I've always liked hockey's tradition of passing the Stanley Cup to each years champion. It may come as a surprise to some that the NFL used to do this as well. Everyone is so blinded by the shine of the Lombardi Trophy that the years before the Super Bowl are easily forgotten.
There once was the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Cup and the Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy. In 1920, the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Cup was, of course, donated by the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, Tire Division to the American Professional Football Association (renamed the National Football League in 1922). The cup was to be awarded to the league champion each year. It was decided that if any team won the cup three times they would be deemed the owner. The Green Bay Packers won three straight titles from 1929-31. Unfortunately for the Packers, the cup never made it that far. The Akron Pros won the first title and the cup in 1920. What happened to the cup afterwards remains a mystery.
The Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy had a more substantial history. From 1934 until 1969 the trophy was awarded to the champion of the NFL. It was named after Ed Thorp, a noted referee, rules expert, and sporting goods dealer. Thorp died in 1934, and a large traveling trophy was made that year. The trophy was to be passed along from champion to champion each season. In addition to their time with the Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy, each team was also awarded a smaller replica. The current location of the original is unknown. The prevailing theory is that the Minnesota Vikings lost it. The Vikings were the last team to have it as a result of their dismantling of the Cleveland Browns for the 1969 NFL Title. Presumably they lost it. I don't think so. I think that the Vikings have it. They will always have it.
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