2017 American Football Season

The 2017 American football season was a thrilling and unpredictable year that delivered some of the most memorable moments in the sport’s history. From a backup quarterback leading an underdog team to Super Bowl glory to a dramatic overtime finish in the college national championship, 2017 was defined by resilience, controversy, and spectacular offensive displays.

The NFL: An Underdog Story and the “Philly Special”

The 2017 National Football League (NFL) season culminated in an unforgettable offensive shootout. Super Bowl LII, played on February 4, 2018, saw the Philadelphia Eagles capture their first-ever Super Bowl title by defeating the defending champion New England Patriots 41–33.

Key storylines from the NFL season included:

• The Eagles’ Resilience: After MVP-frontrunner Carson Wentz tore his ACL late in the regular season, backup quarterback Nick Foles stepped in and orchestrated a legendary playoff run, ultimately winning Super Bowl MVP.
• The “Philly Special”: One of the most famous trick plays in football history occurred on fourth down right before halftime of the Super Bowl, resulting in tight end Trey Burton throwing a touchdown pass to quarterback Nick Foles.
• Offensive Explosion: Super Bowl LII set the record for the most combined yards gained in any NFL game (1,151). Even in defeat, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady threw for a staggering 505 yards.
• The 0-16 Browns: On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Cleveland Browns finished the regular season with an 0–16 record, becoming only the second team in NFL history to do so.

College Football: An Overtime Thriller and the Undefeated Knights

The 2017 collegiate season was just as dramatic, capping off with the College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship on January 8, 2018.

• The Title Game: The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 26–23 in a stunning overtime finish.
• “2nd and 26”: In a bold move, Alabama head coach Nick Saban benched starting quarterback Jalen Hurts at halftime for true freshman Tua Tagovailoa. Tagovailoa threw the game-winning 41-yard touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith on a 2nd-and-26 play in overtime.
• The UCF Controversy: The UCF Knights finished as the only undefeated team in the FBS (13–0) after defeating Auburn in the Peach Bowl. Left out of the four-team playoff, UCF controversially claimed a national championship, sparking intense debates about the playoff format.
• The Heisman Trophy: Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield took home the Heisman Trophy in a landslide after a dominant statistical season, eventually becoming the number one overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

More 2017 Gridiron Milestone Moments

Beyond the final scores, the 2017 season was marked by significant cultural conversations, rule debates, and breakout performances:

• National Anthem Protests: The season saw widespread player protests during the national anthem, continuing a movement started the previous year to highlight racial inequality and police brutality. This became a major national talking point after political figures weighed in, sparking league-wide solidarity demonstrations.
• The “Catch Rule” Controversy: Debates over what constitutes a catch reached a fever pitch, highlighted by a controversial overturned touchdown by Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Jesse James in a crucial Week 15 game against the Patriots. This outrage led the NFL to fundamentally rewrite and simplify the catch rule in the offseason.
• The Rookie Running Backs: The 2017 draft class proved historic for running backs. New Orleans Saints rookie Alvin Kamara and Kansas City Chiefs rookie Kareem Hunt took the league by storm, redefining the modern, versatile offensive back with massive rookie campaigns.

