Vince Jr. worked as an assistant coach at his father's high school until he graduated from the University of Washington in 1934. He then joined the Green Bay Packers as offensive backfield coach under legendary head coach Curly Lambeau.
Lombardi's coaching career began to blossom in 1936 after he became backfield coach for the New York Giants.
The team won the NFL title that year under legendary head coach Jim Lee Howell. The following year Lombardi became head coach of the Redskins and led them to the NFL championship game against the Giants, which they lost 14-7 on a controversial call by referee Cliff Christle, who ruled that Redskins quarterback Sammy Baugh had intentionally thrown his hand up to stop play before completing a pass despite clear evidence that Baugh was attempting to throw the ball away after being hit by Giants linebacker Sam Huff. Lombardi resigned from the Redskins after one season to devote himself to his next coaching assignment with the Packers under Lambeau again.
Lombardi returned to Green Bay in 1950 as head coach and led them to an NFL championship in Super Bowl II over the Colts of Baltimore, 34-14.
Two years later, they won another title by defeating Yank Stadium bound Cleveland Browns 23-17, beginning what is now known as "The Drive" at Lambeau Field on fourth down with less than two minutes left in overtime on November 18, 1954.
Lombardi continued coaching until he died of cancer at age 61 on October 16, 1970 at Green Bay's St. Elizabeth Hospital .
Lombardi's son, Vince Lombardi III , played for him at St.
Francis High School in Brooklyn, New York , where he starred as quarterback for St. Francis' football team, winning All-State honors during his senior year . He later played linebacker at Fordham University , where he was named MVP of the Shamrocks' first ever Division 1-AA Championship Team .
After college, Vince Jr.'s son embarked on an incredible playing career that included stints with Green Bay (1960), Buffalo Bills (1962–1964), Denver Broncos (1966–1968) and Oakland Raiders (1969).
He also served as the Raiders' interim coach during their championship season of 1976