January 19 Football History

January 19: The Day That Changed Football History Forever

From the snow-covered turf of Foxboro to the sunny sidelines of San Diego, January 19 stands as a pivotal date in football. Defined by controversy, evolution, and legendary moments, it marks both the 2002 “Tuck Rule Game” that launched the Patriots’ dynasty and the 1952 NFL takeover of the New York Yanks. This date traces football’s journey from financial uncertainty to global prominence. In today’s Football History Headlines, we cover the folding of the original Dallas Texans, the founding of the Canadian Football League, and celebrate the birthdays of icons like Junior Seau and Joe Schmidt.

January 19 Football Image of the Day

Tuck Rule Play Tom Brady

Article from Jan 20, 2002 San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco, California)

January 19 Football History Timeline

• On January 19, 1952, the NFL took control of the NY Yanks, according to a story on ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com. The Yanks, who really got their League start in 1945 when the Brooklyn team reassembled the Yanks franchise that left the NFL in the mid 1940’s and went into the All-America Football Conference. They played as the AAFC’s Boston Yanks for three seasons from 1946 to 1948. In 1949, the franchise changed homes again, returning to the Big Apple as the New York Bulldogs and playing at the Polo Grounds alongside the New York Giants. In the 1950 season, the Bulldogs changed their name back to the Yanks. Later in 1952, the NFL purchased the Yanks from owner Ted Collins. The franchise then moved to Dallas for the upcoming season and adopted the Texans moniker. It was not a good move as the team was not very good, and fan support in the Dallas area was not strong. The team struggled, losing 11 of 12 games. By season’s end, the league had taken over the team and moved its headquarters to Hershey, Pennsylvania. In the end, the Texans folded operations, and, as we discussed in the January 18 edition of the Football History Headlines, they eventually morphed into the second incarnation of the Baltimore Colts.
• January 19, 1958 – The Canadian Football League is officially founded. According to an article on CFLHOF.ca, the League is the highest level of professional football in Canada.
• January 19, 1964 – Balboa Stadium, San Diego, California – The 3rd annual AFL All-Star Game resulted in the Western Division outlasting the Eastern Division by the close score of 27-24. The Most Valuable Players were LA Chargers rushing weapon Keith Lincoln and Oakland Raiders linebacker Archie Matsos, per Onthisday.com.
• January 19, 1969 – Gator Bowl, Jacksonville – The 8th AFL All-Star Game was moved to Jacksonville. In the game, it was the Western Division Stars who vanquished their Eastern Division rivals 38-25. According to the RemembertheAFL.com website, the MVPs were Len Dawson, the great quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs, and Houston Oilers linebacker George Webster. This game took place one week after the AFL had what may have been its greatest triumph ever, when the Jets defeated the Colts in what later became known as Super Bowl III.
• January 19, 1969 – LA Memorial Coliseum – The 19th NFL Pro Bowl had the West edging out the East, 10-7, according to Onthisday.com. The Most Valuable Players were appropriate for the home crowd, both Los Angeles Rams, as Merlin Olsen, the defensive tackle, and Quarterback Roman Gabriel took home the honors.
• January 19, 2002, “Tuck Rule Game”  or the AFC Divisional Playoff Game, where, with less than 2 minutes to play in regulation, the New England Patriots were trailing the Oakland Raiders, 13-10, in a driving snowstorm. The American Football Database says that the Patriots drove the ball down the field, and while they were still slightly out of field goal range, Brady dropped back to pass and then was hit by a blitzing Charles Woodson of the Raiders, jarring the ball out of Brady’s hand. Raiders linebacker Greg Biekert dove on the ball and was initially credited with a recovered fumble. The on-field officials ruled it a fumble, but after instant replay, the call was overturned, and the play was ruled an incomplete pass. They said that Brady’s arm was moving forward. The Patriots tied the game with a field goal a few moments later, then won 16-13 in overtime.

January 19 – OnthisDay.com Conference Championship Scoreboard.

• January 19, 2003: The Oakland Raiders beat the Tennessee Titans, 41-24, in the AFC Championship.
• January 19, 2003, NFC Championship, Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia: Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat Philadelphia Eagles, 27-10
• January 19, 2014 – Mile High Stadium, Denver- In the AFC Championship, the Denver Broncos knocked off the New England Patriots, 26-16, to advance to the Super Bowl.
• January 19, 2014: The Seattle Seahawks narrowly beat the San Francisco 49ers 23-17 to win the NFC Championship.
• January 19, 2020  – Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara – The results of the NFC Championship game were that the San Francisco 49ers thwarted the Green Bay Packers, 37-20.
• January 19, 2020: The Kansas City Chiefs overcame the Tennessee Titans 35-24 to reach the Super Bowl.

January 19 Football Hall of Fame Birthdays

• Eddie Mahan
• Dan Reeves
• Joe Schmidt

Joe Schmidt

Linebacker | Detroit Lions | 1953–1965

• Mike Phipps
• Junior Seau

Junior Seau

Linebacker | San Diego Chargers | 1990–2002

• Walter Jones

Walter Jones

Offensive Tackle | Seattle Seahawks | 1997–2009