Nov 13, 1875 |
Harvard and Yale play the first football game, using modified
rugby rules |
1876 |
Intercollegiate Football Assocation - Harvard, Yale, Columbia,
and Princeton |
1878 |
Walter Camp, generally regarded as the father of football,
joins the football amature rules committee |
1880 |
the number of players on each side is reduced from 15 to 11.
the snap is introduced, replacing the rugby scrum. the field size is reduced
from 140 yards by 70 yards to 110 yards by 53 yards. |
1882 |
Downs are introduced, originally 3 downs to gain
5 yards. to keep track of the distance to the next down, lines are painted
on the field every 5 yards. Ned Pierce (Princeton's rules committee representative)
says "this will make the field look like a gridiron" to which
Walter Camp replies "precisely!" |
1883 |
A new scoring system is introduced - touchdowns are 2 points,
field goals are 5 points, and a safety is worth 1 point |
1884 |
The scoring system is adjusted - touchdowns are now 4 points,
with a conversation worth 2 points. a safety is increased to 2 points. |
Nov 13, 1892 |
William "Pudge" Heffelfinger is paid $500 by the
Allegeny Athletic Assocation to play for them in a game against the Pittsburgh
Athletic Club. It is believed to be the first time a player was paid to
play football. |
1894 |
The infamous Flying Wedge and similiar formations are banned,
largely for safety reasons. changes are also made regarding legal blocking
and tackling, including making tackling below the waist legal. |
1897 |
Pop Warner, then coach of the Carilse Indians, outfits his
entire team with headgear. the Indians are the first team to all wear helmets,
which were previously largely regarded as wimpy. |
1898 |
the Morgan Athletic Club is formed. the team would go on to
change its name and location numerous times and two decades later had become
the Racine Cardinals. |
1902 |
A football 'World Series' is played in a smaller than regulation
indoor field at Madison Square Garden. though it occurs again in 1903, it
is largely a failure. |
1906 |
the forward pass becomes legal for the first time, although
it is of limited effectiveness originally because of the shape of the ball
at the time. the legal area in which passing is allowed leads to the painting
of hash marks on the field for the first time. also, the distance required
for a first down increases to 10 yards and the neutral zone is implemented
to prevent pre-snap contact. |
1910 |
The number of downs is increased to 4. |
1919 |
Curly Lambeau convinces the owner of the Indian Packing Company
to help finance a new football team in Green Bay. The Green Bay Packers
are born. |
Aug 20, 1920 |
The American Professional Football Conference is formed with
five teams - the Rochestor Jeffersons, the Dayton Triangles, the Columbus
Panhandles, the Akron Indians, and the Canton Bulldogs. The later had dominated
midwestern football for most of the last decade, largely thanks to Jim Thorpe. |
Sept 17, 1920 |
The APFC holds another meeting. The Rancine (soon renamed
Chicago) Cardinals, Decataur Staleys, Massillon Tigers, and 4 other new
teams join in what is renamed the American Professional Football Assocation.
Jim Thorpe is named league president. Four more teams would join before
the end of the year. |
Oct 3, 1920 |
In the first game between two APFA teams, the Rock Island
Independants maul the Muncie Flyers 45-0. The game is so one sided the Dectaur
Staleys cancel their planned game with Muncie the following week, prompting
the financial backers to pull out and the Flyers to fold. |
1920 |
The first known football trade occurs when Akron sells the
contract of Bob Nash to Buffalo for $300 and 5% of the previous day's Buffalo-Akron
gate reciepts. |
1920 |
Feeling that Chicago can't support both teams, the Cardinals
and Tigers face off in a special game with the loser shutting down operations.
The Cardinals win. |
1921 |
The Decatur Staleys move to Chicago. |
April 1921 |
The Akron Pros are awarded the first APFA championship trophy
because they are the only undefeated team for the 1920 season. Joe Carr,
executive of the Columbus Panhandles, replaces Thorpe as APFA president. |
1921 |
The 1921 APFA season starts with 21 teams, including 11 of
the 14 teams from the previous season. Not all of them finish the season. |
1921 |
The Chicago Staleys are awarded the APFA championship. The
Buffalo All-Americans dispute the title, but APFA president Joe Carr ends
up ruling in favor of Chicago. |
1922 |
Now sharing Wrigley Field with baseballs' Cubs, George Halas
renames the Staleys. they become the Chicago Bears. |
June 24, 1922 |
The APFA changes its name to the National Football League.
