By Darin From the birth of the first Hall of Fame class in 1963 to the high-scoring fireworks of Super Bowl XXIX, January 29th stands as a monumental date in the history of American football. Whether it’s the legendary 1974 “Steelers Draft” that redefined a franchise or the birthday of gridiron icons like Andre Reed, this date has shaped the sport from the college ranks to the professional stage. Join us as we journey through the decades to revisit the legends, the big-money TV deals, and the Pro Bowl moments that occurred on this day in football history.
Lon Keller illustrated the cover
Football History Timeline of January 29
- On January 29, 1963, The First Inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame were announced. The list is a phenomenal class of legends according to the History and Headlines website. The first class of the enshrined held eleven superstar players of the professional gridiron past, such as Jim Thorpe, Red Grange, Sammy Baugh, Dutch Clark, Don Hutson, Mel Hein, Johnny McNally, Ernie Nevers, Bronko Nagurski, Cal Hubbard, and Pete Henry. Also inducted on this day were a handful of owners and coaches, including Curly Lambeau, George Marshall, Tim Mara, Bert Bell, and Joe Carr. Then, another special man who got in as a player, a coach, and an owner: George Halas. The article goes on to say that in 1963, there were only two rooms to showcase the museum’s wares, whereas in 2017, there were five buildings bulging with pigskin nostalgia!
- On January 29, 1964, NBC purchased the TV rights of the AFL for five seasons (1965-69) for $36 million. The money raised in this deal helped the AFL recruit players away from the NFL and fueled the rivalry, which eventually helped pave the way for the AFL-NFL merger just a few short years later. The two sides had to wait until the 1965 season to start, as ABC had one year remaining on its AFL contract to televise the 1964 season. (source)
- On January 29, 1974, the Dallas Cowboys took Ed “Too Tall” Jones from Tennessee State as the first pick in the 1974 NFL Draft. Players who have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame per PFRare Lynn Swan, Jack Lambert, John Stallworth, and Mike Webster, who were Pittsburgh’s picks at 21, 46, 82, and 125, respectively. Dave Casper, whom Oakland chose at 45. Yes, you heard it correctly, there are 5 Hall of Famers from this draft class, and four of them were picked by the Steelers. Is it any wonder why they had so much success in the mid to late 1970’s?
- January 29, 1979 – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum – The NFC outlasted the AFC squad in the NFL Pro Bowl, 13-7. Vikings receiver Ahmad Rashād was awarded the Most Valuable Player honor for the game.
- January 29, 1984 – Aloha Stadium, Honolulu – At the NFL Pro Bowl for the 1983 season, it was once again the NFC that triumphed over their AFC counterparts in a big way, 45-3. The MVP of this game was Quarterback Joe Theismann of the Washington Redskins.
- January 29, 1989, Aloha Stadium, Honolulu – It seems that the NFC squad just could not lose in the NFL Pro Bowls played on this day. Once again, the NFC defeated the AFC in a big way, with a score of 34-3. The MVP was Randall Cunningham, the Philadelphia Eagles’ mobile quarterback.
- January 29, 1995 – Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida – Super Bowl XXIX had the San Francisco 49ers beat up on the San Diego Chargers, 49-26; The game’s MVP was Niners quarterback Steve Young, who threw for 325 yards and 6 touchdowns in the game and had a whopping QB rating of 134.8 per the Pro Football Reference. Jerry Rice scored on three of those passes in the game.
- On January 29, 2002, the San Diego Chargers hired Marty Schottenheimer as their head coach. Schottenheimer was the 13th head coach in the franchise’s history.
- On January 29, 2012, the NFL Pro Bowl was held once again at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. This time, the AFC outscored the NFC squad, 59-41. The game’s MVP was wide receiver Brandon Marshall, who played for the Miami Dolphins during the season.
- January 29, 2017 – Orlando, Florida – Another NFL Pro Bowl and the AFC knocked off the NFC, 20-13. Dual MVPs of the game were KC’s tight end Travis Kelce and Lorenzo Alexander, the fine linebacker of the Buffalo Bills.
January 29 Football Hall of Fame Birthdays
Conclusion
As we look back at the events of January 29, it is clear that this date is woven into the very fabric of the NFL and College Football. From the “Goat” Hale’s early 20th-century dominance to the modern-day excellence of Travis Kelce, the milestones achieved on this day remind us why we love the game. Whether it’s the business of football or the heroics on the field, January 29 remains a day when legends are born and history is made.
