No individual meant more to the rise of the National Football League during the 1960s (with the possible exception of league commissioner Pete Rozell) than the legendary coach of professional football's most legendary team, Vince Lombardi of the Green Bay Packers. The 1960s ushered in a new era in professional football: Armed with its first national television contract and rising attendance, the National Football League went from regional curiosity to the most popular sport in America within a decade.

Lombardi's success coaching the Packers from 1959 to 1967 is unparalleled in pro football history. In seven seasons, Lombardi never had a losing season, and he led the Packers to five NFL championships, including the first two Super Bowls. These achievements, coinciding with the NFL's rising popularity, turned Lombardi and the Packers into national celebrities. Lombardi, who sometimes used harsh methods to instill discipline, became a beloved...