Gridiron Glory: What Happened on December 6 in Football History?

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December 6 marks one of the most explosive days in football history, spanning nearly 125 years of gridiron action! From the birth of NFL pioneers like George Trafton and Otto Graham to three-peat Heisman winners—including the historic first consecutive winner, Archie Griffin, and the first African American recipient, Ernie Davis—this date delivers pure football nostalgia. Discover the day Red Grange packed the Polo Grounds, Derrick Henry ran 99 yards to tie an NFL record, and Jerry Rice caught his record-breaking 101st career touchdown. Dive into this definitive list of must-know milestones for college and pro football fans!

Historical Milestones: December 6

• 1896: George Trafton, the longtime Chicago Bears center and the franchise’s first center, was born. Trafton played 12 seasons and set NFL trends by becoming the first offensive center to snap the ball one-handed and the first defensive lineman to play a rover-like role. The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Trafton in 1964.
• 1898: Benny Lee Boynton, the All-America quarterback from Williams College, was born in Waco, Texas. Boynton led the Williams team to 18 wins and a perfect undefeated season in 1917. The National Football Foundation inducted him into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1962.
• 1918: Nick Drahos, the great tackle from Cornell University, was born in Ford City, Pennsylvania. The National Football Foundation inducted Drahos into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1981.
• 1921: Otto Graham, the legendary signal-caller for the Northwestern Wildcats and later the Cleveland Browns, was born. Graham excelled as an All-American in both football (1943) and basketball (1944). The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Graham in 1965.
• 1925: A record crowd of more than 73,000 paid to watch the Chicago Bears beat the New York Giants 19-7 at Polo Grounds, New York. Red Grange, who had recently joined the Bears’ roster after completing his college career at Illinois, was the main attraction.
• 1930: The Toronto Balmy Beach squad won their second title, defeating the Regina Roughriders 11-6 in the 18th Grey Cup game at Varsity Stadium, Toronto.
• 1939: The Downtown Athletic Club selected Iowa’s standout halfback, Nile Kinnick, as the 5th Heisman Trophy Award winner. Kinnick led the 1939 Hawkeyes, nicknamed “the Ironmen,” by averaging 57 minutes per game.
• 1941: The game, played on December 6, 1941, saw the USC Trojans defeat the UCLA Bruins by a score of 21-7. This victory secured the Rose Bowl berth for USC, and the contest holds unique historical significance as it was the last major sporting event held in Los Angeles before the attack on Pearl Harbor the following day thrust the United States into World War II.

• 1961: Ernie Davis, Syracuse’s outstanding halfback, made history by becoming the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy Award. Davis rushed for 823 yards, scored 15 touchdowns, and led Syracuse in pass receiving.
• 1975: Archie Griffin, the prolific Ohio State Buckeyes runner, became the first player to win consecutive Heisman Trophy Awards, taking home the 41st edition of the coveted honor. Griffin ran for 1,357 yards and guided Ohio State to a perfect 11-0 record.
• 1986: The 52nd Heisman Trophy Award was announced, and the University of Miami’s Quarterback, Vinny Testaverde, captured College Football’s top honor. Testaverde led the undefeated Hurricanes by throwing for 2,557 yards and 26 touchdowns.
• 1992: San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice caught his NFL-record 101st career touchdown in a 27-3 victory over the Miami Dolphins at Candlestick Park.
• 1997: #3 Tennessee edged out #11 Auburn 30-29 in the SEC Championship Game.
• 2003: #3 LSU crushed #5 Georgia’s aspirations with a 34-13 victory in the 12th SEC Championship Game.
• 2008: #2 Florida overcame the challenge of #1 Alabama with a stunning 31-20 final score in the SEC Championship Game, a key victory in the national championship picture.
• 2014: #2 Florida State overcame a scare from #12 Georgia Tech, winning the ACC Championship Game 37-35.
• 2018: Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry went on a rampage at Nissan Stadium, running for a franchise-record 238 yards and four scores against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Henry tied a long-standing NFL record for the longest run in League history with a 99-yard touchdown run.

December 6 Football Hall of Fame Birthdays

• Benny Lee Boynton

• Nick Drahos

• Otto Graham

• Andy Robustelli

Conclusion

What a day for football! From groundbreaking Heisman wins to Derrick Henry’s incredible 99-yard run, December 6 really delivered the history. If you’re interested in the “Ironmen” legacy, let me know if you would like to dive deeper into Nile Kinnick’s remarkable story and his legendary 402 straight minutes of play! Or we can explore how Otto Graham’s single-wing offense differed from the modern-day “Wildcat” formation.