On June 11 in 1913, legendary coach and football icon Vince Lombardi was born in Brooklyn.
Today we celebrate his life and career, which in the professional ranks began with the New York Giants as an offensive assistant.
Between 1954 and 1958, Lombardi "gained a reputation with the Giants for his stylish, thorough and imaginative craftsmanship on offense," as described in his Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1971 biography.
The Giants' 1956 championship team not only consisted of players that would eventually be enshrined in Canton, but it also had one of history's greatest coaching staffs. Head coach Jim Lee Howell had Lombardi running the offense and Tom Landry in charge of the defense.
From there, Lombardi became the head coach in Green Bay, where he won five NFL titles and the first two Super Bowl crowns, later becoming the namesake for the trophy awarded to the winning team.
