Lombardi Curse

The “Lombardi Curse” is a sports term used to describe the inability of the Minnesota Vikings to win a Super Bowl, despite being a successful NFL team. The curse references legendary coach Vince Lombardi, after whom the NFL’s Super Bowl trophy (the Lombardi Trophy) is named.

The Vikings’ association with the “Lombardi Curse” stems from their losses in four Super Bowl appearances during the 1970s (Super Bowl IV, VIII, IX, and XI). Despite having a strong team, they were unable to secure a championship victory. The concept of the “curse” emerged from this repeated failure to win the Lombardi Trophy, symbolising bad luck or misfortune preventing the team from breaking through to win the NFL’s top prize.

This narrative persists as the Vikings have continued to remain competitive over the years, making numerous playoff appearances but failing to win a Super Bowl title. Some fans and media outlets humorously invoke the “curse” whenever the Vikings fall short in big moments, even though the team has shown success at times. As of today, the “Lombardi Curse” remains a playful explanation for the team’s championship drought.

There are also mentions of an older, lesser-known “Ed Thorp Curse” tied to the disappearance of the Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy, which was awarded to NFL champions prior to the Lombardi Trophy. The Vikings were the last team to win the Thorp Trophy in 1969, and it has since gone missing, with fans speculating that this curse might explain their ongoing misfortunes.

History

The “Lombardi Curse” has become part of the broader mythology surrounding the Minnesota Vikings, a team that has experienced significant success in regular seasons and playoff runs, yet remains without a Super Bowl victory. The curse traces back to the Vikings’ early years of dominance under coach Bud Grant in the late 1960s and 1970s, when they were widely regarded as one of the most talented teams in the NFL. They reached the Super Bowl four times during this period:

• Super Bowl IV (1970): The Vikings, heavy favorites, lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 23–7.
• Super Bowl VIII (1974): They were defeated by the Miami Dolphins 24–7.
• Super Bowl IX (1975): The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Vikings 16–6.
• Super Bowl XI (1977): The Oakland Raiders handed the Vikings another loss, 32–14.

Despite their strong defense, often referred to as the “Purple People Eaters,” and their consistently high performance during the regular season, the Vikings were never able to capture the elusive Lombardi Trophy in these appearances. This repeated failure in the biggest game gave rise to the idea of a curse, suggesting that some unseen force might be preventing the Vikings from winning a Super Bowl.

In subsequent decades, the Vikings continued to assemble competitive teams. They made deep playoff runs in years like 1998, 2009, and 2017, only to fall short in the NFC Championship Game, which would have secured them another shot at the Lombardi Trophy. Notably:

• 1998 season: The Vikings went 15-1, led by an explosive offense featuring quarterback Randall Cunningham and rookie wide receiver Randy Moss, but lost to the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship Game in overtime, after a missed field goal by kicker Gary Anderson, who had previously been perfect all season.

• 2009 season: Quarterback Brett Favre led the Vikings to another NFC Championship Game, but they lost to the New Orleans Saints in a game marred by turnovers and controversial officiating.

• 2017 season: After the “Minneapolis Miracle” victory over the New Orleans Saints in the divisional round, the Vikings were demolished by the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game.

The “Lombardi Curse” has become a symbol of the Vikings’ inability to win in the biggest moments, despite fielding talented rosters across multiple eras. Fans often refer to the curse as a way to explain heartbreaking losses, and it has become part of the team’s identity. While the curse is a largely tongue-in-cheek concept, it reflects the frustration of a fanbase that has long awaited a Super Bowl victory. As of today, the Vikings remain without a Super Bowl title, keeping the myth of the Lombardi Curse alive.