Vince Lombardi was a father, and a husband, and he had a great impact on today's view
on professional football as well as other sports.
On Jun 11, 1913 born (and grew up) in Sheepshead Bay section of Brooklyn, NY;
first of five children (2 sisters, 2 brothers) to Henry Lombardi and Matilda Izzo
Lombardi. And in the 1920s experimented with boxing as a teenager and didn't like it. In
1928 started his studies for priesthood at Cathedral Prep in Brooklyn. 1930 decided not to
become a priest; switched high schools and went to St. Francis Prep; played fullback on
In 1933 he graduated from high school and went on to Fordham University;
played guard on the freshman football team. And from 1934 to 1936 he played guard on
the varsity football team at Fordham. In 1936 was one of the "Seven Blocks of Granite"
In 1937 graduated from Fordham University magna cum laude; went on to
Fordham Law School at night; worked as an investigator for a finance company; played
semi-pro football for a couple of years, including a stint in 1939 with the Wilmington
Clippers of the American Football Association.
In 1939 took job as assistant football coach at St. Cecilia High School in
Englewood, NJ; also coached basketball and baseball and taught Latin, algebra, physics
and chemistry for $1700 per year. And in 1940 married Marie. In 1946 turned down a
$15,000 a year construction job to keep his $3500 a year coaching job at St. Cecilia.
In 1947 left St. Cecilia to become freshman football coach at Fordham University.
1948 became varsity assistant coach at Fordham. An in 1949 left Fordham to become
varsity offensive line coach at West Point. But in 1954 took first NFL job as assistant
In 1959 took job as Head Coach and GM with Green Bay; arrived in Green Bay in
February. In 1968 retired from football after 9 seasons with Packers. But in 1969 came
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