“Philly – Is this what Heaven is Like?”, exclaimed Howie Roseman,the Philadelphia Eagles Executive VP of Football Operations from the (“Rocky”) Steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art during the city’s Super Bowl parade celebration. The Lombardi Trophy stood a few feet to Roseman’s right on those infamous steps, as he and the whole team addressed the over three million Eagle fans that showed up this past Thursday on Feb. 8.

The fans came out to get a look at the cause of the heaven created in Philly — the Lombardi Trophy won in Super Bowl LII. The Lombardi trophy makes a city the “Center of the Football Universe,” as stated by Eagles defensive end, Chris Long.  But, the trophy is not only for the players and team. It is also for the many fans of the team, as Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins relayed to the throng in his speech while holding the cherished symbol of success, “This is for you all – Philly!”

How It Began

The Lombardi Trophy’s backstory is a bit different than that of the athletic trophies we supply to New Jersey and beyond, here at Spike’s Trophies. It all started back in 1966 on a cocktail napkin, a humble beginning for the Vince Lombardi Super Bowl Trophy, one of the world’s most prestigious trophies. The jeweler innocently sketched it, unbeknownst to him the legacy it would leave behind.

The first Super Bowl, called the AFL/NFL World Championship Game, was played in January following the 1966 season. At that time, the game was a competition between the champions of the National Football League and the American Football League. Around the third championship game, it became known as the Super Bowl, a term coined by Lamar Hunt, owner of the Kansas City Chiefs and founder of the AFL.

After Super Bowl IV, the leagues merged and became the NFL, with teams divided into two conferences: the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC). The two conference champions play in the Super Bowl.

Test of Time

Today’s Super Bowl trophy design is nearly identical to the original. “That’s one of the secrets of the trophy’s success and durability. It’s always been the same, which makes it instantly recognizable.”

It was named the Vince Lombardi Trophy in 1970, before Super Bowl V. Lombardi, who died of cancer on Sept. 3, 1970, was a well-respected coach who led the Green Bay Packers to victory in the first two Super Bowls.

The trophy is the perfect combination of modern and traditional. Made of sterling silver, it depicts a football sitting atop what resembles an elongated kicking tee–a plinth with three tapered, concave sides.

After the trophy is complete, the NFL symbol and the Super Bowl number are hand-engraved into a sheet stock of silver, which is applied to the base. The finished trophy stands 20-3/4 inches tall and weighs about seven pounds. Although it’s officially valued at $10,000 (1998), it’s a priceless symbol of hard-earned victory for the players and their fanbase.

Taking It Home

Until recently, there were 13 NFL teams that hadn’t won a Super Bowl: the Bengals, Bills, Browns, Cardinals, Chargers, Eagles, Falcons, Jaguars, Lions, Panthers, Texans, Titans and Vikings. The number 13 did NOT prove unlucky for the Eagles.

Immediately following a Super Bowl victory, the NFL Commissioner presents the trophy to the winning team. Sometimes during the celebratory festivities, the award is damaged. In this case, it’s returned to the manufacturer for repairs as well as the engraving of the team names and the final score. It then goes back to the team for permanent possession.

The teams are free to display the trophies where they want, so they end up in a variety of places, usually ending up in the lobby of the team’s facility.  The NFL Hall of Fame in Canton, OH has a copy of the trophy.

Sweet Victory

Along with the trophy, the players receive custom-designed rings and a cash award.  Most of the players on the winning team in Super Bowl 52 will make a $112,000 lump sum for their participation. Most of the losers will make $56,000, an even 50 percent of the winners’ shares.

After 52 years, the Vince Lombardi Trophy still stands as a sterling testimony to that accomplishment. “It’s a wonderful iconographic symbol of sports success in modern times.”  Each year, at the discretion of the owner of the winning franchise, a 3/4 size (16 inches tall, weighing 10 lbs.) actual replica Lombardi is available for distribution to the management, players and sponsors of the Super Bowl winners as a commemorative. Spike’s Trophies, Ltd. of Philadelphia, PA has been selected the authorized distributor of the Lombardi Trophy Replica this year for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Spike’s – Assisting to Celebrate Success!

Your organization can create a custom iconic symbol of success, with the assistance of Spike’s.  Contact us for a FREE spec art design for your branded iconic custom award, as the NFL has done in creating the Lombardi.  Just mention “Lombardi” for the FREE design concept.  We have come a long way from drawing on a napkin to present you a design concept. Challenge us!

World Championship commemorative items of the City of Philadelphia’s win can be found at https://www.gospikes.com/t-eagles-plaques.aspx, where you can find all types of football trophies for your NJ leagues.

Our last football entry reviewing the first half of the Philadelphia Eagles season ended with the following:

“If the Eagles continue to play this way, there will be many plaques and trophies in their future . . . Check back here (hopefully in February) to read the Philadelphia Eagles season review.

Well, we’re thrilled to say we told you so because it’s February and here are we celebrating the Philadelphia Eagles’ championship victory! That entry’s title began, “Carson Wentz & the…” whereas this one started off a bit differently. That part we certainly couldn’t have predicted.

Next Man Up

In Week 14, starting quarterback and MVP-favorite Carson Wentz went down with a torn ACL, putting him on the sidelines for the remainder of the season. The Eagles were forced to turn the offense over to Nick Foles. He, along with the rest of the team, stepped up, essentially going undefeated (discounting the last regular season game which was insignificant; Foles only played one series), culminating in their league championship victory.

After defeating the Atlanta Falcons in the first round of the playoffs, the Eagles beat the Minnesota Vikings in the conference championship to earn the George Halas trophy. Finally, the team brought the Lombardi Trophy to Philadelphia for the first time in its 51-year history! Foles took home MVP honors for the big game after becoming the first player to both throw and catch a touchdown pass in said game.

Commemorate Good Times

To honor this major accomplishment, we’ve devised two limited edition Spike’s Laminated E-A-G-L-E-S Wood Plaques that contain actual full-sized, permanently laminated pages from the Philadelphia Inquirer.

One commemorative plaque encases the front page of the publication’s sports section from Mon., Jan 22, showcasing the team’s victory over the Minnesota Vikings in the conference championship, earning them the right to fight for the league championship. The headline reads “Suped Up!” with a picture of Jeffrey Lurie, the team’s owner, hoisting the George Halas trophy and head coach Doug Pederson standing beside him.

The other plaque contains the front page of the Feb. 5 edition of the newspaper, highlighting the Eagle’s win in the big game with the headline reading “At Last!”, showing Nick Foles as he hoisted the coveted Lombardi Trophy while confetti rained down around him.

Whether your New Jersey football league needs trophies or you want to commemorate this momentous occasion with limited edition souvenirs, you know who to call! For more regarding Spike’s Trophies and our multitude of plaques and athletic trophies in New Jersey, please call 855-652-4030.