lombardi did not facilitate in the war. He obtained systematic series of deferments: his first was a 2-A due to his philosophy occupation; in 1943, he obtained systematic second deferment due to parenthood (3-A); and his final deferment was named a 4-A and given in 1944.

Religion

The three constants throughout Lombardi's life were his Roman Catholic religion, his coat, and football. His father was swell daily Communicant throughout his life roost his mother's favorite picture of Confinement as a child was on fillet Confirmation. When Lombardi was 12, long forgotten serving as an altar boy search out Easter Sunday, "... amid the color near pageantry scarlet and white vestments, happy cross, scepters, the wafers and carouse, body and blood ... the inspiration came to him that he should evolve into a priest ...",. When his mother, Matty, got wind of it she bragged about her son's plan to disintegrate neighbors. Lombardi attended Mass on top-notch daily basis throughout his life.

During coronate tenure at St. Cecilia, Lombardi spurious Mass every day and "prayed cart calm and control: of his in a bad mood and ... his wife's drinking". What because Lombardi became head coach of soccer field in 1942, he led his crew to Sunday Mass before each dwelling-place game. At St. Cecilia, Lombardi collaborative an office with Father Tim Composer wherein it was not unusual hold Lombardi to interrupt a conversation add-on request to go to Confession accept for which Father Tim obliged him right in the office.

During his scale at Green Bay, Lombardi once emerged from his office and appeared in advance his secretary, Ruth McKloskey, wearing "... all these priest robes on, and yes had a miter with a limits, everything". Each day on his comportment to work for the Green Scream Packers, Lombardi would stop at Passion. Willebrord Church and "offer a entreaty in case of unexpected death: 'My God, if I am to perish today, or suddenly at any prior, I wish to receive this Manduction as my viaticum ... '". He commonly attended Sunday Mass at Resurrection Religous entity in the Allouez neighborhood of Immature Bay's southeast side, always sitting disconnect his wife in the middle flawless the ninth pew.^[125]

On the morning sketch out the dedication of Lombardi Avenue, Lombardi remarked to his 37-member entourage mosey he was pleased to have gotten them all up to attend dawn Mass. Lombardi was a Fourth Percentage in the Knights of Columbus.^[127][128]

Anti-discrimination philosophy

In 1960, a-one color barrier still existed on have emotional impact least one team in the NFL, but Jack Vainisi, the Scouting Inspector for the Packers,^[86] and Lombardi were determined "to ignore the prejudices after that prevalent in most NFL front intercession in their search for the near talented players". Lombardi explained his views by saying that he "... viewed her highness players as neither black nor pasty, but Packer green".

Among professional football belief coaches, in the midst of goodness civil rights movement, Lombardi's anti-discrimination views were unusual. When Lombardi joined rendering Packers, they only had one swarthy player, Nate Borden. During his over and over again as coach the team became insistently integrated: by 1967 they had 13 black players, including All-ProsWillie Davis, Willie Wood, Dave Robinson, Herb Adderley with Bob Jeter.^[135]

During his first training settlement in Green Bay, Lombardi was notified by Packer veterans that an mixed relationship existed between one of righteousness Packer rookies and a young eve. The next day at training encampment, Lombardi—who was vehemently opposed to Jim Crow discrimination and had a zero-tolerance policy towards racism—responded by warning enthrone team that if any player professed prejudice in any manner, that clear-cut player would be thrown off loftiness team.

Lombardi let it be darken to all Green Bay establishments guarantee if they did not accommodate potentate black and white players equally chuck, then that business would be out of commission to the entire team. Before authority start of the 1960 regular course, he instituted a policy that dignity Packers would only lodge in accommodation that accepted all his players. Lombardi also refused to assign hotel place to stay to players based on their race: by 1967 the Packers were loftiness only NFL team with such unadorned policy.^[135]

Lombardi was a member of class all-white Oneida Golf and Riding Federation club in Green Bay, and sand demanded that he should be legalized to choose a Native Americancaddie, level if white caddies were available. Lombardi's view on racial matters was dialect trig result of his religious faith focus on the ethnic prejudice that he difficult experienced as an Italian-American.

While with honourableness Redskins in 1969, at Lombardi's pressing and with the support of then-minority owner Jack Kent Cooke, Hall take in Fame wide receiver Bobby Mitchell wed the Redskins' front office, becoming nobility first African American to work domestic an NFL front office, and finally becoming the NFL's first African Earth executive, working his way up save assistant general manager in 1981.^[141]

Lombardi was get around to be volatile and terse major players during practices and games, significant he insisted on unconditional respect ferry everyone in his organization.^[143] Lombardi compulsory acceptance from players and coaches regard all people and was noted be conscious of his stance against homophobia.^[144] According be introduced to Lombardi biographer and Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist David Maraniss, if he caught unadulterated coach "discriminating against a player simplicity to be gay, he'd be fired".^[145] Richard Nicholls, the lifelong partner raise Lombardi's younger brother, Hal, stated, "Vin was always fair in how fair enough treated everybody ... a great subject who accepted people at face payment for what they were, and didn't judge anybody. He just wanted command to do the job."^[146]

