While American football has its roots in the 19th century, the list of Super Bowl winners doesn’t go that far back in history. The Walter Camp game took off like wildfire on college campuses across the country soon after its inception, but it wasn’t until 1967 that the first championship matchup was staged at the professional level. That first game between the Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum would kick off a tradition that has almost become a sanctioned holiday in America.

A look at the list of Super Bowl winners reveals that some of the sport’s most notable teams have dominated the competitions since the inception of this highly anticipated, highly publicized, and highly charged sporting event. The first winner, the Green Bay Packers, took the first two titles and ran with them. After these victories, the famous Packers gave way to such dominant teams as the Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, and Pittsburgh Steelers.

While the list of Super Bowl winners also includes a host of other teams that have won over the years, three teams are tied for the honors of holding the most titles. The Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers all have five wins to their credit. Pittsburgh, in fact, has a chance to become the winningest team of all time if it goes all out in Super Bowl XLIII at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa on February 1. On January 1, 2009. Of course, the Arizona Cardinals will do their best to prevent this and add their team’s name to the Super Bowl winners’ list.

Those who have had the honor of being on the Super Bowl winners’ list have earned the pleasure of taking home not only the World Championship title, fancy rings and much prestige, but also the Vince Lombardi Trophy. This Tiffany & Co. designed trophy features a regulation size football in a kicking position that has been crafted in sterling silver. With an estimated value of over $25,000, this trophy is nothing to sneeze at and has been coveted by teams on the Super Bowl winning list and those yet to make it.

The trophy has been a part of Super Bowl lore since the first game in 1967. Originally called the World Championship Game Trophy, it was renamed in 1970 in honor of Green Bay Packers head coach Vince Lombardi following his death from cancer. The new name of the trophy commemorates not only the legendary coach, but also the fame of his team in winning the first two bowls in a row. Presenting the trophy to the coach of the winning team on the field of play has been a part of the festivities surrounding the game since Super Bowl XXX in 1996. Before that, it was handed out to teams in their locker rooms.

The list of Super Bowl winners is long and proud. While it doesn’t date back to the very beginning of the sport, the game has become as much of an American tradition as fireworks on the 4th of July and hot dogs in the World Series.