By Darin January 31 in Football History: Super Bowl Dynasties and Hall of Fame Birthdays
From the historic, color-barrier-shattering performance of Doug Williams in Super Bowl XXII to the Dallas Cowboys’ landslide victory over the Bills, January 31st stands as one of the most consequential dates on the NFL calendar. This date marks the final game of John Elway’s career, the birth of the legendary “receiver prototype” Don Hutson, and the trailblazing legacy of Roosevelt Leaks. Whether you’re reliving the “Air Coryell” dominance of Kellen Winslow in the Pro Bowl or the defensive clinic of the 1993 Cowboys, January 31st is a deep dive into the absolute peak of gridiron excellence.
Harris & Ewing, photographer via Wikimedia Commons
Football History Timeline of January 31
- The January 31, 1982, NFL Pro Bowl was played at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. The final score had the AFC squad defeating their NFC counterparts 16-13. There were Co-MVPs in this game as Kellen Winslow Sr., the tight end of the San Diego Chargers, shared the honor with Lee Roy Selmon, the standout defensive end of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
- January 31, 1988 – Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego – Super Bowl XXII was not a very close one when the Denver Broncos faced the Washington Redskins. The Broncos jumped out quickly to a 10-0 lead after Ricky Nattiel caught a John Elway pass for 56 yards and a score. But the Powerful Washington team tattled off 42 unanswered points as QB Doug Williams caught fire and threw for 340 yards and 4 TDS to help the Washington Redskins cruise to a 42-10 victory. The MVP was Doug Williams, according to Pro Football Reference. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198801310den.htm
- January 31, 1993 – Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California – Super Bowl XXVII featured some special historic moments: the Buffalo Bills became the second team since the early 1970’s to play in three straight Super Bowls. Interestingly, this would be the third different NFC East team the Bills would face in this run of Super Bowls. The Cowboys were just 4 seasons removed from having a league-worst 1-15 record. Super Bowl XXVII was set up to be interesting indeed, but one team came in a bit more prepared than the other. According to the American Football Fandom site, Dallas forced a Super Bowl record nine turnovers —four interceptions and five lost fumbles and scored 35 points off of those Bills miscues. The Dallas Cowboys won in a landslide, 52-17, over the Bills. Troy Aikman, the quarterback of the Cowboys, won the Most Valuable Player honors as he tossed four touchdown passes and racked up 273 yards through the air. Another interesting note was that a 30-second commercial spot cost $850,000.
- January 31, 1999 – Pro Player Stadium, Miami, Florida – Super Bowl XXXIII featured the Dirty Birds of the Atlanta Falcons facing the AFC Champs, the Denver Broncos. Denver was the defending champs, as a year earlier, they had defeated Green Bay for the franchise’s first championship, per PFR. Quarterback John Elway was getting a little long in the tooth, but his mastery of the offense was never in doubt. The Falcons were appearing in their first Super Bowl, led by Quarterback Chris Chandler and running back Jamal Anderson. The Broncos were a little too much for upstart Atlanta, though, as they grounded the Falcons 34-19. Elway, who threw for 336 yards and a touchdown, took home the MVP trophy and traveled to Disney. A 30-second commercial during this Super Bowl would set you back a cool $1.6 million. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199901310atl.htm
- January 31, 2010 – Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens – The NFL Pro Bowl game had the AFC one-upping the NFC, 41-34. The MVP of the game was Matt Schaub, the Houston Texans signal caller.
- January 31, 2016 – Aloha Stadium, Honolulu – NFL Pro Bowl Team Irvin defeated Team Rice, 49-27, as the NFL was still in the series of games where two legends would divide the Pro Bowl players up instead of playing Conference versus Conference. The dual Most Valuable Players were Seattle Seahawks players Quarterback Russell Wilson and Defensive End Michael Bennett.
January 31 Football Hall of Fame Birthdays
- Bert Metzger
- Don Hutson
- Chris Burford
- Roosevelt Leaks
Conclusion
January 31st is a date defined by the pinnacle of professional achievement and the birthdays of the men who built the foundations of the game. From the historic Super Bowl triumphs of Doug Williams and John Elway to the architectural impact of receiving legends like Don Hutson and Wayne Millner, this date serves as a masterclass in football history. It is a day that celebrates dynasties, individual excellence, and the breaking of barriers, reminding us that the road to Canton often passes through the final day of January.
