The Kansas City Chiefs will face the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship on Sunday, January 26, at 6:30 PM ET at Arrowhead Stadium, competing for the Lamar Hunt Trophy. Both teams have endured a long season and numerous injuries to reach this moment.
The NFL awards the Lamar Hunt AFC Championship Trophy to the AFC champion each year. Introduced during the 1984-85 season, it represents a team’s dominance in the AFC and is the final step before reaching the Super Bowl. The trophy is named after Lamar Hunt, the founder of the American Football League (AFL), in recognition of his major contributions to professional football, including the AFL-NFL merger and coining the term “Super Bowl.”
Who Was Lamar Hunt?
Lamar Hunt was one of the most influential figures in football history despite never playing the game professionally. After failing to secure an NFL franchise in the late 1950s, Hunt, along with seven other owners, founded the American Football League (AFL) in 1960. Known as “The Foolish Club” due to the skepticism they faced, these owners launched a league that would eventually reshape professional football. Hunt’s AFL franchise, the Dallas Texans, later relocated and became the Kansas City Chiefs. His leadership was critical during the AFL-NFL merger in 1966, which formed the modern NFL and established the AFL teams as the AFC. Hunt is also credited with coining the name “Super Bowl.”
For his contributions, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1972. The Lamar Hunt Trophy and the Kansas City Chiefs’ recent AFC victories serve as a tribute to his enduring legacy. Lamar Hunt wasn’t just all about the NFL. He had a hand in starting up MLS and even helped get teams like Columbus Crew and FC Dallas going. His love for sports stuck with the game and his influence can be seen even today.
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History of the Lamar Hunt Trophy
The Lamar Hunt Trophy was first awarded during the 1984-85 season when the Miami Dolphins defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 45-28 in the AFC Championship Game. However, the Dolphins couldn’t complete their run and lost to the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XIX, 38-16. Since then, the trophy has been awarded 40 times, with several teams establishing themselves as AFC powerhouses over the years.
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The New England Patriots are the all-time leaders with 11 AFC Championships, including their most recent win during the 2018-19 season. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos are tied for second place, with eight AFC titles each. Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs have become a rising force, capturing the trophy three times since 2019 (2019, 2020, and 2022). Interestingly, Lamar Hunt’s own Kansas City Chiefs never won the trophy during his lifetime. Their closest attempt came in the 1993 season, when they lost 30-13 to the Buffalo Bills. However, the team finally claimed the trophy in the 2019-20 season, defeating the Tennessee Titans 35-24.
Design, Material, And Size
The original Lamar Hunt Trophy had a simple design: a wooden base with a silver football mounted on top. In 2010, the NFL collaborated with Tiffany & Co. to redesign the trophy, giving it a modern look. The current version is made entirely of sterling silver, with a sleek and polished appearance.
The trophy stands about 22 inches tall and is designed to be lightweight and easy to lift during celebrations. Sterling silver was chosen for its durability and shine, ensuring it remains in excellent condition for years. Players like Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce have proudly hoisted the trophy during the Kansas City Chiefs’ recent wins.
What Is The Cost Of The Trophy?
The estimated cost of the Lamar Hunt Trophy is around $10,000. This price reflects the sterling silver material and the skilled craftsmanship of Tiffany & Co. While the monetary value is relatively low compared to the scale of NFL operations, the trophy’s significance far outweighs its cost. It represents hard work, perseverance, and the achievement of being the best in the AFC.
For reference, the Vince Lombardi Trophy, awarded to the Super Bowl winner, also costs approximately $10,000. Both trophies are celebrated not for their financial value but for what they symbolize, which is teamwork, dedication, and success.
Also Read: The Lombardi Trophy: Exploring The History And Significance Of The NFL’s Super Bowl Award
