The NFL may be on the verge of a historic change in one of its greatest traditions. Bill Belichick, one of the most successful coaches in league history, suggested that the Vince Lombardi Trophy, awarded to the Super Bowl winner, should be renamed after Tom Brady, the most decorated player in the sport’s history. The suggestion came during an interview on the “Let’s Go!” podcast, where the former New England Patriots head coach emphasized the importance of players in winning championships. The proposal sparked a debate about how the NFL recognizes its legends and could mark a turning point in how individual achievements are celebrated in the league.
The Super Bowl trophy has carried the name of legendary coach Vince Lombardi since 1971, when it was renamed to honor the Green Bay Packers coach who led the team to victory in the first two editions of the championship. Since then, no changes have been made to the trophy’s name, maintaining its status as an immutable symbol of excellence within the NFL. However, Belichick believes that a player who won seven championships throughout his career deserves such an honor. According to him, “players win games,” and Brady proved this throughout his more than two-decade-long career.
The proposal raises an unprecedented debate about the value placed on athletes in American football. Unlike other sports leagues, the NFL prioritizes naming its awards after executives, coaches, and commissioners. While the NBA names individual awards and conference trophies after sports legends, the NFL takes a more institutional approach. This makes Belichick’s suggestion even more significant, challenging decades of tradition and reinforcing the impact Brady had on the sport.
In case you forgot… Tom Brady is the GOAT 🐐 pic.twitter.com/aUgijwezRu
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) January 28, 2025
Tom Brady’s career and his Super Bowl dominance
Tom Brady is the player with the most Super Bowl titles in history, having won seven championships between 2002 and 2021. Six of those titles came under Belichick’s leadership with the Patriots, cementing one of the most dominant dynasties in football. His last championship ring came in 2021 when he led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl victory, becoming the first quarterback in history to win the title with two different franchises.
Throughout his career, Brady accumulated records that will be difficult to surpass. He holds the most playoff touchdown passes, leads in postseason passing yards, and is the only player to win five Super Bowl MVP awards. His dominance was so impressive that even at age 44, he led the league in passing yards during the 2021 regular season. His impact on the field transcended time and strategic shifts in the league, remaining the ultimate reference for over two decades.
Other sports trophies named after legends
The debate over potentially renaming the Super Bowl trophy raises questions about sports traditions in the United States. Various leagues have named their most prestigious awards after iconic figures, immortalizing their legacies in different ways.
- The NBA renamed its regular-season MVP award as the Michael Jordan Trophy, recognizing the Chicago Bulls star’s impact on basketball history.
- The NBA Finals MVP trophy is named after Bill Russell, the league’s most decorated champion.
- The NHL awards the Stanley Cup, named after Lord Stanley of Preston, a former Governor General of Canada.
- Major League Soccer (MLS) named its championship trophy Philip F. Anschutz Trophy, honoring the businessman who helped establish the league.
In football, the NFL has yet to fully adopt this practice. Only two of the league’s awards are named after former players: the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, given to athletes who excel both on and off the field, and the Deacon Jones Award, presented to the season’s sack leader.
The victorious partnership between Belichick and Brady
The relationship between Bill Belichick and Tom Brady was one of the key reasons behind the prolonged success of the New England Patriots. Together, they won six Super Bowls and built a dynasty that lasted two decades. Between 2001 and 2019, the Patriots played in nine Super Bowls, becoming a nearly constant presence in the NFL’s biggest event.
Belichick built a reputation as a defensive mastermind, while Brady became the epitome of offensive excellence. Their partnership ensured a level of dominance rarely seen in professional sports, setting a standard for future generations. The importance of their collaboration makes the idea of renaming the Super Bowl trophy after Brady even more symbolic.
NFL changes and the evolution of recognizing legends
The NFL has recently introduced significant changes to its awards. In 2022, the league officially named its regular-season MVP award after Jim Brown, one of the sport’s greatest legends. Additionally, discussions about other potential player tributes continue.
If Belichick’s suggestion gains traction, the NFL will need to consider the historical and commercial impacts of such a decision. Renaming the Super Bowl trophy would mark a shift in how the league recognizes its biggest stars and could set a precedent for future tributes to players who shaped the game.
NFL community reactions to Belichick’s suggestion
The possibility of renaming the trophy has sparked discussions among players, fans, and football analysts. While some advocate keeping Vince Lombardi’s name on the trophy due to its historical significance, others argue that the NFL should evolve and honor its greatest athletes more prominently.
Beyond the impact on Lombardi’s legacy, the change could prompt questions about how the NFL selects individuals for future tributes. If the Vince Lombardi Trophy were renamed the Tom Brady Trophy, what other players might also be considered for similar honors?
The impact of renaming the trophy on future NFL generations
If the NFL were to rename the Super Bowl trophy the Brady Trophy, the decision would have a significant impact on how future generations perceive the sport’s history. It would mark a shift in valuing players in a league traditionally dominated by tributes to coaches and executives.
Tom Brady has solidified himself as the greatest quarterback of all time, and his name will always be associated with the pinnacle of football. If Belichick’s proposal moves forward, the league will have an opportunity to redefine how its greatest icons are celebrated.
The idea of renaming the Super Bowl trophy may be controversial, but it highlights the lasting impact Tom Brady has had on the NFL. The debate over the recognition of players versus the league’s traditions is far from over. Regardless of the NFL’s decision, Brady’s legacy in football remains undeniable, and his name is forever linked to the sport’s greatness.

