By Darin On November 17, 1968, television history changed forever, and not because of the New York Jets or the Oakland Raiders.
The game, a high-stakes AFL rivalry between Joe Namath’s Jets and Daryle Lamonica’s Raiders, was a classic shootout that traded the lead repeatedly. With just 1:05 left on the clock, Jets kicker Jim Turner booted a 26-yard field goal, giving New York a seemingly safe 32-29 lead.
It was 7:00 PM Eastern Time, the scheduled start for the children’s movie Heidi. Despite the nail-biting finish, NBC executives, under pressure from advertisers and prior programming commitments, made the fateful decision. As the Jets kicked off, millions of viewers across the East Coast were abruptly switched from the violence of the gridiron to a cheerful girl skipping through the Swiss Alps.
What they missed was a monumental collapse.
In the final 42 seconds, the Raiders scored two unbelievable touchdowns. First, Daryle Lamonica hit Charlie Smith for a 43-yard touchdown pass to take the lead. Then, on the ensuing kickoff, the Jets fumbled, and Oakland recovered for another touchdown, scoring twice in a nine-second span.
The final score was Raiders 43, Jets 32.
The outrage was immediate and legendary. The network’s switchboard was flooded with angry calls—so many that the lines famously blew out. The “Heidi Game” taught the networks a vital lesson: never cut away from a live football game. As a direct result, the NFL implemented the “Heidi Rule,” mandating that all games be shown to their conclusion, ensuring that no fan would ever again miss a miraculous last-minute comeback for a trip to the mountains.
