By Darin Every date on the calendar holds history, but December 28 stands out as pivotal for American football. On this day, the sport was nearly banned, prompting President Theodore Roosevelt to call for reforms that led to the creation of the NCAA. Since then, December 28 has featured legendary games, the rebirth of franchises, the birth of signature plays, and celebrated moments—from safeguarding football’s future to Hall of Fame birthdays, making it truly historic.
Gridiron image of the day:
December 28 Football History Timeline
- December 28, 1905 – Representatives of 62 Colleges and Universities met to appoint a rules committee for Intercollegiate football, per the Library of Congress. President Theodore Roosevelt requested that schools meet to save the game from being banned due to deaths and severe injuries. The meeting ended with the formation of the Interscholastic Athletic Association of the United States, which later became the NCAA in 1910.
- December 28, 1946 – The original Baltimore Colts franchise was formed in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) as the professional football team representing Baltimore. This Colts team, along with the Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers, was absorbed into the NFL in 1950 when the AAFC dissolved. The first NFL season was not successful for Baltimore, and the Colts disbanded according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame after the 1950 season ended. The City of Baltimore received another opportunity to have an NFL team when Commissioner Bert Bell challenged them to sell 15,000 or more season tickets in about six weeks so they could adopt the recently discontinued Dallas Texans franchise. Baltimore fans achieved this in four weeks, and on January 23, 1953, the Baltimore Colts were re-established under owner Carroll Rosenbloom. By 1958, the franchise became the NFL Champions. Later, in 1984, the team relocated to Indianapolis, where the Colts play today.
- December 28, 1947 – Comiskey Park, Chicago – The 1947 NFL Championship game is played between the Philadelphia Eagles, victors of the Eastern Division, and the Western Division winners, the Chicago Cardinals, per a story on the Bleacher Report. The Cardinals jumped out to an early lead after Charlie Trippi punched in a score, followed just a bit later by his Chicago teammate, Elmer Angsman, running in another TD. Steve Van Buren recorded one of the touchdowns for the Eagles shortly before halftime. The teams traded touchdowns in the third quarter, setting up a dramatic finish in the fourth. Angsman ran in another score in the fourth, but Philly cut the lead to just one score after the Eagles crossed the goal line stripe on a one-yard plunge by Craft. The game was a stalemate from there, as the Chicago Cardinals went on to beat Philadelphia, 28-21, to secure the Cardinals’ only title game victory.
- December 28, 1952 – Cleveland Municipal Stadium was the site of the 1952 NFL Championship game, featuring the Detroit Lions representing the National Conference and the Cleveland Browns representing the American Conference. This was the Browns’ third straight NFL title game appearance, according to a story on mesa.marmot.org. This year marked the first of three consecutive championship meetings between Detroit and Cleveland. The Lions’ quarterback Bobby Layne and running back Doak Walker each scored rushing touchdowns, giving Detroit an early advantage. The Detroit defense contained Cleveland’s offense, led by quarterback Otto Graham. The Lions defeated the Browns, 17-7, to win the championship game.
- December 28, 1958 – Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York. The 1958 NFL Championship game—later known as “The Greatest Game Ever Played”—featured the New York Giants and the Baltimore Colts competing for the league title. Notably, 17 future Pro Football Hall of Fame members participated in the contest. This game was a pivotal moment in the league’s history, illustrating professional football’s increased popularity. Late in the game, the national broadcast temporarily lost its signal, but coverage resumed as Johnny Unitas led a game-tying drive for the Colts. Facing a 3rd and 10 from their own 14-yard line, Unitas connected with Lenny Moore, setting up a series of completions to Raymond Berry that positioned Steve Myhra for a successful 20-yard field goal with seven seconds left and forced overtime. The Giants won the coin toss but were unable to score, giving the Colts possession at their own 20-yard line. Unitas directed an efficient drive, culminating in Alan Ameche’s one-yard touchdown. The Colts prevailed, 23-17, in the first sudden-death overtime championship game in NFL history.
- December 28, 1975 – Metropolitan Stadium, Minnesota. The original “Hail Mary” play took place during this game. In the closing minutes, the Minnesota Vikings scored a late touchdown on a Brent McClenahan run to lead 14-10. Dallas regained possession but faced a fourth-and-16 after a misplayed snap. From the shotgun, Roger Staubach connected with Drew Pearson for a significant gain. With only 32 seconds left, Staubach threw a 50-yard touchdown pass to Pearson, giving Dallas a 17-14 victory and sending the Cowboys to the NFC Championship game.
- December 28, 2008 – Lambeau Field, Wisconsin – The Detroit Lions, as the visiting team, lost to the Green Bay Packers, 31-21. With this defeat, Detroit became the first team in NFL history to finish a sixteen-game regular season with a winless 0-16 record.
- December 28, 2019, at the Fiesta Bowl, which was the BCS College Football Playoff semifinal, #3 Clemson knocked off #2 Ohio State, 29-23, for the right to play for the national Championship.
Meanwhile, at the Peach Bowl, the other 2019 College Football Playoff semi-final had #1 LSU embarrass #4 Oklahoma, 63-28, to advance to meet Clemson.
December 28 Football Hall of Birthdays
- Albert Wistert
- Steve Van Buren
Conclusion
December 28 is a day woven into the very fabric of football. It marks the foundation of the NCAA, securing the game’s long-term safety and stability, and is the anniversary of the 1958 sudden-death championship that rocketed the NFL into national prominence. Whether celebrating the Hall of Fame careers of Ed Healey and Steve Van Buren, remembering the historic dominance of the Oklahoma Sooners’ 47-game streak, or recalling the dramatic finish of the 1975 “Hail Mary,” this single date offers pivotal, unforgettable moments.
Want more of the Daily football timeline? Check out our December 27 edition.