The league has 18 teams, including the Green Bay Packers who had been briefly
barred from the league for, during the previous season, using players with
college egibility remaining. |
1922 |
With the Pcakers struggling financially, a group of Green
Bay businessmen arrange a loan for the team. A non-profit organization begins
operating the team and sells stock and season tickets. Relieved of ownership
responsibilities, team founder Curly Lambeau is able to focus on coaching
and managing. |
1923 |
Canton Bulldogs tailback Lou Smythe becomes the only player
to lead the NFL in both rushing and passing touchdowns in the same season. |
1923 |
The Canton Bulldogs are awarded their second consecutive NFL
championship. During those two seasons, Canton had gone 21-0-3 and outscored
their opponents 430 to 34. |
1924 |
Unable to turn a profit due to the small size of Canton's
Lakeside Park, the Bulldogs move to Cleveland and merge with the Cleveland
Indians. |
Jan 1925 |
Another championship dispute occurs because of several December
games. Games after November 30th are ruled not to count toward standings
and the Cleveland Bulldogs are awarded the championship. |
1925 |
NFL president Joe Carr convinces businessman Tim Mara to start
a New York NFL team. After signing an agreement to play at the Polo Grounds,
he names his team the Giants after the baseball team which also played there. |
1925 |
College football star Harold "Red" Grange signs
with the Chicago Bears and immediately to draw large interest to the struggling
NFL including drawing 73,000 fans to see an exhibition game between the
Bears and Giants which almost singlehandedly saves the New York team. |
1926 |
The NFL institutes a rule banning teams from signing college
players until their class has graduated after complaints from numerous colleges. |
1926 |
Red Grange and C.C. Pyle found the American Football League
(the first of many) after George Halas refuses to give Grange partial ownership
of the Bears. The AFL features 9 teams, including the Rock Island Independants
who switched leagues. The NFL has 22. |
1926 |
Guy Chamerlain wins his 4th NFL championship in 5 years (two
with the Canton Bulldogs and a third after the team moved to Cleveland)
when the Frankford Yellowjackets beat the Chicago Cardinals thanks to a
blocked extra point kick. |
1926 |
The AFL starts hot, but ends up collapsing by the end of the
season. |
1926-1927 |
The Duluth Eskimos play their 14 game NFL season then embark
on a 16 game exhibition tour, earning the team the nickname "Iron Men
of the North". |
1927 |
To avoid oversaturation and shore up the league after the
AFL's failure, the NFL contracts to 12 teams. |
1929 |
After they refuse all trade offers, Giants owner Tim Mara
buys the entire Detroit Wolverines franchise just to get their star back
Benny Friedman. |
1929 |
Ernie Nevers of the Chicago Cardinals sets an NFL scoring
record which still stands today by scoring 6 touchdowns and kicking 4 extra
points in one game. |
Dec 14, 1930 |
Knute Rockne coaches a Notre Dame all-star team, including
the Four Horsemen, against the NFL's New York Giants. Notre Dame gets shockingly
crushed 22-0, giving sudden major legitimacy to the pro game over the previously
superior college game. |
1931 |
The Green Bay Packers become the first team to win three consecutive
NFL championships. |
1932 |
The NFL keeps complete statistics for the first time, but
contracts down to 8 teams due to the Great Depression. the league is helped
by George Preston Marshall's founding of the Boston Braves (later renamed
the Redskins). It is Marshall who pushes for more structure for the NFL,
including Eastern and Western divisions with the divisional winners meeting
to deciede the NFL championship. |
Dec 18, 1932 |
The first ever indoor NFL game occurs when the NFL's first
ever championship game is moved indoors to Chicago Stadium because of a
blizzard. Because of the conditions, hashmarks are used for the first time. |
1932 |
After heavy controvery over the winning touchdown pass of
the 1932 championship game, the NFL makes the forward pass legal anywhere
behind the line of scrimmage (removing the previously restriction of being
5+ yards behind the line). Hashmarks are also made a permenant feature of
the game and the uprights are moved from the endline to the goalline. |
1933 |
The Philadelphia Eagles are founded by two former members
of the Frankford Yellowjackets. The Pittsburgh Pirates (the future Steelers)
are founded by Art Rooney as well. |
1934 |
G.A. Richards buys the Portsmouth Spatarns, moves the team
to Detriot and renames them the Lions. |
Nov 1934 |
The tradition of Detriot playing at home ever Thanksgiving
begins. The Bears beat the Lions 19-16. |
1934 |
Chicago's Beattie Feathers becomes the NFL's first ever 1000
yard rusher with 1004 yards on only 101 carries (a 9.9 yards per carry average). |
1934 |
The Sneakers Game. Down 13-3 in the NFL Championship game
at home to the undefeated Chicago Bears, the New York Giants switch to sneakers
in the 3rd quarter to better deal with the icy field. It apparently helps
alot as the Giants win 30-13. |
1936 |
The NFL holds its first college draft, featuring 9 teams each
picking 9 players from a list of 90. Philadelphia makes Jay Berwanger, a
back from the University of Chicago who won the first Heisman Trophy, the
first overall selection. He never signs with the Eagles, nor the Bears (after
his rights were traded to Chicago) and never plays a down of pro football. |
1936 |
A second AFL is founded, featuring 6 teams - Cleveland, New
York, Pittsburgh, Rochester, Brookyln, and Boston. The Boston Shamrocks
win the championship. |
1936 |
Green Bay's Arnie Herber is the first ever 1000 yard passer
with 1239 yards on 77 completions of 173 attempts in 12 games. |
1937 |
Dwindling attendance infurates George Marshall, who moves
the Boston Redskins to Washington DC. |
1937 |
The AFL plays its second season, with Los Angeles and Cincinatti
replacing Brooklyn and Cleveland (who both folded). The L.A. Bulldogs are
the first pro football team to play home games on the west coast and win
the championship, but the league folds completely after the season. |
1938 |
Roughing the Passer becomes a penalty. |
1938 |
The first Pro Bowl is played in Los Angeles. The champion
New York Giants defeat a NFL All Star Team 13-10. |
1939 |
Byron "Whizzer" White, an All-American halfback
from the University of Colorado, is taken in the first round by Pittsburgh.
