"If you aren't fired with enthusiasm, you will…

“If you aren’t fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired with enthusiasm” is an old sports saying attributed to Green Bay Packers football coach Vince Lombardi (1913-1970) in 1968. However, the popular “fired with enthusiasm” employment joke has been cited in print since at least 1912—before Lombardi was born.

Wikiquote: Vince Lombardi
Vincent Thomas Lombardi (June 11, 1913 – September 3, 1970) was one of the most successful coaches in the history of American football as head coach of the Green Bay Packers from 1959 to 1967, and the Washington Redskins in 1969.

Sourced
If you aren’t fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired with enthusiasm.
. Reported in Lee Green, Sportswit (1984), p. 169.

10 December 1912, Daily People (New York, NY), ‘Sparklets,” pg. 2, col. 3:
Knew the Temperament.—“Do you know what it means to be fired with enthusiasm?” asked the sufrage evangelist. “Yes; my last three bosses all showed unmistakable enthusiasm in firing me,” replied the stenographer.—Buffalo Express.

17 April 1918, Charlotte (NC) Observer, “Bits of Byplay” by Luke McLuke, pg. 4, col. 4:
Paw Knows Everything.
Willie—Paw, what does it mean to be fired with enthusiasm?
Paw—That’s when the boss discharges an employe by kicking him out of the door, my son.

10 September 1920, Humboldt (IA) Republican, pg. 2, col. 2:
The employee who is not fired with enthusiasm at the start will be fired with enthusiasm at the finish.

1 September 1923, San Diego (CA) Union, pg. 33(?), col. 6:
Not the Right Kind.
Bill: “With such a good job you ought to be fired with enthusiasm.”
Phil: “That’s the trouble. I was.”

9 November 1953, Kokomo (IN) Tribune, “Barbs” by Hal Cochran, pg. 6, col. 3:
Lots of office people who aren’t fired with enthusiasm are likely to be when the big boss finds it out.

Google News Archive
9 October 1958, Ivanhoe (MN) Times, “Quotes and Exchanges,” pg. 2, col. 1:
JACK HEBERT — Employees who are not fired with enthusiasm may be fired with enthusiasm.

14 August 1961, Hartford (CT) Courant, pg. 1:
Today’s CHUCKLE
Employees who are not fired with enthusiasm may be fired with enthusiasm.

10 January 1968, Omaha (NE) World-Herald, “Green Bay Terror Jordan Actually Worry Wart” by Milton Gross (North American Newspaper Alliance), pg. 50, col. 5:
“If you aren’t fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired with enthusiasm.”
(Henry Jordan, 33-year-old Green Bay Packer defensive tackle—ed.)

Google News Archive
8 October 1970, Milwaukee (WI) Journal, “Vince: Famine Ended With 37-0 Feast,” pt. 2, pg. 25, col. 3:
“If you aren’t fired with enthusiasm over playing for Vince Lombardi,” it was said, “you will be fired with enthusiasm.”

Sports Illustrated
September 20, 1971
American East
The Dolphins’ uniforms are aqua, which the NFL calls “a shade of blue.” First. The Colts’ blue is darker. So are their chances. Second. The Jets are blue because of Namath’s knee. Third. The Bills and Pats will be black and blue
(...)
At least Mazur has established himself. And his message is out: “If your work is not fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired with enthusiasm.”