It was retrieved the next day.

There have been 59 Vince Lombardi trophies handed out, although it was not until 1970 that the “World Championship Game Trophy” was renamed the Lombardi Trophy following the death of the Green Bay Packers and Washington coach Vince Lombardi. The Lombardi Trophy will never be confused with hockey’s Stanley Cup when it comes to tall tales and legendary stories. But there is one tale that rivals that of some of the Stanley Cup stories.

The “World Championship Game Trophy” that was given to the New York Jets following the team’s Super Bowl III victory against the Baltimore Colts on January 12^th, 1969 comes straight out of the Stanley Cup strange-but-true stories.

The Jets organization got the trophy in a postgame ceremony, but in all the excitement of winning, someone forgot to take the trophy back to New York. It sat in one of the locker rooms in the bowels of the Orange Bowl in Miami.

It was a story that could have been the equal of some of Stanley’s best tales, but the NFL doesn’t push the past history of the trophy.

“I am sure it was John Free’s (responsibility),” laughed one-time Jets trainer Jeff Snedeker years later in discussing who was supposed to be in charge of making sure the trophy accompanied the team on the trip back to New York. Free’s main job was making sure Jets quarterback Joe Namath got out of stadiums safely. No one was told to take the trophy and everyone seemed to follow orders. “He never did anything right.”

Neither Snedeker nor Free even knew the trophy was gone, but someone discovered the trophy was missing when the team got home.

“I remember the guy that either went to get it or brought it with him, his name was Tiger Ferraro,” said Snedeker. “I remember it was Tiger that brought it. I don’t remember if they sent him back or he was still there or they went back to the Orange Bowl.

“They did forget the trophy.”

Ferraro was sent back to Miami and retrieved the trophy, which was sitting all alone in the Orange Bowl. No one even bothered to move it after cleaning the locker room. Not even Stanley was left behind by a team in a dressing room and stayed overnight in a cold, damp locker room.

“Nobody expected us to win, so I guess they were not prepared to get the trophy,” said Snedeker, who as trainer might have been responsible for making sure everything was taken out of the room in Miami. “In the euphoria that followed the trophy, it was probably the least of anybody’s concern. Just that we got it, we didn’t have it physically was probably immaterial.”

The trophy eventually caught up with the Jets and was present during a New York City Hall celebration on January 11^th, 1969.

An excerpt from the ebook: America’s Passion: How a Coal Miner’s Game Became the NFL in the 20th Century

Evan Weiner’s books are available at iTunes – https://books.apple.com/us/author/evan-weiner/id595575191

Evan can be reached at evan_weiner@hotmail.com

NFL Coaching Carousel Overview

Exactly one-quarter of the NFL’s 32 teams are looking for a new coach. And a few more could happen if contract extensions aren’t reached in the coming days.

Who’s looking? Who’s in line for the jobs? Here is a look at the eight current openings and the coaches who may fill them.

Atlanta

If QB Michael Pennix can get coached up properly and more importantly stay healthy this might be one of the best jobs available. That’s a really big if, however. The Falcons have really good skill players on offense and some good young players on defense. So who’s in line? It’s hard to say since the Falcons also need a GM. Keep in mind they flirted with Bill Belichick before hiring Raheem Morris, so a big name is not out of the question. This might be a reach, but is Georgia coach Kirby Smart tired of the transfer portal and NIL?

Arizona

What the new coach has to decide before he even gets the job is what to do with QB Kyler Murray. It appears the Cards are going to trade him and start over, but then who will be their next QB? Arizona’s recent MO suggests they will go for a hot coordinator so keep Buffalo OC Joe Brady and Seattle OC Klint Kubiak (if he wants to stay in the division) near the top of your list.

Baltimore

John Harbaugh hadn’t gotten out of the Ravens building yet when I got a text from a very reliable source that read “Jesse Minter to Baltimore, book it.’’ It’s a little ironic that Jim Harbaugh’s right-hand man in L.A. would take John’s job in Baltimore. Minter was with the Ravens from 2017-20 before joining Jim at Michigan as DC.