Though he would play three excellent years in the NFL, his more noteable
accomplishment was to be a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford where he completed a
law degree, setting the stage for his days as a US Supreme Court Justice. |
May 30, 1939 |
NFL president Joe Carr dies. Carl Strock, the NFL's secretary/treasurer
since its inception, is named his temporary replacement |
1939 |
Riddell develops the first plastic helmet. It doesn't become
popular for nearly a decade. |
Oct 22, 1939 |
The Brooklyn Dodgers and Philadelphia Eagles play in the first
ever televised pro football game, broadcast to the thousand or so sets in
the New York area. |
1940 |
The Chicago Bears humilate the Washington Redskins 73-0 in
the Championship Game. It is both the largest margin of victory and most
points by one team ever in an NFL game. |
1941 |
Art Rooney sells the Pittsburgh Pirates to Alexis Thompson
then buys half of the Philadelphia Eagles. But soon after, Rooney and Bert
Bell (the other Eagles owner) swap cities with Thompson. Players from both
teams are redistributed via a dispersal draft and the Pirates are renamed
the Steelers. |
1941 |
Elmer Layden, famous for his Notre Dame coaching, becomes
the first NFL comissioner. Carl Strock resigns and the posistion of league
president is abolished. |
1941 |
The first NFL Divisional Playoff game occurs when the Green
Bay Packers and Chicago Bears both finish the season 10-1 and split their
two regular season games. It doesn't phase the Bears who, after scoring
396 points in their 11 games, wallop the Packers 33-14 and easily win the
NFL Championship over the New York Giants 37-9. |
1942 |
Green Bay's Don Hutson is the first ever 1000 yard reciever
with 1211 yards on 74 receptions. Thanks in no small part to Hutson's recieving
skills, Green Bay's Cecil Isbell also becomes the first 2000 yard and the
first to throw 20+ touchdowns in a season as well with 2021 yards and 24
touchdowns on 146 completions. |
1942 |
The Chicago Bears go 11-0 in the regular season, but the Washington
Redskins upset them 14-6 in the NFL Championship Game. |
1943 |
Helmets become mandatory for all players. Free substitution
of players also becomes legal, marking the beginning of the end of the two
way player. |
1943 |
Because of World War II, the Cleveland Rams suspend operations
for a year. Pittsburgh and Philadelphia merge franchises for the season,
with the resulting team being nicknamed the "Steagles" |
1943 |
Chicago's Sid Luckman becomes the first player to pass for
over 400 yards in a game, going 21 of 32 for 433 yards against the New York
Giants. He also sets a single game record with 7 touchdowns, a feat which
has since been equaled but never exceeded. |
1943 |
Sammy Baugh of the Washington Redskins leads the league in
passing yards, passing touchdowns, interceptions made, and punting. He is
the first player to lead the league in an offensive, defensive, and special
teams category in the same season. |
1944 |
Because of World War II, Pittsburgh and the Chicago Cardinals
merge franchises for the season. It doesn't help as the "Carpets"
who go 0-10 and are outscored 328-108. |
1944 |
The Boston Yanks join the NFL. |
June 4, 1944 |
A meeting of frustrated hopeful NFL owners in St. Louis leads
to the formation of the All-American Football Conference (AAFC). |
1944 |
The Cleveland Rams beat the Washington Redskins 15-14 to win
the NFL Championship in "The Artic Bowl", as the temperature hovered
around zero degrees Farenheit. Ironicly, the teams had met 4 months earlier
in Cleveland for a preseason game in sweltering 100 degree heat. The Rams
win is helped by a freak safety that occurs when a Sammy Baugh pass hits
the crossbar. |
1945 |
The Cleveland Rams move to Los Angeles. |
April 1945 |
NFL Commisioner Elmer Layden rejects a final offer by the
AAFC teams to merge with the NFL. |
1945 |
Los Angeles end Bob Waterfield catches 10 passes for a record
303 yards against Detriot. |
Jan 1946 |
Elmer Layden resigns as comissioner and is replaced with Bert
Bell from the Philadelphia Eagles |
1946 |
The AAFC begins play with teams in Buffalo, Chicago, Cleveland,
Los Angeles, New York, San Fransisco, Miami, and Brooklyn. |
1946 |
"Bullet" Bill Dudley of the Pittsburgh Steelers
becomes the second and last player to lead the league in an offensive, defensive,
and special teams category in the same season: rushing yards, interceptions
made, and punt return average. |
1946-1949 |
The Cleveland Browns dominate the AAFC, going 52-4-2 (including
postseason games) and winning all 4 AAFC Championships. Their dominance
dooms the league. |
1947 |
The NFL league offices move from Chicago to Philadelphia.
