The real price of the #Lombardi Trophy: rings, silver, and history
It doesn’t get any bigger than this. When the final whistle blows and the confetti rains down, the winner doesn’t just grab the headlines and walk away. They lifted the Lombardi Trophy. It is no exaggeration to say that it is one of the most recognized objects in professional sports.
The trophy itself is a magnificent piece of engineering. A sterling silver football rests on a pyramidal stand. It is named after Vince Lombardi, the legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers who led his team to victories in Super Bowls I and II. Before 1971 it was simply called the World Championship Game Trophy. Things changed after Lombardi’s death. The NFL changed its name to honor his legacy, and the name has stuck ever since.
How the Lombardi Trophy is Made
This is not a mass product. Each trophy is handcrafted by Tiffany & Co.. It takes 72 hours of work to make one piece.
The specs are precise. The height of the trophy is 22 inches. It weighs 7 pounds. value? The price of the silver alone has been estimated at over $25,000. But the details matter. “Vince Lombardi” and “Super Bowl” are engraved on the front. The Roman numerals of that year’s games are engraved on it. The NFL logo is also engraved. It was a heavy reminder of the victory that had just been won.
The price of the ring
The trophy gets the glory. However, the team gets the hardware that stays in the vault. All players, coaches and front office staff received championship rings.
These are not subtle. They are ostentatious by design. Big. Bold. heavy.
Gold and diamonds are standard, but the team has gotten creative lately. Look at the 2018 Philadelphia Eagles. Their rings featured 10-karat white gold. 219 diamonds. 17 green sapphires to match the team colors. It’s specific. It’s personal.
Who pays for this luxury? The NFL covers the cost. Each set of rings runs about $5 million. That’s a lot of gems for a 17-game season.
Who Runs the Numbers?
If you follow the all-time leaderboard, two names dominate the top of the wins column. Pittsburgh Steelers. New England Patriots. Both have six Super Bowl victories. This is the ceiling. No one has broken it yet.
But the stat sheet also has a dark side. The biggest losses were to the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots. Five defeats each.
Being the Patriots puts you in a strange position. Six wins. 5 losses. You are the most successful team of all time and the most frequent runner-up. This is a unique burden.
The trophy gleams. The rings spark. The stats are set in stone. But the game goes on. The next season starts before the champagne dries.