Question About Lombardi

[Nolan Dalla]

I got into a discussion about the 60s Packers with a friend on Sunday and didn't know the answer to a question that came up. It's been bothering me the last day, so I thought I'd post it here and see if anyone knows the answer:

Vince Lombardi coached the Packers from 1959 through 1967 (actually the Super Bowl too, which was played in January 1968). Lombardi then took a year off from coaching, then returned to the NFL's Washington Redkins -- where he coached one year, taking the Redskins to a 7-7 record. A short time later, Lombardi died of cancer.

My question is -- WHY did Lombardi leave the Packers after the 1967 season? What movivated Lombardi to leave the NFL's most revered franchise? What did he do that season while he was away? And -- why did he return to coach the Redskins (a terrible team, at the time).

My freind and I were speculating that Lombardi KNEW that the 1967 would be his last (I don't think there was any "farewell tour," right?) When the Packers beat Dallas in the Ice Bowl (Dec. 1967) did Lombardo know that would be his last game coaching at Lambeau Field?

Anyone from the great state of Wisconsin able to answer this?

Thanks.

-- Nolan Dalla

 

[bmc]

I heard it had something to do with his wife.
She was unhappy in Green Bay.
Either she was from the D.C. area, or it just suited her better.

 

[MadJack]

after stepping down as coach he stayed with the packers by taking over as general manager.

the following year he was offered coaching, vice president, and part ownership of the skins. i guess money talked back then too.

 

[yyz]

Nolan,

I am no historian, and the facts I am about to give are all I know for sure.

• After retireming from coaching in 1968, he stayed on as the General Manager of the Packers.
  
• He hated not being a coach, and wanted to do it again.

I can only assume that he had no intention of displacing the new caoch, Phil Bengsten, and took an offer from Washington to be coach, GM, and part owner.

He had a 7-5-2 record in his first season.

I don't know if this is of any use to you, but I thought I would give you what I know.



[This message has been edited by yyz (edited 11-13-2001).]

 

[Nolan Dalla]

To BMC, MadJack and YYZ - XYZ

Thanks for the prompt reply.

So, Lombardi took over the GM duties for the Pakcers in 1968. Fair enough. BUT WHY DID HE STEP DOWN AS HEAD COACH? He was coming off THREE STRAIGHT NFL titles. What in the world could make someone leave a spot like that?

If Lombardi were a bit older, or had an understudy waiting in the wings, I do understand why he would leave coaching the Packers. But, after they won the THIRD straight championship, it must have come as a total shock to the the Packers and the NFL. He obviously wasn't tired of football, since he stayed on as GM and returned to coaching.

Perhaps this is a question that has no answer.

Nolan

 

[Anders]

Nolan - I'm currently reading the Lombardi biography by David Maraniss. Am only up to the middle of his coaching glory years in the 60s, but I'm sure it should deal with the issue in some depth so I'll skip ahead tonight when I get home and let u know what it says.
bmc - wife Marie never settled in GB and always wanted to return to New York...

 

[jim arre]

Nolan, pardon me but I love you. You are one of the most energetic and prolific writers I have ever observed. I agree with most everything you write; from politics to
poker.
The question is this: with all of your talent and perception in the writing area, why aren't you writing the great american novel instead of banging your head against these frustrating handicapping pursuits. Just wondering, no offense meant. Thank you.

 

[Nolan Dalla]

To Anders: Please don't read the advance chapters of the Lombardi book just on my account. By all means continue with the book and report back when you come to the relevant subject about his "retirement" from the Packers. By the way -- I considered buying that book and reading it myself, but I am just too absorbed in other things. So, I'll anxiously await your reply later.

To Jim: The honest answer to your question is -- I dislike writing, or I should say the PROCESS of writing. I've worked as a speechwriter in the past and hated the work. I have a book I've been trying to complete for a couple of years, but it's a real chore. Conceptualizing ideas and thoughts is wonderful, but going back and re-working words and structure is just a royal pain in the ass. If you are a writer, you know what I'm talking about. I much prefer to write on a whim, then go back and correct typos and so forth, but leave the basic text intact. Otherwise you lose the stream of conciousness that must accompany all good writing. Handicapping sports is probably more difficult than writing per se, but there is a degree of instant gratification that comes with it. Same with poker playing, I suppose. With writing (especially a book) it takes months if not years to see royalties and get feedback on what you have reserached and created. In sports, you learn within days or hours of the result of your labor. As far as dealing with editors, I'd rather get a root canal -- especially the fluff that masquerades as journalism today (Talk, et al.) But I do appreciate the career advice. If things don't turn around eventually, I'll be looking for work.

-- Nolan Dalla

 

[Anders]

Nolan - go easy on us journos, eh

Read quite a bit of the book last night - have a hacking cough and didn't want to keep my good wife awake so read on the couch until about 1.30am...

Lombardi's reasons for stepping down as coach after the third title in succession were three-fold.

Firstly, he was in physcially poor shape. For years he had suffered from digestive problems and heartburn and had traumatic athritis in his left hip which really bothered him in '67.

He also began to struggle under the mental strain. He had a thin skin and took criticism to heart, struggling to tolerate any (accurate) portrayal of him as an over-bearing ogre.

He also knew that the Packers were a team that was likely to go downhill relatively quickly in the next few years. The players that had produced miracles for him for the past 7 years or so were all reaching the end of their careers and their best football was past them - Hornung, Taylor etc.... Bengtson had a tough job when he took over and the slump stayed in Green Bay for 25 years...

As for his departure the next year, he found not coaching and just being a GM horrendously frustrating, but the key motivating factor, as Jack has pointed out, was cash. Lombardi couldn't get the financial rewards with the Packers due to his contract that he could in an ownership role with the Skins. His wife Marie never settled in GB either and was always keen to move to a big city.

It's a fascinating book, especially to someone like me with only a very limited knowledge of the Lombardi legend.

 

[dr. freeze]

best coaches of all time:
1. Landry
2. Lombardi

 

[yyz]

Originally posted by dr. freeze:
best coaches of all time:
1. Landry
2. Lombardi

Whoops! You got the numbers mixed up.

 

[JT]

I'd put Gibbs real close. Anyone who could win 3 superbowls with 3 different QBs and Running Backs is up there in my opinion. Then again, I am a diehard fan also. Plus being a Redskins fan I do wonder what would have happened if he had lived. That was the 1st winning year when he coached them in almost 20 years I think.

 

[jim arre]

Nolan,thanks for the warm and courteous response to my post. Someday I hope to see you across the poker table in AC or Vegas. I hope you remember the name Jim Arre. Thanks again.

 

[Nolan Dalla]

Jim, Anders, and Everyone Else:

Thanks for clearling this up. It appears we have settled the issue. My thanks for the very clear explanation about Lombardi.

-- Nolan Dalla