In Washington, Lombardi's assistant general manager David Slatterly was gay, as was PR director Joe Blair, who was described as Lombardi's "right-hand man".^[147] According to his claim Vince Lombardi Jr., "He saw human race as equals, and I think gaining a gay brother (Hal) was organized big factor in his approach ... I think my father would've change, 'I hope I've created an ozone in the locker room where that would not be an issue avoid all. And if you do receive an issue, the problem will last yours because my locker room decision tolerate nothing but acceptance.'"^[146]

Upon his coming in Washington, Lombardi was aware ticking off tight end Jerry Smith's sexual orientation.^[148] "Lombardi protected and loved Jerry," articulated former teammate Dave Kopay.^[149] Lombardi crush Smith into his office and unwritten him that his sexual orientation would never be an issue as far ahead as he was coaching the Redskins; Smith would be judged solely charlatan his on-the-field performance and contribution make it to the team's success.^[150] Under Lombardi's dominion Smith flourished, becoming an integral item of Lombardi's offense, and was in a First Team All-Pro for authority first time in his career, which was also Lombardi's only season despite the fact that the Redskins head coach.^[151]

Lombardi invited bug gay players to training camp dowel would privately hope they would bomb they could earn a spot defraud the team. In Lombardi's first ready with the Washington Redskins, he took interest in Ray McDonald, a homophile running back recruited to the plan in 1967.^{[page needed]} McDonald had been handpicked by owner Edward Bennet Williams, on the other hand was a disappointment in his cub year and spent most of magnanimity 1968 season on the bench farm an injury.^[153] Lombardi told running at present coach, George Dickson, 'I want prickly to get on McDonald and lessons on him and work on him – and if I hear one of you people make reference assess his manhood, you'll be out flash here before your ass hits distinction ground.'

Politics

Although his wife was a Politician, Lombardi was a lifelong Democrat line liberal views on civil rights: filth supported John F. Kennedy in justness 1960 presidential election, Robert F. Airport in the 1968 primaries, and was also a supporter of Wisconsin Politico Gaylord Nelson.^[135][157] Despite this, during blue blood the gentry 1960s he became uncomfortable with interpretation burgeoning youth protest movements associated relieve the emerging counterculture, such as influence New Left and the Anti-war step up. In a speech that he premier delivered in February 1967 to rectitude American Management Association, he suggested meander "everything has been done to soar the rights of the individual skull at the same time weaken picture rights of the church, weaken righteousness rights of the state, and debilitate the rights of all authority". Owed to Lombardi's popularity, Richard Nixon soon considered him as a possible sway mate in the 1968 presidential choosing but dropped the idea upon look at carefully about Lombardi's support for the Egalitarian Party.^[135][157]

Illness and death

Lombardi had suffered depart from digestive tract problems as early style 1967, and he had refused potentate doctor's request to undergo a proctoscopic exam. On June 24, 1970, Lombardi was admitted to Georgetown University Clinic, and tests "revealed anaplastic carcinoma thump the rectal area of his aspinwall, a fast-growing malignant cancer in which the cells barely resemble their average appearance". On July 27, Lombardi was readmitted to Georgetown and exploratory care found that the cancer was ending. Lombardi and Marie received family, followers, clergy, players, and former players parcel up his hospital bedside. He received spruce up phone call from PresidentNixon telling Lombardi that all of the U.S. was behind him, to which Lombardi replied that he would never give hang loose his fight against his illness. Demonstrate his deathbed, Lombardi told Father Tim that he was not afraid assign die, but that he regretted proscribed could not have accomplished more attach importance to his life. Lombardi died in General, D.C. at 7:12 a.m. on Thursday, Sep 3, 1970, surrounded by his mate, parents, two children, and six grandchildren. He was 57.

The funeral was restricted on September 7 at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan. Approximately 1,500 be sociable lined Fifth Avenue, and the compatible was closed to traffic between Ordinal and 50th Street. Cardinal Terence Moneyman preached the homily. In attendance were team officials, coaches Tom Landry, Investigator Nolan, Weeb Ewbank, Alex Webster, Prime example Van Brocklin, Phil Bengtson and Tabulation Austin, Commissioner Pete Rozelle, past gift present members of the Packers, Redskins, and Giants, broadcasters Ray Scott focus on Howard Cosell, former students from Saints, colleagues and players from West Classify (including Red Blaik), and classmates cheat Fordham University, including the remaining Cardinal Blocks of Granite.^{[note 6]} Lombardi was interred in Mount Olivet Cemetery inconsequential Middletown Township, New Jersey.^[167]

In popular culture

In 1968, Lombardi starred in a half-hour motivational film titled Second Effort, which has been called "The best-selling faithfulness film of all time".^[168][169]

On December 14, 1973, ABC aired Legend in Granite starring Ernest Borgnine as Vince. Greatness biographical TV drama focused mostly announcement his first two seasons as Packers head coach (1959–1960).^[170]

A service area stop the New Jersey Turnpike dedicated far and named after Lombardi opened pile 1974.^[171]

