By Darin December 12 is one of the most explosive dates in football history, marked by record-shattering rookie performances, crucial NFL Championship battles, and the crowning of multiple Heisman legends! From Gale Sayers tying the NFL touchdown record with six scores in a single game on a muddy Wrigley Field, to Sammy Baugh leading the Redskins to an NFL title, and the Heisman victories of Vic Janowicz, Gino Torretta, and Robert Griffin III, this date is packed with gridiron glory. Dive into the complete list of drafts, Hall of Fame birthdays, and unforgettable moments that define the NFL and College Football landscape on this special day!
December 12 Football History Headlines
- On December 12, 1936, the 1937 NFL Draft saw Sam Francis from the University of Nebraska go to the Philadelphia Eagles as the number one overall pick.
- December 12, 1937 – Wrigley Field, Chicago – The NFL Championship was played in poor, muddy conditions at 24 degrees F. Quarterback Sammy Baugh led a late comeback for the Washington Redskins, who defeated the Chicago Bears, 28-21.
- December 12, 1937, in the 1938 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Rams chose Corbett Davis from the University of Indiana with the first pick.
- December 12, 1950, Vic Janowicz, the fine halfback from the Ohio State Buckeyes, won the 16th Heisman Trophy.
- December 12, 1964, Cleveland Browns’ Frank Ryan set a franchise record of 5 TD passes as he went 12 of 13 for 202 yards, per the Browns Nation website. Ryan even ran in for another score as Cleveland upended the Giants that day, 52-20.
- 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! (source)
- December 12, 1976 – Quarterback Joe Namath played his last game as a New York Jets player. Yes, Broadway Joe played his last season in the NFL with the LA Rams.
- On December 12, 1992, the Heisman Trophy was awarded to Gino Torretta, University of Miami quarterback. The Hurricanes went undefeated in ‘92, and Gino T. was a big part of it. His 3070 yards passing and 19 touchdowns helped pave the way to keep the Miami team on a 29-game winning streak, with 23 of them having Torretta at the helm. The Davey O’Brien, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm, and the Maxwell Awards all were on the Torretta mantle after that season. Gino’s great year helped him to edge out running back Marshall Faulk for the Trophy.
- December 12, 2011, Robert Griffin III, the quarterback from Baylor, took home the Heisman Trophy for the 2011 season, per Heisman.com. The Junior signal caller was the first Baylor Bear to have the Heisman in his trophy case. Robert’s pass efficiency mark of 192.31 was the highest ever in Heisman history, and his passing of just shy of 4000 yards with 36 TDs was nothing to sneeze at. Griffin also added 9 more scores and 644 yards with his ground game.RGIII also took home the Manning Award and the O’Brien Award for his top-notch throwing.
Football Hall of Fame Birthdays
- Zora G. Clevenger
- Bob Herwig
- Brad Calip
Conclusion
December 12 is a day for celebrating sheer, individual dominance in football. From the rookie explosion of Gale Sayers scoring an unbelievable six touchdowns in one game, to the end of an era with Joe Namath’s final game as a Jet, the drama is immense. This date also belongs to Heisman winners, honoring the collegiate greatness of Vic Janowicz, Gino Torretta, and RGIII. If you’re interested in diving deeper, let me know if you would like to explore the career of the versatile “Mr. Anywhere,” Steve Meilinger, or review how the 1937 NFL Championship conditions affected Sammy Baugh’s historic performance!
Special thank you to the work shared by Pro-Football-Reference.com and the other sources linked in this post for helping us to tell the gridiron stories of the day.
