The Lombardi Trophy is iconic. It’s quintessentially football. It honors the one of the greatest coaches of all time, as well as the winner of the first Super Bowl, Vince Lombardi. Recently there’s been the suggestion that it’s time to revamp the name, make it more modern — and Bill Belichick has an idea.
Bill Belichick suggests the Lombardi Trophy should be renamed after Tom Brady
Nope. No.
Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
Speaking on the Let’s Go! podcast this week, Belichick made a point of saying that coaches get glory, but it’s the players who actually win the award. When he was asked about the name of the season-ending trophy he made a bold suggestion.
“Maybe they should name it the Brady Trophy. He won seven of them.”
Far be it from me to say this is a terrible idea, but it’s a terrible idea. You can’t name an award after someone who only retired a couple of years ago and is the current part-owner of the team. Heck, if the NBA called it “The Michael Jordan Trophy” it would be equally ridiculous — and Jordan has been retired for damn-near 20 years now.
We don’t need to revamp anything about the league’s final trophy. Naming an award like this is a chance for future generations to wonder who Lombardi is, outside of Green Bay’s field being named for him, and learning what a incredible impact he had on the game of football.
The only potential name change I could get down with is if the NFL decided to honor the late, great John Madden. His career as a coach, broadcaster, and the namesake of the video game known worldwide, Madden is about the only guy who could possibly make sense renaming the trophy for.
Otherwise leave it alone, Bill. We’re not naming it after Tom Brady.
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