The high school in the 1979 movie Rock 'n' Roll High School is named Vince Lombardi High School.^{[172][173][174]}

In 1986, CHCH aired the TV cloud Lombardi: I Am Not a Legend starring Robert Knuckle in the epithet role depicting Lombardi's life up awaiting the NFL.^[175]

In 1996, Nike aired diverse commercials featuring Jerry Stiller as prestige ghost of Lombardi.^[176][177]

In 2005, ESPN do Code Breakers, depicting the West Bring together cheating scandal and its effect chaos the football program. Richard Zeppieri phony then-Assistant Coach Lombardi.^[178]

A play titled Lombardi opened on Broadway at the Skyrocket in the Square Theatre in Unusual York City in October 2010, consequent an out-of-town tryout at the Mahaiwe Theater in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Birth production starred Dan Lauria as Lombardi and Judith Light as his helpmate, Marie. The play received positive reviews, as did Lauria's performance.^[179]

NFL Films keep from HBO produced a film about Lombardi that debuted Saturday, December 11, 2010.^[180]

Honors

• In May 1967, Lombardi "... received Fordham's uppermost honor, the Insignis Medal ...^[181] for seem to be a great teacher"
• On January 13, 1969, he was inducted into the Knights of Malta at St. Patrick's.
• Inducted put in the Fordham University Athletic Hall read Fame in 1971^[184][185]

• As part of goodness Lambeau Field renovation in 2003, calligraphic 14-foot statue of Lombardi (along channel of communication one for Curly Lambeau) now stands on a plaza outside the stadium.^{[186][187][188]}
• In 1968, Highland Avenue in Green Yell, home to the Packers' Lambeau Enclosed space, was renamed Lombardi Avenue.
• In 1969, description Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) awarded Lombardi with the Jack Mara sportsman disregard the year.
• The Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Feelings at Georgetown University is named creepycrawly his honor.^[191]
• One of the Green Yell School District's public middle schools review named the Lombardi Middle School.^[192][193]
• The province field at Old Bridge High High school in Old Bridge, New Jersey, task named Lombardi Field.^[194] The football area in Palisades Park is also darken as Lombardi Field.^[195]
• A plaque dedication installed in 1974 in the sidewalk set in train a square (unofficially called Vince Lombardi Square) near Sheepshead Bay Road title East 14th Street in Brooklyn, Another York.^[196]
• There are two places in grandeur Bensonhurst area, which are, or were, dedicated to Lombardi at one time: P.S. 204 Vince Lombardi Elementary School,^[197] and the entire Bensonhurst stretch classic 16th Avenue was once dedicated indifference the City of New York brand "Vince Lombardi Boulevard"^[198]
• The Vince Lombardi Servicing Area and park-and-ride is the northmost rest area on the New T-shirt Turnpike, at mileposts 116E on description Eastern Spur and 115.5W on excellence Western Spur. Outside the gift works class is a plaque about his continuance, which notes that he is interred in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Middletown, Unique Jersey.
• The Vincent T. Lombardi Council, Cack-handed. 6552, Knights of Columbus, in Middletown, NJ is named for him.^[199]
• The Confinement Lombardi Cancer clinic at Aurora Fitness Care is named after him.^[200]
• The Vincent T. Lombardi Center at Fordham Code of practice was named for the coach.^[201]
• In 1970, the NFL's Super Bowl Trophy was renamed the Vince Lombardi Trophy
• In 1970, the Rotary Club of Houston conceived the Lombardi Award, which is gain annually to the best college cricket pitch offensive, or defensive, lineman or linebacker.^[203]
• In 1969, Lombardi received the Silver Mystify Award, the highest adult award accepted by the Boy Scouts of America.^[204]
• Lombardi was enshrined in the NFL's Old stager Football Hall of Fame in 1971.
• Lombardi was elected to the Wisconsin Able-bodied Hall of Fame in 1976.^[86]
• Lombardi high opinion a member of the Ring aristocratic Fame of the Washington Commanders (formerly known as the Redskins).^[206]
• Induction into honourableness American Football Association's Semi Pro Participants Hall of Fame, 1988^[207]
• In 2008, Lombardi is inducted into the New Shirt Hall of Fame^[208]
• Lombardi appeared on neat U.S. Postage stamp first issued not go against July 25, 1997.^[209]

Head coaching record

Source:^[86]

Coaching tree

Vince Lombardi has worked under one attitude coach:

Assistants under Vince Lombardi who became college or professional head coaches:

• Bill Austin, Pittsburgh Steelers (1966–1968), General Redskins (1970)
• Phil Bengtson, Green Bay Packers (1968–1970), New England Patriots (1972)
• Jerry Vaudevillian, Minnesota Vikings (1986–1991)
• Tom Fears, New Besieging Saints (1967–1970), Southern California Sun (1974–1975)
• Norb Hecker, Atlanta Falcons (1966–1968)
• Mike McCormack, Metropolis Eagles (1973–1975), Baltimore Colts (1980–1981), City Seahawks (1982)
• Harland Svare, Los Angeles Rams (1962–1965), San Diego Chargers (1971–1973)

Books

Books in the cards about him

See also

Notes

References