Vince Lombardi Speech to a Club of Former Athletes

(June 11, 1913 – September 3, 1970)

About Lombardi:

About 1 month before this speech was delivered to the Agonis Club at Suttmillers Restaurant in February 1969 Lombardi met with the new Washington Redskins president the night before Super Bowl 3 in Miami Florida. He agreed to coach the team after Edward Bennett Williams offered him complete authority over all personnel and football operations, the position of "Executive Vice President", and a 5% ownership stake. The Redskins would finish with a record of 7–5–2, their first winning record in 14 years. Lombardi lasted only one season with the Redskins; he was diagnosed with terminal cancer after the 1969 season and died shortly before the 1970 regular season was to start.

Vince Lombardi never had a losing season as a head coach in the NFL, compiling a regular season winning percentage of 72.8% (96–34–6), and 90% (9–1) in the postseason for an overall record of 105 wins, 35 losses, and 6 ties in the NFL. In 1970 the NFL renamed its Championship Trophy the Vince Lombardi Trophy, in honor of the coach.

This speech was provided courtesy of Dave Bruno President of Dayton Agonis Club in 2013