By Darin The 1964 American football season was a monumental year that reshaped the landscape of both professional and college football. It was characterized by historic team dominance, a legendary coaching milestone, and a structural shift in college postseason rankings that altered how national champions were determined.
Professional Football: Domination and Transition
In the National Football League (NFL), the Cleveland Browns captured the championship by defeating the heavily favored Baltimore Colts 27–0. Led by Hall-of-Fame fullback Jim Brown and quarterback Frank Ryan, this victory marked Cleveland’s last NFL title for decades.
Meanwhile, the rival American Football League (AFL) was rapidly gaining mainstream traction. The Buffalo Bills won the AFL Championship, defeating the San Diego Chargers 20–7. Off the field, the AFL secured a historic five-year, $36 million television contract with NBC, setting the stage for the eventual NFL-AFL merger.
College Football: The Alabama Controversy
In the collegiate ranks, legendary coach Paul “Bear” Bryant led the Alabama Crimson Tide to an undefeated 10–0 regular season, earning the national championship title from both the AP and UPI polls.
However, the season ended in intense controversy. Because polls in 1964 awarded the national title before the bowl games, Alabama retained their #1 ranking despite losing to Texas in the Orange Bowl. This glaring issue prompted the AP poll to permanently move its final championship voting to after the bowl games starting the very next season.
Key Milestones and Statistics
- NFL Champions: Cleveland Browns (defeated Baltimore Colts 27–0)
- AFL Champions: Buffalo Bills (defeated San Diego Chargers 20–7)
- NCAA Consensus National Champion: Alabama Crimson Tide
- Heisman Trophy Winner: John Huarte (Quarterback, Notre Dame)
The NBC-AFL TV Deal
The $36 million contract signed in 1964 gave the young AFL financial parity with the established NFL. This funding allowed AFL teams to aggressively outbid NFL teams for top college talent, directly leading to the creation of the Super Bowl just a few years later.
A Deep Dive into 1964 Football History and Highlights
- January 1, 1964 – The Rose Bowl celebrated its 50th game as the Illinois Illini knocked off the Washington Huskies 17-7. The Player of the Game was Jim Grabowski.
- January 5, 1964 – Balboa Stadium in San Diego was the site of the AFL Championship game between the San Diego Chargers and the Boston Patriots. The Chargers won 51-10. Pro-Football-Reference.com notes Chargers running back Keith Lincoln’s performance: 206 rushing yards, two touchdowns, and an MVP honor.
- January 10, 1965 – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum – The 1964 NFL Pro Bowl featured the Eastern Conference, coached by Don Shula of the Baltimore Colts, facing the Western Conference, led by Cleveland Browns coach Brant Collier. Sportshistorycollectibles.com reports that the West’s 411 yards more than doubled the East’s 187, resulting in a 34-14 Western Conference win. Quarterback Fran Tarkenton of the Minnesota Vikings and defensive back Terry Barr of the Detroit Lions earned Most Valuable Player honors.
- January 12, 1964 – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum – Colts Quarterback Johnny Unitas and his Baltimore teammate Gino Marchetti were the co-MVPs of the 14th annual NFL Pro Bowl. This game featured all-time great players, according to Pro Football Reference. Cleveland back Jim Brown, Bears Tight End Mike Ditka, Lenny Moore of the Colts, and Green Bay’s Ray Nitchke were only some of the legends on the rosters. In the game, it was the Western Conference Stars who knocked off their Eastern Conference counterparts 31-17.
- January 19, 1964 – Balboa Stadium, San Diego, California – The 3rd annual AFL All-Star Game resulted in the Western Division outlasting the Eastern Division by the close score of 27-24. The Most Valuable Players were LA Chargers rushing weapon Keith Lincoln and Oakland Raiders linebacker Archie Matsos.
- January 24, 1964 – CBS purchased the NFL television broadcasting rights for the 1964 & 1965 seasons for a cool $28.2 million. NBC bid $21.5 million for rights to National Football League games in 1964 and 1965, but CBS won the war with a significantly higher bid. The ABC network paid a mere $2,350,000 in 1964 for the rights to broadcast the AFL, less than a third of the annual average of the NBC contract for the AFL’s rights in 1965, according to a New York Times article from January 30, 1964.
- October 25, 1964 – Possibly the most well-known sports blooper in American sports History could be “The Wrong Way Run” by Viking Jim Marshall.
- November 3, 1964 – Philadelphia voters narrowly approve $25 million referendum to build a new multi-purpose stadium that would later become known as Veterans Stadium.
- November 24, 1964 – New York City – The 30th Heisman Trophy Award winner was announced as John Huarte, the Quarterback from Notre Dame.
- November 26, 1964 – Was the advent of the First Televised Iron Bowl per si.com? It was a great one to show on TV too, as Quarterback Joe Namath and a 100-yard kickoff return by Ray Ogden pushed the Crimson Tide to a 21-14 Thanksgiving Day victory over Auburn.
- November 28, 1964 – CFL Grey Cup, CNE Stadium, Toronto: BC Lions defeat Hamilton Tiger-Cats, 34-24; BC’s Bill Munsey scores 2 touchdowns in the 3rd quarter, one on offense and another on defense.
- November 28, 1964 – 1965 NFL Draft: Tucker Frederickson from Auburn University was the first pick by the New York Giants.
- November 28, 1964 – Notre Dame loses to USC 20-17 on a last-second pass play. The loss crushed ND’s hopes for a National Championship season.
- December 12, 1964 – Cleveland Browns’ Frank Ryan set a franchise record of 5 TD passes as he went 12 of 13 for 202 yards, per the Browns Nation website. Ryan even ran in for another score as Cleveland upended the Giants that day, 52-20.
- December 27, 1964 – Cleveland Municipal Stadium – The 1964 National Football League Championship Game pitted the Baltimore Colts against the Cleveland Browns. Hall of Famer Jim Brown rushed for 114 yards in the game for Cleveland, but the scoring came on three Frank Ryan to Gary Collins pass plates and a few kicks by Lou Groza as the Cleveland Browns blanked the Baltimore Colts, 27-0, per the Pro-Football-Reference.com website. Onthisday.com states that the victory was the last championship win by a major-league pro sports team from Cleveland until 2016, when the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers captured the crown.