By Darin The 1965 American football season was a landmark year characterized by intense cross-league rivalries, historic coaching milestones, and unforgettable gridiron drama across both the professional and collegiate landscapes.
The Professional Landscape: NFL and AFL
In 1965, major professional football was still split into two distinct, competing entities: the long-established National Football League (NFL) and the upstart American Football League (AFL).
- The NFL Championship: The Green Bay Packers, under legendary head coach Vince Lombardi, captured the NFL title. After finishing the regular season tied with the Baltimore Colts in the Western Conference, the Packers won a controversial Western Conference playoff game $13\text{–}10$ in overtime. They advanced to defeat the Cleveland Browns $23\text{–}12$ in the NFL Championship Game on a muddy field at Lambeau Field.
- The AFL Championship: The Buffalo Bills dominated the AFL for the second consecutive year. Led by quarterback Jack Kemp and a ferocious defense, the Bills shut out the star-studded San Diego Chargers $23\text{–}0$ to claim the AFL crown.
- The Off-Field War: The fierce bidding war for college talent reached a fever pitch. On New Year’s Day 1965, Alabama quarterback Joe Namath signed a historic, record-breaking contract with the AFL’s New York Jets, a watershed moment that accelerated the eventual merger of the two leagues.
College Football: The National Title Twist
The 1965 NCAA college football season concluded with one of the most dramatic shifts in polling history.
Entering the postseason, the Michigan State Spartans were ranked No. 1 and the Arkansas Razorbacks were No. 2. However, the Associated Press (AP) decided to conduct its final poll after the bowl games for the first time—a decision that changed everything. Michigan State was upset by UCLA in the Rose Bowl, and Arkansas fell to LSU in the Cotton Bowl. Consequently, the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide, coached by Bear Bryant, defeated Nebraska in the Orange Bowl to claim the consensus AP National Championship.
A Deep Dive into 1965 Football History and Highlights
- January 1, 1965 – In the 51st Rose Bowl, the Michigan Wolverines dominated the Oregon State Beavers 34-7, and voters selected Wolverine Mel Anthony as the game’s MVP.
- January 2, 1965 – The New York Jets signed future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath to a record contract in professional football. Although the amount may seem small today, at the time Namath and the Jets agreed to a $427,000 contract over three years, setting a new standard.
- 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 16, 1965 – Jeppeson Stadium, Houston – The American Football League held its 4th All-Star Game. In the end-of-year exhibition game, the Western Division defeated the Eastern Division squad by a score of 38-14. The MVPs were Los Angeles Chargers Running back Keith Lincoln and Denver Broncos defensive back Willie Brown.
- 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.
- April 15, 1965 – The NFL changed its official penalty flag from white to bright gold.
- June 30, 1965 – The Atlanta Falcons were granted an NFL franchise.
- November 13, 1965 – Salt Lake City, Utah – Texas Western University defeated the University of Utah, 20-19. Texas Western is now known as UTEP in today’s football landscape. The NFF’s website story on this game tells us about the final play: Miners quarterback Billy Stevens tossed a miraculous 92-yard touchdown pass to Bob Wallace with 16 seconds left for the go-ahead score —it was basically a walk-off win! Wallace also scored the first points of the game on an 89-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter before the Utes leaped to a 19-7 edge on two rushing touchdowns by tailback Ben Woodson. On the defensive side of the ball, Fred Carr led the Miners with 15 tackles.
- November 14, 1965 – The Baltimore Colts’ third-year backup QB, Gary Cuozzo, makes his first NFL start, replacing the injured reigning NFL MVP Johnny Unitas. Cuozzo lit up the Vikings for 5 TDs in a 41-21 rout in Minnesota. For the record, Unitas never threw more than 4 TD passes in a game.
- November 23, 1965 – New York City – The 31st Heisman Trophy Award was presented, and for this season the selection committee chose Mike Garrett, the running back from the USC Trojans, as the nation’s top college football player.
- November 27, 1965 – CNE Stadium, Toronto – The Wind Bowl: Hamilton Tiger-Cats defeat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, 22-16; strong winds meant all scoring occurred when the team was going with the wind.
- November 27, 1965 – 1966 NFL Draft was held on this day, and the number one pick was Tommy Nobis from the University of Texas, whom the Atlanta Falcons picked. The franchise was founded on June 30 of the same year.
- November 27, 1965 – Birmingham – Alabama outplays Auburn 30-3 in the 30th Iron Bowl.
- November 28, 1964 – 1965 NFL Draft: Tucker Frederickson from Auburn University was the first pick by the New York Giants
- December 12, 1965 – Wrigley Field, Chicago – Chicago Bears Rookie halfback Gale Sayers ties the NFL record for most touchdowns in a game with a half dozen in Chicago’s 61–20 victory over the San Francisco 49ers at a muddy Wrigley Field. Sayers had 4 rushing touchdowns on only 9 carries. He took another one across the goal line stripe via a reception and then added a coast-to-coast punt return for good measure. He could have probably had a seventh score on the day, but Coach George Halas pulled him from the game in the fourth quarter right before the Bears scored again!
- December 26, 1965 – Balboa Stadium, San Diego – The 1965 AFL Championship game saw the San Diego Chargers compete against the Buffalo Bills. The Bills won 23-0, repeating their previous year’s success over San Diego.
- December 29, 1965 – CBS network negotiated a contract to purchase television rights for the 1966 through 1968 NFL seasons for $18.8 million per year. This was a financial windfall for the League and was instrumental in its success.