Lambeau moved back to Green Bay and applied for the general manager post. Forest Evashevski, highly successful coach at the University of Iowa, was brought to Green Bay for an interview, but declined the job. Other candidates were considered, as well.

Finally, at 3 p.m. on Jan. 28, 1959, Packers President Dominic Olejniczak announced that Vince Lombardi had accepted a five-year deal to become the team’s coach and general manager. Six days later, Lombardi was officially introduced at a press conference at Green Bay’s Hotel Northland where he declared, “I want it understood that I’m in complete command.”

Dominic Olejniczak Although Lombardi had been backfield coach of the New York Giants for eight years, he was relatively unknown in what was a different time. Television was still in its infancy, pro football was viewed in some quarters as a second-rate sport and assistant coaches weren’t household names.

As a result, a popular question in Green Bay at the time was: “Who the hell is Vince Lombardi?” It didn’t take long for people to find out.

In his first season, Lombardi went 7-5 and was named NFL Coach of the Year. In 1960, the Packers captured the Western Conference, only to lose to Philadelphia in the title game. That would be the last time Lombardi’s Packers lost an NFL Championship Game.

They won five world titles in 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, and 1967, including Super Bowls I and II. Over nine years, they compiled a glittering 98-30-4 record (.766) and won nine of 10 postseason games.

The Packers would be recognized as the Team of the ‘60s and as one of the great dynasties in NFL history. Lombardi would be glorified as one of the game’s greatest coaches and be posthumously honored by having the Super Bowl trophy named after him.