Rules for sudden death overtime in playoff games are added. |
1948 |
The Los Angeles Rams become the first team with helmet insignias
by painting yellow rams horns on the sides of their helmets. The Rams logo
is credited to halfback Fred Gehrke. |
1949 |
The AAFC merges with the NFL, which takes on three of the
teams: the Cleveland Browns, the San Fransisco 49ers, and the Baltimore
Colts. |
1949 |
The Boston Yanks become the New York Bulldogs and join the
Giants in playing at the Polo Grounds. |
1950 |
The New York Bulldogs become the Yanks again after switching
to Yankee Stadium. |
1950 |
The NFL plays internationally for the first time when the
New York Giants and the CFL's Ottawa Roughriders play an exhibition game
in Toronto. |
1950 |
QB Jim Hardy of the Chicago Cardinals sets an NFL record by
throwing 8 interceptions in one game. |
Oct 1, 1950 |
N.Y. Giants' coach Steve Owen unveils the Umbrella defense,
giving birth to what would rapidly become the modern 4-3 defense and shutting
out Paul Brown's Cleveland Browns for the first time ever. By the end of
the decade, every NFL team would be using the 4-3 as their standard defensive
formation. |
1950-1955 |
The Browns prove their AAFC dominance was no fluke by appearing
in 5 consecutive NFL Championship Games and winning 3 of them. |
1951 |
Interior lineman become inelligable as recievers. |
1951 |
Norm Van Brocklin of the L.A. Rams throws for a record 554
yards. |
1952 |
The Baltimore Colts and New York Yanks fold. |
1952 |
The Dallas Texans are founded, but bad play and horrid attendance
lead the team to fold after the season. |
1952 |
The Pittsburgh Steelers are the last team to switch from the
single wing to the T-formation. |
1952 |
Dick "Night Train" Lane of the L.A. Rams intercepts
a record 14 passes during the season. |
1953 |
Carroll Rosenbloom starts a new Baltimore Colts franchise
after selling 15,000 season tickets in advance to convince the NFL that
Baltimore could support a football team. |
1953 |
The NFL wins a legal battle over the rights to black out TV
broadcasts of home games which don't sell out. |
1954 |
Vince Lombardi, then the offensive coordinator for the Giants,
introduces the power sweep. |
Jan 1956 |
Otto Graham passes for 2 TDs and runs for 2 more in a 38-14
win by the Browns over the Rams. Graham retires for good after the game,
having played 10 seasons in the AAFC and NFL and made it to the championship
game every year (winning 7). |
1957 |
Lions coach Buddy Parker resigns in the preseason, fed up
with the team's 12 squabling owners. The Steelers proceed to hire him as
their head coach before the regular season starts. |
1958 |
The Baltimore Colts defeat the New York Giants 23-17 in the
first NFL Championship Game to go into overtime. The game is considered
by some to be the best ever. |
1959 |
Lamar Hunt and Bud Adams found yet another American Football
League after the NFL refuses to grant them franchises. The group originally
includes a Minnesota franchise, but the owners leave when the NFL offers
them a franchise. WWII ace Joe Foss is the league's first comissioner. |
1959 |
Vince Lombardi becomes coach of the Green Bay Packers. They
proceed to reel off 9 consecutive winning seasons in Lombardi's 9 years
with the team, including 5 NFL Championships and 2 Super Bowls. |
Oct 1959 |
NFL Comissioner Bert Bell dies of a heart attack suffered
while watching an Eagles-Steelers game. Pete Rozelle is named his successor. |
1959-1960 |
Heisman Trophy winner Billy Cannon signs an undated contract
with the NFL's Los Angeles Rams. He later changes his mind and signs with
the AFL's Houston Oilers immediately after the Sugar Bowl for more money.