Cleveland

This might surprise some, but I truly believe the Browns win the Harbaugh Sweepstakes. If you fire a two-time Coach of the Year you better hire someone good. The Browns will be willing to give John what he wants in terms of money and control. And he gets to stay in the AFC North to play the Ravens twice a year. He also goes home to Ohio where he still has a lot of family.

Las Vegas

Looks like Tom Brady is going to be real involved and that could mean one-time Patriots assistant and former Falcons head coach Raheem Morris is on the way with former Giants head coach Brian Daboll as his OC. This is probably the least attractive job available, although you do have the No. 1 pick in the draft for what that’s worth.

Miami

John Harbaugh’s name will be mentioned here a lot. Former Green Bay Packers executive Jon Eric Sullivan was just named general manager of the Dolphins, however, which could lead to a Packers connection. The team’s defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, who was also the head coach of Boston College, is a possibility. Hafley is on a few team’s list. Sullivan had been with the Packers since 2008, so there is also a connection to former Green Bay and Dallas head coach Mike McCarthy.

New York Giants

The Giants want Harbaugh, but are they willing to get rid of general manager Joe Schoen to get him. That might have to be a prerequisite. Former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, who will surface on a lot of lists, could be Plan B for the Giants and the Giants might actually be Stefanski’s preferred choice. That wouldn’t be the worst thing for QB Jaxson Dart.

Tennessee

This might be the best place for McCarthy and McCarthy might be the ideal hire for the Titans and young QB Cam Ward. Consider that in his career McCarthy revitalized Brett Favre, developed Aaron Rodgers and got the most out of Dak Prescott. This could be the most perfect marriage of the entire group.

Several United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) players were in action across Europe this weekend, delivering standout performances as preparations intensify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

With the tournament fast approaching, USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino is closely monitoring his player pool as he continues to shape a competitive squad capable of making a deep run on home soil.

From goals and assists to defensive masterclasses and commanding midfield displays, several American stars made strong cases for inclusion with impressive outings for their respective clubs this past weekend.

Sports Talk breaks down the weekend’s biggest performers, highlighting the top USMNT players who caught the eye in Europe and boosted their chances of representing the United States at the 2026 World Cup.

Folarin Balogun

The in-form USMNT striker continued from where he left off in 2025 by breaking the deadlock in AS Monaco’s 3-1 win against US Orleans in the French Cup.

Balogun was a constant threat to the opposition for almost 90minutes before he was replaced due to injury.

The former Arsenal youngster limped off with four minutes left on the clock. Saturday’s goal takes his tally to eight goals in 21 matches across all competitions this season.

AS Monaco are anticipating a positive update on his fitness as they look to have their top striker available for their upcoming games against Lorient and Real Madrid.

Joe Scally

The American full-back started the party at the Borussia Park as Borussia Monchengladbach secured a comfortable 4-0 triumph against Augsburg in the German Bundesliga.

Scally drilled home his second Bundesliga goal in the eighth minute, thanks to Luca Netz’s brilliant work on the left flank.

His first Bundesliga goal was in October 2021 and the dominant victory steered Monchengladbach to 10th in the league table.

Auston Trusty

The 27-year-old centre-back put in a solid shift as Celtic kept a clean sheet in the Scottish Premiership by beating Dundee United 4-0.

Trusty played every minute of the game at Celtic Park and his composure at the back shielded goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel who did not face any shot on target in the game.

The former Colorado Rapids defender has now played 14 Premiership games for Celtic who sit third in the league table.

Christian Pulisic

Captain Pulisic was in action from start to finish as AC Milan battled for a 1-1 draw against Fiorentina away from home.

He was a standout force in the middle of the park,winning the second-most duels after Alexic Saelemaekers and he also attempted the most dribbles in the encounter.

Sunday’s appearance was Pulisic’s 14th Serie A game of the season but he could not extend his record of eight goals and two assists.

Ricardo Pepi

Five goals in five consecutive league matches… Pepi was on target for PSV in their 5-1 defeat of Excelsior in the Dutch Eredivisie on Saturday, but the celebration was caught short by pains.

The USMNT striker suffered a broken arm shortly after he bagged his eighth goal of the season.

The 23-year-old is set to have a surgery and will be out of action for at least two months.