Vince Lombardi American football player, coach Date of Birth: 11.06.1913 Country: USA

Biography of Vince Lombardi

Vincent Thomas Lombardi was an American football player and coach. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Enrico 'Harry' Lombardi and Matilda 'Mattie' Izzo, both descendants of Italian immigrants. Vince was the oldest of five children. His father owned a successful meat market, which even survived the Great Depression. Despite helping his father in the store, Vince didn't have a passion for the meat industry.

In 1933, Lombardi received a sports scholarship to attend Fordham University in the Bronx. He graduated in 1937, but the country was still recovering from the Great Depression, making it difficult for him to find employment. Vince tried playing football, worked as a debt collector for a while, and even studied law, but he didn't find success in any of these fields. Eventually, he became a coach at a local Catholic school and discovered his talent for working with young athletes.

However, Lombardi's true fame came from his work with the Green Bay Packers. Under Lombardi's leadership, the team won five league championships in seven years, including three consecutive wins. The years 1966 and 1967 were particularly memorable when the Packers won the first two Super Bowls. The Super Bowl trophy is now named after Vince Lombardi, and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971.

Vince married Marie Planitz on August 31, 1940. The prospect of marriage finally motivated him to find stable employment. Unfortunately, their first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage. Marie sought solace in alcohol, but this didn't prevent them from having two children, Vincent Harold Lombardi Jr. and Susan. Their marriage was not without its challenges, as Vince was solely focused on football and had a stern demeanor, while Marie became skilled at expressing her frustrations through colorful language.

Vincent Lombardi had three main priorities in his life: sports, family (particularly his parents), and religion. He developed a deep love for religion in his early childhood, which he maintained until his death. He frequently prayed with fervor and attended religious services regularly.

The history of the Green Bay Packers is not the only reason why Lombardi remains a legend in sports history. Even in the 1960s, the National Football League still had racial barriers. Lombardi, who had experienced racism as a child, did everything in his power to break down these barriers. It is interesting to note that Lombardi's tolerance extended beyond race, as he was also accepting of gay football players.

In early 1967, Lombardi began experiencing digestive problems, but he adamantly refused to undergo a rectoscopic examination. On June 24, 1970, he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. Just three days later, it was announced that he would not be able to overcome the illness. Vince had the opportunity to say goodbye to his family, loved ones, colleagues, and even received condolences from President Nixon. Vince Lombardi passed away on September 3, 1970, at the age of 57.