When the top-seeded San Francisco 49ers face off against the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday in Super Bowl LVIII, tens of millions of people will be watching to see the action on the field, while millions more will tune in just to see the halftime show or the clever new commercials. And this year—in case you haven’t heard—a whole new fan base will be watching to witness the latest chapter in the ongoing relationship of the couple du jour, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and freshly minted Album of the Year Grammy winner Taylor Swift, who is sure to be in attendance in Las Vegas following a four-show Tokyo run of her Eras Tour that ends the night before the game.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce celebrated with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after winning Super Bowl LVII in 2023.
But for design aficionados, the excitement will really start after the game, when the winner will have been decided and it comes time to present the crown jewel of sports trophies: the Vince Lombardi Trophy, custom designed each year for the National Football League by
Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi (right) and Kansas City Chiefs coach Hank Stram met before Super Bowl I in January 1967 to view the first Super Bowl trophy, designed by Tiffany & Co.
What is the Lombardi Trophy made of?
Simply put, the sterling-silver Lombardi Trophy is a paragon of form-meets-function design; it’s the sine qua non of trophies. As the (possibly apocryphal?) story goes, in 1966 Tiffany vice president Oscar Riedener drew up the trophy’s unadorned silhouette on a napkin during a meeting with Pete Rozelle, who was the NFL commissioner at the time. A new trophy has been crafted every year since Super Bowl I, made entirely of gleaming silver over the course of a painstaking four-month process at Tiffany’s workshop in Cumberland, Rhode Island. It’s forged in fire that reaches temperatures of more than 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, then hand-soldered and polished to its incomparable sheen.
A silversmith at Tiffany & Co.’s Cumberland, Rhode Island, workshop forges the Vince Lombardi Trophy at temperatures surpassing 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
How did the Lombardi Trophy get its name?
The trophy is named after the legendary Vince Lombardi, who coached the Green Bay Packers to victory in the first two Super Bowls. It was presented for the first time in 1967 to Lombardi himself, though of course it was not yet named for him—that honor followed after his death in 1970.
How big is the Lombardi Trophy, and how much does it weigh?
The Lombardi stands 22 inches tall and weighs in at seven pounds; it is crowned by a replica of a regulation-size football, complete with “laces.” The silvery shine is offset by its unsparingly clean lines, however, resulting in the rare piece of hardware that appeals to both adherents of minimalism and lovers of flash.
An in-progress version of the regulation-size sterling-silver football that crowns the trophy, with only two of its “laces” in place.
Yes, hockey fans, I know—the Stanley Cup may be more awe-inspiring, but let’s face it, it’s rather unwieldy. (Also: It’s technically not a trophy.) You don’t need two hands to lift the Lombardi over your head like you do the Stanley Cup; the Lombardi is the perfect shape for hoisting high in the air as you scream that you’re going to Disney World. And as we learned three years ago during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ waterborne parade after their Super Bowl LV triumph, it’s also quite aerodynamic and can survive an ill-advised throw between two boats without plunging into the Hillsborough River (we’re looking at you, Tom Brady).
The finished trophy, on a blanket of Tiffany blue.
Back in the present day, if the Chiefs manage to win their third Super Bowl in the past five years, there is rampant online chatter—ranging from pure speculation to outright conspiracy theory—about whether Kelce will use the occasion of the trophy ceremony to propose to Swift before an audience of millions. So this year, if an engagement ring does in fact appear, the Lombardi trophy might not be the only piece of Tiffany bling that will be on display after the game for all the world to see.
Jeffrey Bauman
Jeffrey Bauman is the executive managing editor of ELLE DECOR and is the magazine’s unofficial “nerd culture” correspondent, having written about such topics as Star Wars, Marvel movies, and Legos, all through a design lens. He has previously written for Town & Country and Travel + Leisure, among other titles.
FAQs
The Chiefs became the first team to win back-to-back Super Bowls since the New England Patriots in 2004. The game was played on February 11, 2024, at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada. This was the first Super Bowl to be held in the state of Nevada.
What top did Taylor Swift wear to the Super Bowl? ›
Taylor Swift's Super Bowl 2024 Outfit Included a Chic Corset Top: Shop the Look Here. The singer took to the stands with her friends in an all-black shimmering outfit that included Dion Lee's crocheted corset top.