The NFL takes the matter to court, which deciedes in favor of Houston. |
1960 |
The newest AFL begins play with teams in Dallas, Denver, Oakland,
Buffalo, Houston, Los Angeles, New York and Boston. The league is greatly
helped by a 5 year $9 million TV deal with ABC. |
1960 |
The Dallas Cowboys join the NFL with Tom Landry at head coach
and Tex Schramm as general manager. Their first season ends with a miserable
0-11-1 record. |
1960 |
The AFL and NFL reach a verbal agreement not to steal each
others players. |
Dec 1960 |
Chuck Bednarik of the Philadelphia Eagles, the last great
two-way NFL player, plays on every play of the NFL Championship Game. He
tackles Jim Taylor on the final play of the game only 9 yards short of what
would have been a gaming winning touchdown for the Green Bay Packers. |
1961 |
The AFL's Los Angeles Chargers move to San Diego. |
1961 |
The Minnesota Vikings join the NFL. |
1961 |
49ers coach Red Hickey debuts the Shotgun formation in the
NFL. |
1961 |
After some legal hurdles, the NFL signs its first league-wide
TV contract: a 2 year deal with CBS for $4.65 million a year. |
May 1962 |
A federal court judge in Baltimore rules against an anti-trust
suit the AFL had filed against the NFL. |
1963 |
Lamar Hunt's Dallas Texans move to Kansas City and are renamed
the Chiefs. |
1963 |
Sonny Werblin takes over the AFL's New York Titans and renames
them the Jets. |
1963 |
Two famous coaching changes take place in the NFL: after 17
years, Paul Brown is fired as head coach of the Browns and the then unknown
Don Shula replaces Weeb Ewbank as head coach of the Colts. |
Apr 17, 1963 |
Green Bay's Paul Hornung and Detriot's Alex Karras are suspended
for betting on NFL games. Both players sit out the season before being reinstated
in 1964. |
1963 |
The L.A. Rams assemble possibly the greatest defensive line
in NFL history, trading for Roosevelt Grier. Grier joins Lamar Lundy, Merlin
Olsen, and Deacon Jones to form the 'Fearsome Foursome'. |
Sept 7, 1963 |
The Pro Football Hall of Fame opens in Canton, Ohio. There
are 17 inaugural inductees. |
Nov 1963 |
In a controversial decision, NFL Commisioner Pete Rozelle
deciedes to play games as scheduled on November 24th, despite the country
reeling in shock from the assassination of President Kenneday on the 22nd.
CBS refuses to broadcast any of the games. The AFL postpones its games. |
1963 |
NFL Commisioner Pete Rozelle is the first non-athlete to be
named Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated magazine. |
1964 |
The AFL is enough of a success to get a new 5 year $36 million
TV deal with ABC. However, the NFL is even more successful with a 2 year
$28.2 million deal. |
Oct 25, 1964 |
Minnesota's Jim Marshall earns his "Wrong Way" nickname
by accidently returning a recovered San Fransisco fumble 66 yards in the
wrong direction. Thinking he has scored a TD, he throws the ball out of
the endzone in celebration, resulting in a safety. |
1964 |
Charley Hennigan, of the AFL's Oilers, is the first player
with triple digit catches in one season with 101. |
1965 |
Pete Gogolak of the AFL's San Diego Chargers becomes the first
soccer-style pro football kicker. |
Dec 12, 1965 |
During his outstanding rookie season (which included a then
record 22 touchdowns), Chicago Bears rookie Gale Sayers scores a record
tying 6 touchdowns (4 rushing, 1 recieving, 1 punt return) and amasses 336
all-purpose yards in a 61-20 rout of the San Fransisco 49ers. |
Dec 26, 1965 |
With both of their quarterbacks injured, Baltimore starts
halfback Tom Matte at quarterback in the Western Conferance Championship
game. The Packers beat the Colts 13-10, including a disputed field goal
to put the game into overtime. |
1966 |
The Miami Dolphins join the AFL while the Atlanta Falcons
are added to the NFL. |
1966 |
Al Davis, coach/manager of the Oakland Raiders, replaces Joe
Foss as AFL comissioner. He soon drops the agreement about not stealing
players under contract with the other league. |
June 8, 1966 |
Afraid of a bidding war which would financially devastate
both leagues, the AFL and NFL agree to merge in 1970 and play an AFL-NFL
Championship Game in the meantime. |
1967 |
The New Orleans Saints are added to the NFL. |
1967 |
The Green Bay Packers win the first ever AFL-NFL Championship
Game (later dubbed the Super Bowl by Lamar Hunt) over the Kansas City Chiefs. |
Mar 14, 1967 |
The AFL and NFL hold their first joint draft, with the Baltimore
Colts taking Bubba Smith first overall. |
1967 |
The Ice Bowl. Green Bay beats Dallas in the playoffs in a
frigid weather. It gives the Packers their third consecutive championship,
tying their own record set in 1931. |
1967 |
Chicago's George Halas retires, having been with the team
since their inception. |
1967 |
The AFL adds a new franchise, the Cincinnati Bengals. Former
Cleveland Browns coach Paul Brown is general manager and part-owner. |
Nov 17, 1968 |
The Heidi Game. NBC cuts to the scheduled airing of the movie
"Heidi" before a Raiders-Jets game finished. New York leads 32-29
with a minute remaining at the time of the switch, but Oakland makes a surprise
comeback to win 43-32. This leads to stations carrying a game to its conclusion
regardless of how much other scheduled programming gets canceled. |
Jan 1969 |
Joe Namath gurantees a victory for his Jets in Super Bowl
III then delievers as the New York Jets upset the Baltimore Colts 16-7 for
the AFL's first championship win over the NFL. |
1969 |
The AFL and NFL merge completely. Baltimore, Cleveland, and
Pittsburgh switch to the AFC to balance the number of teams in each conference. |
1969 |
CBS buys the rights to televise NFC games while NBC gets the
AFC. ABC debuts Monday Night Football. |
Nov 8, 1970 |
New Orlean's Tom Dempsey kicks a record 63 yard field goal. |
Jan 1971 |
Baltimore beats Dallas 16-13 in Super Bowl V on a field goal
with only a few seconds left. The game is a sloppy affair with 11 turnovers
and 14 penalties. For the first and only time, a member of the losing team
is named MVP. |
Dec 25, 1971 |
The Longest Game. An AFC playoff game between Miami and Kansas
goes into double overtime, clocking in at 82 minutes and 40 seconds of play. |
1972 |
The Miami Dolphins become the first and only team in NFL history
to go undefeated and untied in both the regular season and postseason -
a perfect record of 17-0. Along the way, coach Don Shula becomes the first
coach to win 100 games in his first 10 years. |
Dec 23, 1972 |
The Immaculate Reception. In the AFC Playoffs, Pittsburgh's Terry Bradshaw
tries to pass to Frenchy Fuqua who is covered by Oakland's Jack Tatum.
