Vince Lombardi

Vincent Thomas Lombardi (June 11, 1913 – September 3, 1970) was one of the most successful coaches in the history of American football as head coach of the Green Bay Packers from 1959 to 1967, and the Washington Redskins in 1969.

Sourced

• A game that requires the constant conjuring of animosity.
  • On football, New York Times (10 Dec 1967)

• If you believe in yourself and have the courage, the determination, the dedication, the competitive drive and if you are willing to sacrifice the little things in life and pay the price for the things that are worthwhile, it can be done.
  • Reported in Vince Lombardi, Jr., What It Takes to Be #1: Vince Lombardi on Leadership (2003), p. 105.

• If you aren't fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired with enthusiasm.
  • Reported in Lee Green, Sportswit (1984), p. 169.

• Gentlemen, we are going to relentlessly chase perfection, knowing full well we will not catch it, because nothing is perfect. But we are going to relentlessly chase it, because in the process we will catch excellence. I am not remotely interested in just being good.
  • First team meeting as Packers coach (1959), reported in Chuck Carlson, Game of My Life: 25 Stories of Packers Football (2004), p. 149; Richard Scott, Jay Barker, Legends of Alabama Football (2004), p. 78.

Unsourced

• Football is not a contact sport, it's a collision sport. Dancing is a contact sport.

• I will demand a commitment to excellence and to victory, and that is what life is all about.