The iconic Vince Lombardi trophy, which is awarded to the winners of the Super Bowl each year, has an interesting history. It has been designed exclusively by Tiffany & Co. since Super Bowl I in 1967, when the design chief, Oscar Riedener, came up with its blueprint. The Swiss native reportedly came up with the idea of a ball on the top of a tee while eating breakfast at home. He then drew a mock design on a napkin for NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle while at lunch, a design that is still used to this day. The first version of the trophy was made in Newark, New Jersey, with subsequent versions crafted in Parsippany. It was named after legendary Packers coach Vince Lombardi ahead of Super Bowl V in 1971 after he won the first 2 Super Bowls before he died in 1970. Metal spinners, silversmiths and engravers spend four months creating the trophy each year, a process that begins in a furnace heated to 1000°F. Next, it is melted, shaped, molded, carved and polished with heat to maintain its pliability. Tiffany & Co. also designs the NBA’s Larry O’Brien Championship, the MLB’s Commissioner’s Trophy and the US Open singles trophies, among others.