The pass somehow ends up deflected to Franco Harris who makes a shoestring
grab and go the distance for a last moment winning touchdown. It is Pittsburgh's
first post-season victory in their 39 years of existance. |
1973 |
Congress rules the NFL must lift hometown TV blackouts if
the game sells out at least 72 hours in advance. Up to that point, only
road games had been televised. |
1973 |
Buffalo's O.J. Simpson is the first pro to run for over 2000
yards in a season (he has 2,003). |
1974 |
The NFL adds sudden death overtime quarter to regular season
games. Ironicly, the first game regular season overtime game still results
in a tie. But it works overall, cutting tie games from 7 to 1 from the previous
season. The goalposts were also moved back to the endlines rather than the
goal lines. |
1974 |
The World Football League begins play. It lasts only a season
and a half before collapsing. |
1974 |
A brief preseason players strike occurs, but its settled before
the regular season starts. |
1975 |
George Blanda retires at age 48, having played quarterback
and kicker in the NFL and AFL for 25 years. |
1975 |
The Dallas Cowboys make the playoffs for the first of what
would become a record 9 consecutive years. |
Dec 1975 |
The term 'Hail Mary Pass' is coined by Cowboys QB Roger Staubach
to describe a desperation heave that defeats the Vikings in the NFC Championship. |
1976 |
The Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Bucaneers join the NFL.
They combine for some horrible football: Seattle finishes 2-12, Tampa goes
0-14, and an "Expansion Bowl" game between the two teams features
35 penalties. |
1976 |
Paul Brown retires, having coached for 41 years in high school,
college, military, and pro football. He remains the general manager, vice
president, and owner of the Bengals. |
Nov 1976 |
Detriot beats Buffalo 27-14 in the Lions annual Thanksgiving
game, 273 rushing yards by O.J. Simpson. |
1977 |
The Minnesota Vikings are the losing team in the Super Bowl
for the 4th time, having gone 0-4 in Super Bowls in a 7 year span. |
1977 |
The Tampa Bay Bucaneers finally win their first ever regular
season game, but not until after losing their first 26 (over nearly 2 seasons). |
Jan 1978 |
The Dallas Cowboys beat the Denver Broncos 27-10 in Super
Bowl XII. Dallas' defense dominates the game - Denver gaims only 61 yards
passing, throws 4 interceptions, and fumbles 3 times. For the first and
only time, the MVP is shared between two players: Harvey Martin and Randy
White, appropriately both Dallas defensive players. |
1978 |
NFL makes a number of changes. Rules on pass blocking are
relaxed and defensive contact with recievers is limited to within 5 yards
of the line of scrimmage. The side judge is added as the seventh official.
The number of games is increased to 16. |
1978 |
Before, during, and after the 1978 season, an amazing 14 of
the 28 NFL teams change head coach at least once. |
Jan 1979 |
Pittsburgh beats Dallas 35-31 in Super Bowl XIII. It is the
first Super Bowl rematch. The Steelers are the first team to win 4 Super
Bowls. The Cowboys are the first team to appear in 5. |
1979 |
Tom Cousineau is drafted first overall by the Buffalo Bills.
