1958 American Football Season

The 1958 American football season was a watershed moment for the sport, particularly for professional football, which surged in national popularity. It was a year defined by legendary performances, tactical evolutions, and a championship game that altered the trajectory of sports broadcasting in the United States.

The NFL and “The Greatest Game Ever Played”

The 1958 National Football League (NFL) season concluded with a game that fundamentally changed how professional football was perceived by the American public.

• The Championship Clash: On December 28, 1958, the Baltimore Colts faced the New York Giants at Yankee Stadium for the NFL Championship.
• The Drama: After finishing regulation tied 17–17, the game became the first in NFL history to go into sudden-death overtime. Colts fullback Alan Ameche scored the winning touchdown on a 1-yard run, securing a 23–17 victory for Baltimore.
• The Impact: Broadcast nationally by NBC, the game captivated an estimated 45 million viewers. The thrilling finale demonstrated football’s perfect compatibility with television, setting the stage for the NFL’s eventual dominance over baseball as America’s favorite spectator sport.
• Key Icons: The game featured 17 future Pro Football Hall of Fame members, including Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas, coach Weeb Ewbank, and Giants stars like Frank Gifford and Sam Huff.

College Football Dominance

In the collegiate ranks, the 1958 season used the traditional polling systems to crown its champions, resulting in a split consensus.

• The Champions: The Louisiana State University (LSU) Tigers, led by head coach Paul Dietzel and star back Billy Cannon, were voted the national champions in both the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll after an undefeated 11–0 season, capped by a Sugar Bowl win.
• The Unbeaten Contender: The University of Iowa Hawkeyes won the Big Ten title and the Rose Bowl, finishing 9–1–1. While they missed the top spot in the major polls, they were awarded the FWAA Grantland Rice Trophy.
• The Heisman Trophy: Army’s legendary halfback Pete Dawkins won the 1958 Heisman Trophy, leading the Cadets to an undefeated 8–0–1 record.

A Deep Dive into 1958 Football History and Highlights

The 1958 season serves as the definitive bridge between football’s regional past and its modern, media-driven future. In the NFL, Johnny Unitas won the UPI Most Valuable Player award, cementing his status as the premier quarterback of the era. Meanwhile, structural changes were brewing behind the scenes; the immense public appetite for the game, demonstrated throughout 1958, directly inspired businessmen like Lamar Hunt to form the American Football League (AFL) just a year later. From LSU’s defensive “Chinese Bandits” to Alan Ameche‘s historic overtime plunge, 1958 remains a cornerstone year in gridiron history.

• January 1, 1958 – The 44th edition of the Rose Bowl game went down to the wire as Ohio State outlasted Oregon 10-7. It was a rare instance in which the losing QB, Webfootb Jack Crabtree, was voted the game’s MVP.
• January 12, 1958 – LA Memorial Coliseum – The 8th NFL Pro Bowl was won by the Western Conference, which beat the Eastern Conference, 26-7. The MVPs of the contest were Hugh McElhenny, San Francisco 49ers star halfback, and the Washington Redskins great Defensive End Gene Brito.
• January 13, 1958 – The NCAA added a 2-point conversion to football scoring. According to LiveAbout.com, the plays used in college ball were not immediately adopted in professional football. In fact, the two-point conversion rule was not officially adopted by the NFL until 1994. The professional levels of football did tinker with the 2-point play prior to 1994, though. According to the American Football Database, the AFL used the conversion tactic during its ten years of existence in the 1960’s. The NFL Europe and its reincarnation, the World League of American Football, adopted the rule and were likely a further testing ground for it before the NFL adopted it. It has really added interesting dynamics to contests, as formulas and charts have been famously developed to determine when a team should go for two. The success rate of the two-point try has been reported to range from 40% to 55%, so there is a pretty good risk-reward aspect to it.  
• January 19, 1958 – The Canadian Football League is officially founded. According to an article on CFLHOF.ca, the League is the highest level of professional football in Canada.
• May 25, 1958 – Tallahassee, FL – Local police caught Florida State football players stealing co-ed underwear. The great ‘Noles Panty Raid caper led to suspensions of players.
• October 28, 1958 – The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame hosts its first annual awards banquet at what is now known as the Waldorf Astoria in New York. U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower became the first recipient of the coveted Gold Medal, the highest individual award bestowed by the NFF.
• November 15, 1958 – Houston, Texas – Texas A&M plays Number  17 Rice University.  Rice was riding high all season as it sat in first place atop the Southwest Conference. It wasn’t an easy game for the Owls, as the teams were deadlocked at 14 in the third quarter. But that’s when Texas A&M’s Gordon LeBoeuf got his mitts on a blocked punt by teammate Don Smith and took it 55 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. The NFF’s article on the game then tells how tailback Charlie Milstead extended the Aggie lead to 28-14 shortly after with his second touchdown run of the day. Rice’s All-America end Buddy Dial, a 1993 College Football Hall of Fame inductee, scored a late touchdown on a four-yard reception from Bobby Wright, but it would not be enough for the Owls, as A&M won by a touchdown, 28-21.
• November 29, 1958 – Empire Stadium, Vancouver – The 46th Grey Cup final was played, and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers took home their 4th title, beating the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, 35-28, for the CFL Championship. You can find more details about the matchup of these teams at NinetynineYards.com.
• November 29, 1958 – Legion Field, Birmingham – The 23rd meeting of the Auburn Tigers and the Crimson Tide of Alabama took place in the Iron Bowl. Auburn held off the Alabama eleven in a tight one, 14-8, per AL.com’s story.
• December 2, 1958 – Army halfback Pete Dawkins, a dual-threat runner and southpaw passer, won the 24th Heisman Trophy after leading the Black Knights to an undefeated 1958 season.
• December 2, 1958 – The Green Bay Packers used the first pick of the 1959 NFL Draft on Iowa quarterback Randy Duncan, the Heisman runner-up who famously received a kiss from Jayne Mansfield at Bob Hope’s request.
• December 28, 1958 – Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York. The 1958 NFL Championship game—later known as “The Greatest Game Ever Played”—featured the New York Giants and the Baltimore Colts competing for the league title. Notably, 17 future Pro Football Hall of Fame members participated in the contest. This game was a pivotal moment in the league’s history, illustrating professional football’s increased popularity. Late in the game, the national broadcast temporarily lost its signal, but coverage resumed as Johnny Unitas led a game-tying drive for the Colts. Facing a 3rd and 10 from their own 14-yard line, Unitas connected with Lenny Moore, setting up a series of completions to Raymond Berry that positioned Steve Myhra for a successful 20-yard field goal with seven seconds left and forced overtime. The Giants won the coin toss but were unable to score, giving the Colts possession at their own 20-yard line. Unitas directed an efficient drive, culminating in Alan Ameche’s one-yard touchdown. The Colts prevailed, 23-17, in the first sudden-death overtime championship game in NFL history.