Exploring the NY Giants' Super Bowl Trophy's Deep Irvington Roots

Like the Olympic Torch and other symbols of athletic honor, the NY Giants' Super Bowl-winning Vince Lombardi Trophy will make its rounds to different locations throughout the state over the coming weeks.  

So why did Irvington get the trophy for a couple of hours today?

"[The Giants] organization has generously supported our youth football and cheerleading programs and has even supported the O'Hara Foundation in their efforts to raise money," said Village Administrator Larry Schopfer. 

"The Irvington Recreation Department has enjoyed a long history of working closely with the New York Giants."

The giants have even sent a current player to attend Irvington's year-end youth football/cheerleading awards dinner. Last year it was Victor Cruz—"before he 'made it,'" Schopfer said.

A few years ago Super Bowl hero David Tyree made an appearance. 

But probably the greatest tie between Irvington and the trophy is that designer Oscar Riedner, vice president of design for the Tiffany & Co. jewelry company—who devised the original model for the iconic trophy—was an Irvington resident. 

Riedner made the original sketch for the trophy in 1967.

According to a Wikipedia article on the trophy (and many, many other sources), "During a lunch with NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle in 1967 ...Riedner made a sketch on a cocktail napkin of what would become the Vince Lombardi Trophy."

Unlike other sports trophies, winning teams get specially made Vince Lombardi trophies, which they keep forever—even if another team steals the title of Super Bowl Champion from them the following year. 

Since the Irvington resident—who passed away in 2000 still living in the village—devised the initial design, the trophy has been handcrafted by Tiffany and Co. in NJ.