A Deep Dive into 2017 Football History and Highlights

• January 2, 2017 – The Rose Bowl – Pasadena, California – The 103rd Rose Bowl Game matched the Big Ten Conference champions Penn State Nittany Lions against the USC Trojans of the Pac-12 Conference. This one went back and forth in the second half as each team landed blows on offense. Penn State had connections from QB Trace McSorely, runs by Saquon Barkley, and receptions and returns by WR/R Chris Godwin. USC countered with QB Sam Darnold throwing b-b’s to Ju Ju Smith-Schuster and Deontay Burnett, while RB Ronald Jones ran hard. USC won it at the end 52-49 as Darnold and Trojan teammate LB Stevie Tu’ikolovatu were the game MVPs.
• January 9, 2017 – Raymond James Stadium, Tampa – The College Football National Championship Game. The College Football Playoff website called it an “unprecedented rematch.” The Clemson Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide squared off for the second consecutive year in the title game. The year prior, Alabama won a close 45-44 game. ESPN.com said this 2017 contest had even more buildup than the original. Clemson rallied from a two-score deficit to get back in the game. They played tight defense, limiting Bama to a season low 376 yards. The Tigers also held Alabama to 2-15 on third downs. Clemson scored 21 points in the final quarter, which featured three lead changes. With one second left, Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson flicked a two-yard pass to Hunter Renfrow, lifting #2 Clemson past #1 Alabama, 35-31!
• January 22, 2017 – The Atlanta Falcons defeated the Green Bay Packers 44-21 in the NFC Championship to reach the Super Bowl.
• January 22, 2017 – In Foxborough, the New England Patriots beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 36-17 to win the AFC title.
• January 29, 2017  – Orlando, Florida – Another NFL Pro Bowl and the AFC knocked off the NFC, 20-13. Dual MVPs of the game were KC’s tight end Travis Kelce and Lorenzo Alexander, the fine linebacker of the Buffalo Bills.
• February 5, 2017 – NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas – Super Bowl LI was one of the greatest comebacks in modern football history. The Atlanta Falcons looked unstoppable as they shredded the New England Patriots for most of the beginning of the game. The halftime score was 21-3, and in the third quarter, it got even worse for the Patriots as Atlanta went up 28-3 after Quarterback Matt Ryan found Tevin Coleman on a six-yard TD pass in the middle of the third. That was when all changed, though. The Patriots then reeled off 25 unanswered points in a little over a quarter to tie the game with 57 seconds left, with James White’s one-yard TD run and a subsequent 2-point conversion to send the game into the Super Bowl’s first overtime in history, per ESPN.com.  In the extra session, the Patriots drove 75 yards in 8 plays, and White ran in another short touchdown to lift the New England Patriots over the Atlanta Falcons, 34-28. It sounds like a broken record, but the MVP was once again Tom Brady of New England. (source)
• March 28, 2017 –  According to NFL.com, a representative of each of the NFL’s 32 teams attended the 2017 Florida State Pro Day. One of the main reasons was to evaluate the talented Running Back Dalvin Cook, who, per the report, had an “exceptional workout” according to NFL Network analyst Gil Brandt.    
  Further emphasizing his status, Brandt said, “In my mind, he’s the No. 2 RB prospect in the draft behind Leonard Fournette… he’s explosive & catches the ball well.”
• April 27, 2017 – At the opening rounds of the 2017 NFL Draft, Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett was the first pick by the Cleveland Browns. Chicago surprised many when it took North Carolina quarterback Mitchell Trubisky second overall.
• July 10, 2017 – According to NFL.com, the Kansas City Chiefs promoted co-director of player personnel Brett Veach to the position of General manager. Since that move, the Chiefs have made at least the conference title game every season since 2018 & have appeared in the last 2 Super Bowls, of course, winning Super Bowl LIV.
• September 24, 2017 – The NFL players responded, many in protest to President Donald Trump’s comments on them and their actions during the National Anthem before games. Teams and players responded by kneeling, locking arms, or staying in the locker room during the anthem.
• November 11, 2017 – Louisville, Kentucky – The University of Louisville’s Lamar Jackson accounted for four touchdowns and 342 yards as the Cardinals dropped Virginia 38-21.  A dailypress.com story fills us in on the action. Lamar Jackson passed for 195 yards and rushed for 147 in the Game against the Cavaliers. Lamar established an NCAA milestone in the victory as well.  Jackson, the Heisman Trophy winner, became the first player in NCAA history to post two seasons with 1,000 yards rushing and 3,000 yards passing.
• November 26, 2017 – TD Place Stadium, Ottawa – The CFL Championship of the 105th Grey Cup was a whale of a game. The Toronto Argonauts won their 17th Championship with a 27-24 victory over the Calgary Stampeders. You can read all about the game story on Sportsnet.ca’s piece on the contest.
• December 4, 2017 – The New York Giants fired head coach Ben McAdoo and general manager Jerry Reese after a 2–10 start, following the controversial mid-season benching of Eli Manning.
• December 9, 2017 – The 83rd Heisman Trophy Award went to Quarterback Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma.
• December 17, 2017 – It was the scheduled matchup that most NFL fans were licking their chops for all season long. The 11-3 New England Patriots invaded Heinz Field to take on the 11-3 Pittsburgh Steelers. These two teams had little fondness for each other, and the game did not disappoint its billing, coming right down to the wire and adding to its legacy with a controversial play at its pinnacle. With 56 seconds remaining in the game, the Patriots took the lead on an 8-yard run by Dion Lewis. Tom Brady connected on a pass with Rob Gronkowski to convert the two-point attempt, and the Pats were up 3. The Steelers started their drive after the kickoff from their own 21-yard line. Ben Roethlisberger connected with Rookie Receiver Ju-Ju Smith-Schuster on a crossing route, who, with some crazy moves, took the ball deep into New England territory. New excitement filled the stadium after the 69-yard pass play! On the very next play, Big Ben found Tight End Jesse James for an apparent score. However, after the review, the official overturned the touchdown, declaring the pass incomplete, and an interception of a tipped pass a few plays later gave the Patriots the victory. Tony Corrente, the game’s referee, when asked later why the TD did not stand, said a lack of contact by a defender on James was irrelevant. ”As he hit the ground, the ball began to roll and rotate and the ball hit the ground,” Corrente said, “that’s the end at that point.” The NFL rule has since been modified, and if the exact play occurred now, it would have been a touchdown. (source)
• ​December 30, 2017 – The 84th Orange Bowl saw #6 Wisconsin defeat #11 Miami (Florida), 34-24. Turning from the collegiate stage back to the pros, December 30 once again witnessed a record-setting NFL achievement.
• December 31, 2017 – The Cleveland Browns, with a 28-24 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field, earned the dubious distinction of becoming only the 2nd team in NFL history to finish a season with a 0-16 record. The other was the 2008 Detroit Lions. Pro Football Reference shows us that a Ju-Ju Smith-Schuster 96-yard kickoff return TD in the third quarter was the difference-maker in the contest.