Each National Football Conference champion collects the George S. Halas Trophy.
Every American Football Conference champ wins the Lamar Hunt Trophy.
When Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, 43, is finally finished, you wonder if the NFL should rename either, or both, the Thomas Edward Patrick Brady, Jr. Trophy.
Halas, the father of the NFL, made most of his impact before 1970, when the conference championship round was born. Hunt was an original AFL owner, but until recently, his Kansas City Chiefs rarely made the AFC title game.
But there's an entire generation of NFL fans who barely know the NFL's round-of-four without #12, now appearing in the Bucs' jarring red, orange and pewter.
So, having now appeared in his NFL-record 14th conference title game (10-4 record) in his 21 year career, and his 7th in the last 8 years, Brady would be a more contemporary choice to have his name etched on one of those trophies-- especially the AFC edition.
Here's a note on each of Brady's AFC/NFC Championship Game appearances.
1. 2001: Patriots 24, Steelers 17 (at Pittsburgh) injured in the second quarter; Drew Bledsoe finished (Super Bowl: win)
2. 2003: Patriots 24, Colts 14 (at Foxborough) Pats' defense won the day, forcing 5 turnovers. (Super Bowl: win)
3. 2004: Patriots 41, Steelers 27 (at Pittsburgh) 2 first half TD throws, including a 60-yarder to Deion Branch (Super Bowl: win)
4. 2006: Colts 38, Patriots 34 (at Indianapolis) nobody's perfect: intercepted with 16 seconds left, as Colts came back from down 18 points
5. 2007: Patriots 21, Chargers 12 (at Foxborough) Patriots improved their season record to 18-0 (Super Bowl: loss)
6. 2011: Patriots 23, Ravens 20 (at Foxborough) his one-yard run in the 4th quarter won it (Super Bowl: loss)
7. 2012: Ravens 28, Patriots 13 (at Foxborough) picked off twice late; with 320 yards, passed Brett Favre to become #1 in playoff passing
8. 2013: Broncos, 26, Patriots 16 (at Denver) Peyton Manning, again
9. 2014: Patriots 45, Colts 7 (at Foxborough) 16 yd. TD pass to tackle Nate Solder (Super Bowl: win)
10. 2015: Broncos 20, Patriots 18 (at Denver) picked off on 2-point conversion attempt to tie
11. 2016: Patriots 36, Steelers 17 (at Foxborough) two first half TD throws to Chris Hogan (Super Bowl: win)
12. 2017: Patriots 24, Jaguars 20 (at Foxborough) two fourth quarter TD throws to Danny Amendola (Super Bowl: loss)
13. 2018: Patriots 37, Chiefs 31 (OT) (at Kansas City) Pats won the overtime toss, then Brady converted third down passes to Edelman (twice) and Gronkowski on the winning drive (Super Bowl: win)
14. 2020: Buccaneers 31, Packers 26 (at Green Bay) 39 yd. TD toss over blown coverage caught by Scotty Miller with 1 second left in the first half; Packers' comeback falls short (Super Bowl)