But shockingly, he choses to play with the Canadian Football League's Montreal
Alouttes instead. |
Jan 1980 |
With a 31-19 victory over the L.A. Rams, the Pittsburgh Steelers
win their 4th Super Bowl in 6 years. |
1980 |
The NFL Pro Bowl is played in Honolulu, Hawaii for the first
time. It would remain there. |
1980 |
The Los Angeles Rams move to the L.A. suburb of Anahiem. |
Jan 1981 |
By beating the Eagles 27-10, the Raiders become the first
Wild Card team to win a Super Bowl. |
Jan 2, 1982 |
San Diego beats Miami 41-38 in overtime in the AFC playoffs,
considered one of the greatest games ever. Miami comes back from a 24-0
deficit, but famous Charger tight end Kellen Winslow fights off cramps to
catch 13 passes and block a field goal. |
May 7, 1982 |
A federal court jury rules in favor of the Oakland Raiders
in their lawsuit to be able to move to Los Angeles. |
1982 |
The NFL begins counting sacks seperately from tackles. |
Sept 20, 1982 |
The NFL players go on strike. The strike is settled after
57 days, but the season is shortened to 9 games. |
1982 |
The Snowplow Game. New England beats Miami 3-0 in a December
blizzard. Thinking quickly, Patriots head coach Ron Meyers has a snowplow
clear the spot where the winning field goal is be attempted from. |
1983 |
The QB Class of '83. Six quarterbacks are drafted in the first
round, including John Elway and Dan Marino. They would combine for 11 Super
Bowl appearances, though with only a 2-9 record in them. |
1983 |
The United States Football League (USFL) begins play with
12 teams and games in the spring. |
1983 |
A record 16 running backs rush for at least 1,000 yards. |
1984 |
The USFL expands to 18 teams. |
1984 |
Eric Dickerson of the Los Angeles Rams sets the new single
season rushing record with 2,105 yards. |
1984 |
Miami's Dan Marino is the first QB to pass for over 5,000
yards (with 5,084) and sets a new record for passing touchdowns with 48. |
1985 |
The Baltimore Stars win their second straight USFL Championship
in their third championship appearance in as many years of the league. |
1985 |
Roger Craig of the 49ers becomes the first place to have 1,000
yards rushing and 1,000 yards recieving in the same season. |
1985-1986 |
On the strength of their famous 46 defense, the Chicago Bears
go 15-1 in the regular season, shutout both playoff opponents, and demolish
the New England Patriots 46-10 to win their first Super Bowl appearance.
Appropriately, their only loss comes to the Miami Dolphins who preserve
their place as the only undefeated team with a win on Monday Night Football
that scores record TV ratings. |
Apr 1986 |
The Bucaneers draft Bo Jackson with the first overall pick,
but he choses to play baseball instead. |
July 29, 1986 |
A US District Court jury rules on the $1.7 billion anti-trust
the USFL has filed against the NFL. The jury rules in favor the USFL but
awards them a mere $1. Now lacking a TV contract and having contracted down
to 8 teams, the result is devastating to the USFL. Their planned fall season
(after 3 years of spring play) is canceled and the league folds. |
Jan 1987 |
The Drive. John Elway leads the Broncos 98 yards for an overtime
forcing touchdown against the Cleveland Browns in the AFC playoffs. Denver
goes on to lose 39-20 to the Giants in the Super Bowl. |
Apr 1987 |
With his rights back in the draft, Bo Jackson is picked again,
this time by the Raiders. They are able to convince him to play football
each year after the baseball season finishes. He plays impressively for
several years, but retires from football in 1990 after a hip injury. |
1987 |
Instant Replay is introduced in the NFL. |
Aug 3, 1987 |
Chicago beats Dallas 17-6 in Wembley Stadium in London, England.
It is the first American Bowl, a yearly preseason game played overseas. |
Sept 22, 1987 |
NFL players strike again. The third week of the season is
canceled, but play resumes for Week 4 with replacment players (nicknamed
"scabs") and a few regular players who cross the picket line. |
Oct 25, 1987 |
The regular players return as the NFL strike is settled. |
Oct 31, 1987 |
One of the largest and most complex trades in NFL history
occurs, involving 3 teams and 10 players & draft choices. Included are
Eric Dickerson (sent from the Rams to the Colts) and the rights to unsigned
rookie LB Cornelius Bennett (sent from the Colts to the Bills). |
Jan 1988 |
The Redskins beat the Broncos 42-10 to win Super Bowl XXII,
mostly on the strength of 5 touchdowns on 5 possessions during a 6 1/2 minute
span in the 2nd quarter. 4 of those scores are passes by Washington's Doug
Williams, the first black QB to lead a team to the Super Bowl. Third string
rookie RB Timmy Smith also gains a record 204 yards, the only game in his
entire short career he would break 100. |
1988 |
The Cardinals move from St. Louis to Phoenix, Arizona. |
Jan 1989 |
Starting with 3:20 left on the clock, Joe Montana leads the
San Fransisco 49ers on The Drive (which would become more famous than Elway's
from two years earlier). The 49ers march 92 yards for a touchdown and a
