By Darin From the glitz of the Super Bowl stage to the birth of gridiron legends, January 25 stands as a monumental date in the annals of American football. Whether it’s the Oakland Raiders becoming the first wildcard team to hoist the Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl XV, or the New York Giants finally securing their first championship under Bill Parcells, this date is synonymous with championship glory. But the history doesn’t stop at the final whistle; today, we also celebrate the birthdays of iconic figures like Lou “The Toe” Groza and “Purple People Eater” Carl Eller. Join us as we kick off a journey through decades of legendary plays, historic birthdays, and the evolution of the game on this day in football history.
January 25 Football History Timeline
- January 25, 1981, Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans – The Philadelphia Eagles and the Oakland Raiders squared off against each other in Super Bowl XV. Both teams had great stories coming into the contest. The American Football Fandom site has an insightful article on the game. In the week leading up to the game, President Ronald Reagan was sworn in, and the Iran Hostage crisis had just ended. In light of those recent events, there was a definite patriotic vibe at the venue itself, as the pregame ceremonies honored the end of the crisis. The Raiders were playing in the franchise’s third Super Bowl and had beaten the Oilers, Browns, and Chargers in the playoffs to win the AFC from the wild-card position. The Eagles were playing in their first Super Bowl under a young Coach with a style new to the NFL in Dick Vermeil. The Raiders, guided by Quarterback Jim Plunkett, jumped out to an early 14-0 lead, and the Eagles were ill-equipped to recover from it. And when they did try, Raiders linebacker Rod Martin picked off Philadelphia quarterback Ron Jaworski three times for a Super Bowl record. The Oakland Raiders defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, 27-10. Jim Plunkett earned the game’s MVP honors after completing 13 of 21 passes for 261 yards and three touchdowns. Plunkett followed Roger Staubach as the second Heisman winner to claim a Super Bowl MVP title, and the Raiders became the first wildcard franchise to win the championship.
- January 25, 1987 — Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California — The Denver Broncos and the New York Giants faced off in Super Bowl XXI., according to a Newsday article from the day after. Broncos QB John Elway was under siege all day from a Giant defense that featured the likes of Harry Carson, Leonard Marshall, and Lawrence Taylor. In fact, he was sacked four times in the game, including once for a safety in the second quarter. Phil Simms completed 22 of 25 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns and was named the game’s MVP as the Giants defeated the Denver Broncos, 39-20. One of the greatest scenes from the postgame was New York franchise owner Wellington Mara handing the Lombardi Trophy to Coach Bill Parcells in jubilation of the Giants’ first Super Bowl victory.
- January 25, 1998 – Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego – Super Bowl XXXII was a matchup of two legendary gunslinger QBs as Green Bay’s Brett Favre took the field for the Packers, and the Broncos had their signal caller, John Elway, per a Washington Post article. Elway and company put on a late drive in the fourth. Running back Terrell Davis found paydirt with a one-yard touchdown run with 1 minute 45 seconds remaining and broke the 24-24 tie. The Denver Broncos beat the Green Bay Packers, 31-24, with Broncos running back Terrell Davis voted as the game’s MVP after rushing for 157 yards and three TDs against one of the NFL’s best defenses.
- On January 25, 2015, at the University of Phoenix in Glendale, Arizona, the NFL was experimenting with new formats to revitalize the Pro Bowl. As reported by NFL.com, it was the second season to use an unconferenced format, with players selected without regard to conference in voting by fans, coaches, and players. The 2014 season’s NFL Pro Bowl pitted a team coached by Michael Irvin against one coached by Chris Carter. The Irvin squad won the game 32-28. The Pro Bowl MVPs were Houston’s J. J. Watt and Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford.
January 25 Football Hall of Fame Birthdays
- Lou Groza
- Don Maynard
- Carl Eller
- Gene Washington
Conclusion
Looking back on January 25, it’s clear this date has profoundly shaped the NFL and college football. From the tactical brilliance of Jim Plunkett and the grit of Terrell Davis to the enduring legacies of Hall of Famers like Don Maynard, Gene Washington, and Patrick Willis, these stories remind us why we love the game. News of a championship celebration to the birth of a future star, January 25 is a day when football history is written in the record books.
Thanks to our above sources and to the likes of Newspapers.com and Pro-Football-Reference.com
