By Darin March 3 marks a pivotal date where the business of football met the birth of icons. From a massive branding correction that gave us the “National Football League” name we use today, to the chaotic birth of the Oakland Raiders franchise, the front office drama is only matched by the legends born on this day. We’re diving into a timeline that features Heisman hero Herschel Walker, “Orange Crush” anchor Randy Gradishar, and the “Iron Men” of Vanderbilt. Whether you’re a fan of the AFL-NFL merger era or the glory days of the SEC, this day in history has it all.
Here is something to get you thinking about nostalgic football…
March 3 American Football History Timeline
- On March 3, 1950, the National Football League reverted to calling itself the NFL after 3 months. According to Wikipedia, when the NFL absorbed the All-American Football Conference (AAFC) on December 9, 1949, the 13 teams were realigned into the American and National conferences, which lasted for three seasons. The merged league briefly considered the name “National-American Football League” but reverted to “National Football League” a few months later, on March 3, 1950.(source)
- March 3, 1960 – At a special AFL meeting in Oakland, the “allocation” draft was formulated to stock the Oakland club. The issue at hand was that Oakland was a late replacement for the Twin Cities franchise, which resigned after the initial AFL draft due to the NFL announcing a new Vikings franchise in the metro area of St. Paul and Minneapolis. In that round of AFL meetings, which kicked off at the Leamington Hotel in Oakland. Minneapolis-St originally selected 14 players. Paul, in the AFL draft, and were “signed by fellow AFL clubs for Oakland,” would transfer to the newly minted franchise. (source 1) (source 2)
March 3 Football Hall of Fame Birthdays
- Art Howe
- Clarkston Hines
- Carl Hinkle
- Randy Gradishar
- Herschel Walker
Conclusion
From the administrative halls of the 1950s to the record-breaking Saturday afternoons of the 1980s, March 3 is a testament to football’s enduring legacy. We see how the league stabilized its identity, how expansion teams like Oakland found their footing, and how individuals like Herschel Walker and Clarkston Hines rewrote the record books. These stories of resilience and raw talent are the threads that weave the rich tapestry of gridiron history. As we celebrate these anniversaries, we honor the names and moments that transformed football from a budding sport into an American institution.
