On June 11 in 1913, legendary coach and football icon Vince Lombardi was born in Brooklyn.
Today we celebrate his life and career, which in the professional ranks began with the New York Giants as an offensive assistant.
The Brooklyn native began his NFL career as an offensive coach with the New York Giants ('54-58).
Sam Huff, left, former linebacker of the New York Giants, with Vince Lombardi.
Vince Lombardi, offensive backfield coach of the New York Giants. January 28, 1959 photo. (AP Photo)
Charley Conerly lets ball fly during passing drill on at Yankee Stadium on Nov. 6, 1958 in New York, watching from left: Backfield coach Vince Lombardi, Fullback Mel Triplett, left halfback Phil King and right halfback Alex Webster.
Vince Lombardi, whose coaching helped the New York Giants to number two spot in the NFL, is shown in his hotel room in New York City.
The New York Giants Coaches, 1957, back row from left, Tom Landry, assistant coach, Jim Lee Howell, Head Coach, Ken Kavenaugh, assistant coach, front row from left, Vince Lombardi, assistant coach, John Dell Isola, assistant coach.
Giants backfield coach Vince Lombardi, left, admiring watch presented to Mel Triplett, right, for his play football title game against the Chicago Bears in New York, Dec. 31, 1956. (AP Photo/Tom Fitzsimmons)
Vince Lombardi, and his longtime friend Wellington Mara of the football New York Giants, bitter foes of the packers on field, are presently visiting Rome. Feb. 2, 1962.
Hall of Fame head coach Vince Lombardi waits to be interviewed by New York Giants Hall of Fame running back Frank Gifford.
A statue of Vince Lombardi is seen outside Lambeau Field before an NFL football game between the Green Bay Packers and the New York Giants.
Giants greats Ottis Anderson, Michael Strahan and Phil Simms pose with the franchise's four Vince Lombardi Super Bowl Trophies.
Between 1954 and 1958, Lombardi "gained a reputation with the Giants for his stylish, thorough and imaginative craftsmanship on offense," as described in his Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1971 biography.
The Giants' 1956 championship team not only consisted of players that would eventually be enshrined in Canton, but it also had one of history's greatest coaching staffs. Head coach Jim Lee Howell had Lombardi running the offense and Tom Landry in charge of the defense.
From there, Lombardi became the head coach in Green Bay, where he won five NFL titles and the first two Super Bowl crowns, later becoming the namesake for the trophy awarded to the winning team.
