By Darin Hayes 
Unpack a date filled with game-changing decisions and electrifying moments! October 6 is a historical hotspot in American football, featuring everything from crucial franchise moves to legendary college upsets. This single day saw the New York Jets officially announce their pivotal shift to the Meadowlands in 1983, and just over a decade later, witnessed kicker Nick Lowery tie a major NFL career field goal record. Most famously, October 6, 1999, was the day the Houston Texans were officially born, expanding the league. Add in the South Carolina Gamecocks’ stunning 35-7 rout of the 5th-ranked Georgia Bulldogs in 2012, plus the birthdays of multiple Hall of Famers like Richard Seymour, and you have a date essential to NFL history and college football lore!
October 6 Football History Headlines
October 6, 1934 – The historic college football clash between the Texas Longhorns and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on October 6, 1934, ended in a monumental upset. Played in South Bend and marking the start of Notre Dame’s season under new coach Elmer Layden, the game saw Texas snatch a narrow 7-6 victory.
The decisive moment came early in the first quarter. Texas recovered a Notre Dame fumble on the opening kickoff at the Irish 18-yard line. Four plays later, Longhorns back Bohn Hilliard powered into the endzone and successfully kicked the extra point for the 7-0 lead. Notre Dame’s lone touchdown came in the second quarter, but the crucial extra point attempt failed, leaving the score at 7-6. The defensive battle that ensued over the next two quarters protected Texas’s slim lead. The hard-fought win was notable for being the Longhorns’ first-ever victory against the Irish and Notre Dame’s first season-opening loss since 1896, instantly propelling the Texas program into national conversations.
October 6, 1983 – The New York Jets franchise announced to the media that they would be leaving the confines of Shea Stadium to play future home games at the Meadowlands, sharing the stadium with their NFC counterparts, the New York Football Giants.
October 6, 1985 – Bernie Kosar’s Pro debut
October 6, 1996 – Nick Lowery of the New York Jets ties legendary kicker Jon Stenerud with 373 career NFL field goals. Lowery booted two field goals and an extra point in a loss to the Oakland Raiders, 34-13.
October 6, 1999 – The NFL awarded the Houston Texans franchise a spot as the 32nd team in the League. Businessman Bob McNair and his Houston contingent went on a wild ride filled with patience, persistence, and a little bit of luck. McNair and others attempted to obtain an NHL franchise for Houston in June 1997, but the effort failed. A couple of weeks later, the Texas city learned that its beloved NFL team, the Oilers, was leaving for Tennessee. This prompted Bob McNair and his partners to change gears and petition for a new NFL franchise. In 1998, Cleveland was awarded the 31st franchise by the League offices in New York, and everyone knew that the NFL desired to have an even number of teams for scheduling balance. McNair and his group pushed hard to secure the franchise rights, but were met with a disappointing result when the League approved Los Angeles as the 32nd team. All hope was not lost, though, as the LA award had a contingent clause stating that a suitable ownership group and stadium would be in place by September 15, 1998. This deadline was not met, and in the spring of 1999, NFL owners voted to award Houston an expansion team, with McNair as the team’s owner. On October 6, 1999, the NFL officially announced the Texans as its newest expansion team.
October 6, 2003 – The thrilling Indianapolis Colts versus Tampa Bay Bucs clash.
October 6, 2012 – The University of South Carolina upsets the 5th-ranked University of Georgia 35-7.
October 6 Football Hall of Fame Birthdays
- George Pfann
- Richard Seymour
Conclusion
Whether charting the birth of an expansion franchise like the Houston Texans, marking a pivotal relocation for the New York Jets, or celebrating a monumental upset that shook the SEC landscape, the events of October 6 demonstrate the perpetual drama of American football. This date serves as a powerful reminder that history is made every time a whistle blows—from game-changing kicks by legends like Nick Lowery to the ongoing impact of Hall of Famers born on this day. The gridiron’s timeline is rich with these precise moments, ensuring that October 6 will always hold a significant, dynamic place in the game’s cherished lore.
[…] NY Jets Nick Lowrey breaks Jan Stenerud‘s NFL field goal record at 374. If you refer to our October 6 History Headlines, you see that Lowery tied Stenerud’s record on that day and had to wait one week to claim the […]