Vince Lombardi was one of the greatest coaches in the history of football. And Washington Redskins fans — and fans of the game in general — will love the NFL Films-HBO Sports production of “Lombardi,” which debuts Saturday night at 8 p.m.
“Lombardi,” which chronicles the career of the legendary coach and football icon, is a sure-fire Emmy winner. I spoke to the show’s producer, Joe Lavine, about this entertaining special.
What surprised you most about Lombardi?
Lavine » That it took him 20 years to get a head coaching job. He tried to get jobs in college and in the pros. But from 1939, when he left Fordham, till he landed the job as the Green Bay Packers’ head coaching position in 1959, it was a long, tough ride to the top. But then from 1959 over the next eight years, he won five NFL championships and two Super Bowls.
What made Lombardi a successful coach?
Lavine » He was a driven man. He worked very hard, and that came from watching his father, who was a butcher, get up early every morning and come home late at night. Then when he was a student at Fordham, he had a very strong work ethic. So when he did finally make it to the NFL, no one was going to outwork him. He also saw himself as a man who had to mold his players into the kind of men he wanted playing for him. We have interview after interview with former players that, to a man, talk about how Lombardi made them not only better players but better men.
How about Lombardi and the Washington Redskins?
Lavine » We have a great interview with Sonny Jurgensen, who recounted that in 1969 — [Lombardi’s] one and only year in Washington — when Lombardi told the team in their first meeting together that he expected them to be a winner now, which, given the fact that Washington hadn’t had a winning season in 14 years, was a bold statement. Of course the first year was a winning season, and it set the tone, said Jurgensen, for a winning attitude that was continued by George Allen.
What do you hope the viewers learn from the show?
Lavine » That Lombardi was human. He had his many triumphs, but they came at a price. It was said that for him it was his faith, his family and the Green Bay Packers in that order. But while he was a very religious man — going to church every day — perhaps the biggest toll was on his family. We have very candid interviews with both his son and his daughter about the father they loved but seldom saw.
Examiner columnist Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this!
