Dec. 26, 1963 - Vince Lombardi, who led the Green Bay Packers from the cellar to two NFL championships, received a new five-year contract today. Dominic Olejniczak, president of the community corporation that owns the Packers, said Lombardi’s new contract as coach and general manager would run until Jan. 31, 1969. The announcement came after another round of rumors that others were interested in Lombardi. The reports said that the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers of the NFL and West Point and Notre Dame had all wondered whether Lombardi could be lured away. Terms were not disclosed, but the former Fordham lineman reportedly was in the $65,000 bracket before the current signing. Lombardi said today, “Naturally, I’m happy.” Green Bay finished a close second to the Chicago Bears in the Western Conference this year after three straight division titles and league championships the past two seasons. Lombardi’s record with Green Bay is 50-15-1 in the 5 years since he came to the Packers from the New York Giants. When Lombardi agreed to leave the Giants and take over the Packers, he insisted on a five-year pact. In July of 1961, after Lombardi had brought the Packers from the cellar to the Western Division championship in 2 seasons, the original contract was torn up in favor of a new 5-year contract. That would have run until Jan. 31, 1965, but it has given way to contract No. 3. After slumping to 1-10-1 in 1958, the Packers were 7-5 in Lombardi’s first year, then won Western titles in 1960, 1961, and 1962.
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