20-16 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII. |
Mar 22, 1989 |
Commisioner Pete Rozelle surpises everyone by retiring at
the NFL Annual Meeting. |
1989 |
Jerry Jones buys the Dallas Cowboys from H.R. "Bum"
Bright. |
1989 |
Dallas head coach Tom Landry is fired after 29 seasons. Having
coached the Cowboys since their inaugural season, Landry had led the Cowboys
to a 20 consecutive winning seasons streak and appeared in 5 Super Bowls
but had losing seasons for the previous three years. |
1989 |
Jimmy Johnson, Landry's replacement in Dallas, proceeds to
makes the largest trade in NFL history when he sends RB Herschel Walker
to Minnesota. The total deal involves 18 players and draft choices and also
the San Diego Chargers. |
1989 |
Art Rooney, founder and owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers,
dies. He is succeeded by son Dan Rooney. |
Oct 3, 1989 |
Replacing Mike Shanahan only four games into the season, the
Raiders' Art Shell becomes only the second black coach in NFL history and
the first since Fritz Pollard coached the Akron Pros in 1921. |
Oct 26, 1989 |
Paul Tagliabue is named the new NFL commissioner |
Jan 1990 |
Despite the retirement of coach Bill Walsh the previous year,
San Fransisco wins its 4th Super Bowl in 9 years, becoming the second team
to win 4. Denver becomes the second team to lose 4. The 55-10 score also
sets records for most points scored by one team and largest margin of victory. |
Nov 11, 1990 |
Derrick Thomas of the Chiefs sacks Dave Krieg of the Seahawks
a record 7 times. But Krieg manages to throw a game winning touchdown pass,
barely preventing Thomas from recording an eigth sack. |
Dec 1990 |
Impressed by the success of their No Huddle Offense, the Buffalo
Bills switch to it full time. |
Jan 1991 |
The New York Giants win their second Super Bowl when a field
goal by Buffalo's Scott Norwood goes wide right by two feet as time expires.
Norwood would never live the miss down although the blame was deserved more
by holder Frank Reich who failed to have the laces forward. This missed
kick provides the inspiration for the movie "Ace Ventura" ("Laces
out!") |
Feb 1991 |
Neil Austrian is named to the newly created posistion of NFL
President. |
1991 |
The World League, a 10-team spring development league sponsored
by the NFL, begins play. One team plays in Canada and three more play in
Europe. Fittingly, World Bowl '91 is played in London and features two of
the international teams; the London defeats Barcelona 21-0. |
1991 |
Detriot's Mel Gray becomes the first player to lead the league
in punt returns and kickoff returns in the same season. |
1992 |
The World League plays its second season, ending in a Sacremento
21-17 win over Orlando that is played in Montreal. While international attendance
remains high, poor attendance for the American teams leads the NFL to suspend
operations after the season. |
Jan 3, 1993 |
Down 35-3 to the Houston Oilers at halftime in the AFC playoffs,
the Buffalo Bills come back to win 41-38 in overtime. |
Nov 14, 1993 |
Don Shula becomes the winningest coach in NFL history, eclipsing
George Halas with his 325th win. He would retire in 1995 with 347. |
Jan 1994 |
The Buffalo Bills lose their 4th consecutive Super Bowl. |
Jan 1995 |
San Fransisco is the first team to win 5 Super Bowls. |
1995 |
The Jacksonville Jaguars (AFC) and Carolina Panthers (NFC)
join the NFL. |
1995 |
Los Angeles loses both of its NFL teams: the Raiders return
to Oakland and the Rams move to St. Louis. |
Jan 1996 |
Dallas wins its 3rd Super Bowl in 4 years. The Cowboys are
also the 2nd team to win 5 Super Bowls, having appeared in 8. |
1996 |
The Cleveland Browns move to Baltimore and become the Ravens.
To appease angry Cleveland fans, the Browns team history is left behind;
the Ravens are treated as a completely new team. |
1997 |
The Houston Oilers move to Tennessee. They play a year in
Memphis as the Tennessee Oilers before moving to Nashville and becoming
the Tennessee Titans. |
1998 |
Denver wins the first of two consecutive Super Bowls thus
breaking John Elway's 0-3 streak as a Super Bowl quarterback, Denver's 0-4
streak in Super Bowls, and the NFC's streak of 13 consecutive Super Bowl
wins. |
1999 |
The Cleveland Browns return to the NFL. |
2002 |
The Houston Texans (AFC) join the NFL. The league reorganizes
its divisions, now with 4 divisions in each conference. The Seattle Seahawks
switch to the NFC. |
2003 |
On Monday Night Football, down 21 points with only 4:20 left,
the Indianapolis Colts score 3 touchdowns to force overtime against the
Tampa Bay Bucaneers, where they would go on to win. |
2005 |
After Hurricane Katrina ravages New Orleans and leaves the
Superdome unusable, the Saints are forced to play their home games in San
Antonio, Texas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
Dec 24, 2006 |
Michael Vick becomes the first QB to rush over 1000 yards
in a single season. |
Jan 2009 |
The Arizona Cardinals reach their first NFL championship game since 1948, but are narrowly defeated by the Pittsburgh Steelers who win their record 6th Super Bowl. |