Who is Taylor Swift rooting for in the Super Bowl? ›
Every moment Taylor Swift was on TV rooting on boyfriend Travis Kelce at Super Bowl 2024.
Will Taylor Swift perform with Usher? ›
To answer the question for those wondering, no, Taylor Swift will not be appearing or performing during Usher's halftime set.
Who is singing for the Super Bowl 2024? ›
Super Bowl LVIII from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas won't be short on star power, and that includes the pregame entertainment lineup headlined by Reba McEntire and Post Malone. The former will sing the national anthem and the latter will sing "America the Beautiful." The big game will be broadcast on CBS (Feb.
Where is the next Super Bowl in 2025? ›
NEW ORLEANS — When New Orleans hosts its record-tying 11th Super Bowl on Feb. 9, 2025, it will be roughly 50 years after the Caesars Superdome opened to the public — and 20 years after Hurricane Katrina briefly turned the Dome into a makeshift emergency shelter.
Why is Taylor Swift so popular? ›
Several authors and publications consider Taylor Swift a culturally significant music artist. One of the most prominent celebrities of the 21st century, Swift is recognized for her versatile musicality, songwriting prowess, and business acuity that have inspired artists and entrepreneurs worldwide.
How much did Taylor Swift's 87 necklace cost? ›
Swift adorned herself with a Stephanie Gottlieb "87" necklace priced at $4,250 and a sparkling Judith Leiber football clutch for $4,495, among other eye-catching items, each dripping with luxury and glamour.
How expensive was Taylor Swift's Super Bowl outfit? ›
Swift stunned in an all-black outfit with beautiful, yet subtle jewelry that cheered on boyfriend Travis Kelce and the Chiefs. All told, her entire outfit is valued around $50,000. Here's a breakdown of each facet of her look.
How many boyfriends has Taylor Swift had? ›
Out of Taylor Swift's exes, her relationship with Joe Alwyn was the longest (7 years). How many boyfriends has Taylor Swift had? Taylor Swift has 12 publicly known exes.
It's no secret Swift is rooting for the AFC representative, the Kansas City Chiefs. And specifically, her boyfriend, tight end Travis Kelce. So, for at least a period of a day or a week, San Francisco 49ers fans aren't going to be Swift fans whatsoever.
Who is Travis Kelce's ex? ›
Kayla Nicole, Travis Kelce's ex-girlfriend, is speaking out about the “constant vitriol” she has received online. “I'm unproblematic,” the on-air host wrote Thursday on X (formerly Twitter).
How rich is Taylor Swift? ›
Taylor Swift currently has an estimated net worth of $1.1 billion. According to Forbes, which published a series of 2024 billionaire reports on Tuesday, Swift is the first musician to reach 10-figure status solely based on songwriting and performing (rather than brand deals or business ventures).
Has Taylor Swift ever been married? ›
The public's relationship with Swift's relationship
Swift and Kelce are both 34, and neither have been engaged or married yet. But fans have closely followed Swift's relationships since she was a teenager and have been there for the dating and the breakups.
Who went to prom with Taylor Swift? ›
Swift's escort for prom night was Hillcrest senior Whit Wright, who was also 18 at the time. Swift chose Wright from a pool of about 50 applicants. She drew his name out of a hat filled with the names of a handful of other Hillcrest High finalists.
Who will win the Super Bowl 2024 odds? ›
Based on the current futures market, the Kansas City Chiefs have an implied 14.3% chance to win the Super Bowl. The 49ers (+650, 13.3%) are the second most likely to win the Super Bowl, followed by the Ravens (+1000, 9.1%).
Who won the MvP Super Bowl in 2024? ›
Patrick Mahomes wins 2024 Super Bowl MVP: Chiefs QB joins Tom Brady, Joe Montana as only 3-time award winners - CBSSports.com.
Who is calling the Super Bowl in 2024? ›
The Super Bowl will be broadcast by CBS, with its top crew of play-by-play commentator Jim Nantz and color analyst Tony Romo on the call. Tracy Wolfson will serve as the sideline reporter, with fellow reporters Evan Washburn and Jay Feely and rules expert Gene Steratore also providing support.
Who won the touchdown in the Super Bowl 2024? ›
The Kansas City Chiefs are Super Bowl champions for a third time in the Patrick Mahomes era. Mahomes found Mecole Hardman for a walk-off touchdown in overtime on Sunday to deliver a 25-22 defeat to the San Francisco 49ers in a thriller.