The NFL may be on the verge of a historic change in one of its greatest traditions. Bill Belichick, one of the most successful coaches in league history, suggested that the Vince Lombardi Trophy, awarded to the Super Bowl winner, should be renamed after Tom Brady, the most decorated player in the sport’s history. The suggestion came during an interview on the “Let’s Go!” podcast, where the former New England Patriots head coach emphasized the importance of players in winning championships. The proposal sparked a debate about how the NFL recognizes its legends and could mark a turning point in how individual achievements are celebrated in the league.
The Super Bowl trophy has carried the name of legendary coach Vince Lombardi since 1971, when it was renamed to honor the Green Bay Packers coach who led the team to victory in the first two editions of the championship. Since then, no changes have been made to the trophy’s name, maintaining its status as an immutable symbol of excellence within the NFL. However, Belichick believes that a player who won seven championships throughout his career deserves such an honor. According to him, “players win games,” and Brady proved this throughout his more than two-decade-long career.
The proposal raises an unprecedented debate about the value placed on athletes in American football. Unlike other sports leagues, the NFL prioritizes naming its awards after executives, coaches, and commissioners. While the NBA names individual awards and conference trophies after sports legends, the NFL takes a more institutional approach. This makes Belichick’s suggestion even more significant, challenging decades of tradition and reinforcing the impact Brady had on the sport.
In case you forgot… Tom Brady is the GOAT 🐐 pic.twitter.com/aUgijwezRu
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) January 28, 2025
Tom Brady’s career and his Super Bowl dominance
Tom Brady is the player with the most Super Bowl titles in history, having won seven championships between 2002 and 2021. Six of those titles came under Belichick’s leadership with the Patriots, cementing one of the most dominant dynasties in football. His last championship ring came in 2021 when he led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl victory, becoming the first quarterback in history to win the title with two different franchises.
Throughout his career, Brady accumulated records that will be difficult to surpass. He holds the most playoff touchdown passes, leads in postseason passing yards, and is the only player to win five Super Bowl MVP awards. His dominance was so impressive that even at age 44, he led the league in passing yards during the 2021 regular season. His impact on the field transcended time and strategic shifts in the league, remaining the ultimate reference for over two decades.
Other sports trophies named after legends
The debate over potentially renaming the Super Bowl trophy raises questions about sports traditions in the United States. Various leagues have named their most prestigious awards after iconic figures, immortalizing their legacies in different ways.
- The NBA renamed its regular-season MVP award as the Michael Jordan Trophy, recognizing the Chicago Bulls star’s impact on basketball history.
- The NBA Finals MVP trophy is named after Bill Russell, the league’s most decorated champion.
- The NHL awards the Stanley Cup, named after Lord Stanley of Preston, a former Governor General of Canada.
- Major League Soccer (MLS) named its championship trophy Philip F. Anschutz Trophy, honoring the businessman who helped establish the league.
In football, the NFL has yet to fully adopt this practice. Only two of the league’s awards are named after former players: the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, given to athletes who excel both on and off the field, and the Deacon Jones Award, presented to the season’s sack leader.
The victorious partnership between Belichick and Brady
The relationship between Bill Belichick and Tom Brady was one of the key reasons behind the prolonged success of the New England Patriots. Together, they won six Super Bowls and built a dynasty that lasted two decades. Between 2001 and 2019, the Patriots played in nine Super Bowls, becoming a nearly constant presence in the NFL’s biggest event.
Belichick built a reputation as a defensive mastermind, while Brady became the epitome of offensive excellence. Their partnership ensured a level of dominance rarely seen in professional sports, setting a standard for future generations. The importance of their collaboration makes the idea of renaming the Super Bowl trophy after Brady even more symbolic.
NFL changes and the evolution of recognizing legends
The NFL has recently introduced significant changes to its awards. In 2022, the league officially named its regular-season MVP award after Jim Brown, one of the sport’s greatest legends. Additionally, discussions about other potential player tributes continue.
If Belichick’s suggestion gains traction, the NFL will need to consider the historical and commercial impacts of such a decision. Renaming the Super Bowl trophy would mark a shift in how the league recognizes its biggest stars and could set a precedent for future tributes to players who shaped the game.
NFL community reactions to Belichick’s suggestion
The possibility of renaming the trophy has sparked discussions among players, fans, and football analysts. While some advocate keeping Vince Lombardi’s name on the trophy due to its historical significance, others argue that the NFL should evolve and honor its greatest athletes more prominently.
Beyond the impact on Lombardi’s legacy, the change could prompt questions about how the NFL selects individuals for future tributes. If the Vince Lombardi Trophy were renamed the Tom Brady Trophy, what other players might also be considered for similar honors?
The impact of renaming the trophy on future NFL generations
If the NFL were to rename the Super Bowl trophy the Brady Trophy, the decision would have a significant impact on how future generations perceive the sport’s history. It would mark a shift in valuing players in a league traditionally dominated by tributes to coaches and executives.
Tom Brady has solidified himself as the greatest quarterback of all time, and his name will always be associated with the pinnacle of football. If Belichick’s proposal moves forward, the league will have an opportunity to redefine how its greatest icons are celebrated.
The idea of renaming the Super Bowl trophy may be controversial, but it highlights the lasting impact Tom Brady has had on the NFL. The debate over the recognition of players versus the league’s traditions is far from over. Regardless of the NFL’s decision, Brady’s legacy in football remains undeniable, and his name is forever linked to the sport’s greatness.
