HOUSTON – Texas Tech star linebacker Jacob Rodriguez has taken home the 2025 Lombardi Award!
Rodriguez is the prestigious award’s 52nd recipient. The ceremony streamed live on KPRC 2+ Wednesday night.
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This year’s four finalists were:
- David Bailey, LB, Texas Tech
- Cashius Howell, DE, Texas A&M
- Kadyn Proctor, LT, Alabama
- Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
Today, our finalists visited @TexasChildrens, MD Anderson Cancer Center (@MDAndersonNews) and the Rotary House bringing big smiles to patients and families! @TexasTechFB, @AlabamaFTBL, @AggieFootball pic.twitter.com/vVVoUG6pQI
— Lombardi Award (@lombardi_award) December 10, 2025
Rodriguez had a dominant season for a Red Raiders squad that won the Big 12 Conference Championship and earned a first-round-bye in the College Football Playoff. He ranked third in total tackles among Power-4 players and second in his conference.
Rodriguez is the second-straight player from Texas to take home the Lombardi Award, as then-Texas Longhorn Kelvin Banks Jr. won it last year.
MORE ABOUT THE LOMBARDI AWARD
The Lombardi Award was first introduced back in 1970 after the passing of Vince Lombardi due to colon cancer. He is widely regarded as one of the best coaches and most influential figures in football history.
Congratulations to the 2025 Lombardi Award™ finalists! 👏 🏈@TexasTechFB, @AggieFootball, @AlabamaFTBL pic.twitter.com/3t11WQ63V4
— Lombardi Award (@lombardi_award) November 18, 2025
The award has been earned by athletes from Texas and representing the Houston area in recent years. Last year, Texas Longhorn and Summer Creek High School alumnus Kelvin Banks Jr. won the award. Three years ago, Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr. won, before becoming a superstar edge rusher for the Houston Texans.
The honor is handed to the player who “displays exceptional performance and ability and embodies the character and discipline that Vince Lombardi championed throughout his life.”
It was established by the Rotary Club of Houston with the permission of Lombardi’s widow, Marie, and his sister, Madeline Lombardi Werner. Proceeds from the annual Gala associated with the award go towards cancer research and families battling the disease, as the Lombardi family wanted.
You can donate to the Lombardi Award and its mission to kick cancer’s butt here.
Donations of any amount are so appreciated. Anyone interesting in contributing can also purchase items including a raffle ticket for $100, a Lombardi Build-A-Bear for $35, or a $50 luminary bag to honor a loved one battling cancer.