2009 American Football Season

The 2009 American football season was an unforgettable year marked by incredible undefeated streaks, record-setting performances, and historic championship runs in both the professional and collegiate ranks.

The NFL: A First for New Orleans

The 2009 NFL season culminated in Super Bowl XLIV, where the New Orleans Saints captured their first championship in franchise history by defeating the Indianapolis Colts 31–17. The season was defined by dominant regular-season runs, as both the Colts and the Saints started the year undefeated at 14–0 and 13–0, respectively.

The Super Bowl itself featured a legendary moment when Saints cornerback Tracy Porter intercepted MVP Peyton Manning in the fourth quarter, returning it for a game-sealing touchdown. The 2009 season was also notable for Brett Favre’s resurgence with the Minnesota Vikings, leading them to the NFC Championship game, which they narrowly lost to the eventual champion Saints in overtime.

College Football: The Tide Returns to the Top

In the college ranks, the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS season was fiercely competitive, featuring an unprecedented six teams finishing the regular season undefeated—a record for the BCS era. The season concluded with the BCS National Championship Game at the Rose Bowl, where the undefeated Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Texas Longhorns.

The year also made history for college football’s most prestigious individual award. Alabama sophomore running back Mark Ingram won the Heisman Trophy, becoming the first player in the school’s storied history to receive the honor. Ingram won in what was the closest Heisman voting race ever, narrowly edging out Stanford running back Toby Gerhart by just 28 points.

Other 2009 Gridiron Storylines

Beyond the championships, 2009 was a year of pivotal milestones and unique shifts in the game:

• Concussion Protocols: The NFL implemented stricter concussion policies late in the season. Any player exhibiting symptoms was barred from returning to a game or practice, marking a critical step in player health and safety over previous years.
• Unprecedented Heisman Field: The 2009 college season was the first time two previous Heisman Trophy winners—Tim Tebow (2007) and Sam Bradford (2008)—returned to play in the same season, creating a highly anticipated dynamic.
• The “Bingo” Caller: In a bizarre coaching move, the Washington Redskins stripped head coach Jim Zorn of play-calling duties mid-season and handed them to Sherman Lewis. Lewis was a retired NFL assistant who had recently been calling bingo games at a senior center prior to joining the team.

A Deep Dive into 2009 Football History and Highlights

• January 1, 2009 – The Rose Bowl game featured yet another Pac-10 vs. Big Ten matchup; this time, USC took on Penn State. The Trojans proved to be too much for the Nittany Lions that day as USC won 38-24. USC QB Mark Sanchez and LB Kaluka Maiava were the co-MVPs of the game.
• January 8, 2009 – Dolphin Stadium, Miami Gardens – Number 2 Florida and top-ranked Oklahoma met in the 11th BCS National Championship. The Sooners started Heisman-winning quarterback Sam Bradford. Florida fielded its 2007 Heisman winner, Tim Tebow. ESPN.com reported that Tebow passed for 2 TDs, and Percy Harvin rushed for 121 yards, leading Florida over Oklahoma, 24-14.
• January 18, 2009 – Heinz Field, Pittsburgh – The 2008 AFC Championship game resulted in a Pittsburgh Steelers 23-14 victory over their AFC North rivals, the Baltimore Ravens. Check out our full story on this game.

The Steel Curtain Rises: Reliving the 2008 AFC Championship “Grudge Match”

• January 18, 2009 – The NFC Championship was played at  the University of Phoenix Stadium. In the game, the Arizona Cardinals knocked off the Philadelphia Eagles, 32-25.
• February 1, 2009 – Super Bowl XLIII ended with the Pittsburgh Steelers defeating the Arizona Cardinals 27-23. Linebacker James Harrison ended the half with a 99-yard pick-six, which may be the greatest play in Super Bowl history. Despite falling behind late in the fourth quarter after a 64-yard touchdown by Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald, the Steelers mounted a dramatic 78-yard final drive. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger connected with wide receiver Santonio Holmes for a spectacular 6-yard, game-winning touchdown with just 35 seconds remaining. The victory secured a record sixth Super Bowl championship for the Steelers franchise, and Holmes earned the game’s MVP award for his decisive performance.
• March 12, 2009 – It was a date when significant portions of Carlisle Indian School’s game-by-game records were officially archived or digitized by major sports databases. This, of course, included the Carlisle Indian School Upset (November 9, 1912) – a historic moment often cited in the legacy of Jim Thorpe. Although the famous season took place in the fall, historical retrospectives frequently highlight this date in connection with the school’s 1912 dominance. Led by Thorpe, the Carlisle Indian School famously dismantled a West Point team that included future president Dwight D. Eisenhower, cementing the “Indians” as a powerhouse in early football history.
• April 25, 2009, NFL Draft: Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford was the first pick by the Detroit Lions. For more on the story, check out our 2009 NFL Draft post.
• September 24, 2009 – The University of South Carolina upsets the 4th-ranked Ole Miss 16-10.  The heavily favored Rebels entered the contest averaging 48 points per game, but the stingy Game-Cocks defense and head coach Steve Spurrier had something else in mind as they stymied Ole Miss for much of the afternoon.
• October 18, 2009 – Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts – New England Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady threw five second-quarter touchdown passes against the Tennessee Titans, setting an NFL record for touchdown passes in one quarter. Brady finished with six scoring strikes in the game as the Patriots shelled the Titans 59-0.
• October 24, 2009 – South Bend, Indiana – The 19th annual College Football Holy War saw Notre Dame defeat Boston College 20-16. Surprisingly, it was Notre Dame’s first win in the series in nine seasons!
• November 27, 2009 – Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, Alabama – The version number 74 of the Iron Bowl kept fans on the edge of their seats. According to ESPN.com, the second-ranked Tide took the lead with 1:24 left in the contest and thwarted a late Tigers charge to escape with a 26-21 come-from-behind victory.
• November 29, 2009 – McMahon Stadium, Calgary – The 97th Grey Cup saw the Montreal Alouettes come from behind to beat the Saskatchewan Roughriders, 28–27, on a 33-yard Damon Duval field goal as time ran out. Our friends can find the full coverage of the story at the Ninety-nine Yards website.
• December 5, 2009 – This season featured a big-ticket matchup in the SEC Title Game as the #2 Crimson Tide of Alabama faced off against the top-ranked Florida Gators. That ranking got moved around in the aftermath, as it was all Tide in a 32-13 one-sided game.
• December 5, 2009, The ACC Championship Game was a doozie as #12 Georgia Tech beat #25 Clemson, 39-34.
• December 5, 2009 – Had the Cincinnati Bearcats stun the Pitt Panthers in a last-second comeback: The Miracle at Heinz Field: Cincinnati’s Staggering 21-Point Comeback to Edge Pitt 45-44
  

The Miracle at Heinz Field: Cincinnati’s Staggering 21-Point Comeback to Edge Pitt 45-44

• December 5, 2009 – The 2009 Big 12 Championship Game, where #3 Texas nipped #21 Nebraska, 13-12.
• December 14, 2009, University of Alabama hard-working running back Mark Ingram Jr. won the 75th Heisman Trophy Award. He was, unbelievably, the Bama Heisman winner to also win a National Championship Title with the Tide that same season. According to the Trophy’s official site, Ingram won the narrowest vote in Heisman history up to that point.