By Darin From the somber passing of a sports icon to the midnight move that shocked a city, March 28 is a date defined by transition and legendary beginnings. On this day, we remember the unparalleled Jim Thorpe, the “World’s Greatest Athlete,” while revisiting the clandestine departure of the Colts from Baltimore to Indianapolis. Whether it’s Sonny Werblin birthing the New York Jets or modern stars like Stephon Gilmore and Dalvin Cook proving their worth at high-stakes Pro Days, the stories of March 28 capture the heart-pounding business and breathtaking talent of American football history.
First, some amazing art for the WWI era of football.
Rowland R. Murdoch (1876–1917) (signed) via a kind collector who uploaded to the Public Domain.
March 28 American Football History Timeline
- March 28, 1953 – The Sports world loses one of history’s greatest athletes as Jim Thorpe passes away at 65 in Lomita, California. Thorpe most famously won Gold in the 1912 Olympic Games, only to be stripped of it due to playing a bit of minor league baseball in 1910 (see our January 26 post). They posthumously returned the Medals to Thorpe’s credit in 1983. (Our post January 18) But his football prowess is what we most remember this legend for. The Native American played famously for Pop Warner at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, and then, when the early NFL formed, Thorpe became the American Professional Football Association’s first president, and as we know, the APFA later changed its name to the NFL. As a pro football player, Jim played for the Canton Bulldogs, Cleveland Indians, Oorang Indians, Rock Island Independents, and the New York Giants.
- March 28, 1963 – Sonny Werblin leads a group that purchases the AFL’s New
York Titans from the original owner, Harry Wismer. Werblin and company promptly changed the team name to the New York Jets on April 15. - On March 28, 1984, the Colts relocated from Baltimore to Indianapolis. Reports say that franchise owner Bob Irsay moved the Colts in the middle of the night after renovations to Memorial Stadium in Baltimore were not made, as he thought they should be. A Baltimore Sun article by Jon Morgan in 1997 says that Mr. Irsay became a nemesis of then City mayor William Donald Schaefer and, when he later became Maryland’s governor, converted the outrage into the political will to build Camden Yards.
Irsay had acquired the club in 1972, a year after they won Super Bowl V, when he traded his rights to the LA Rams to former Colts owner Carroll Rosenbloom. The Colts had a new stadium, the RCA Dome (originally called the Hoosier Dome), which served as their home in Indianapolis for 24 seasons before Lucas Oil Stadium was built. Since the Colts moved to Indy, they have made 2 Super Bowl appearances, including Super Bowl XLI, won by Tony Dungy as coach and Peyton Manning under center. - On March 28, 2012, Cornerback Stephon Gilmore, Defensive End Melvin Ingram & Wide Receiver Alshon Jeffery participated in South Carolina’s Pro Day. Gilmore was really impressive in the drills for the DB position and went tenth overall to Buffalo. Ingram left the green room as the 18th pick of the first round by San Diego. Allshon Jeffery’s 40-yard dash in the high 4.4/low 4.5 range helped dispel myths of a receiver of his size struggling with speed, and he was taken in the second round by the Bears. The trio of former Gamecocks has made the Pro Bowl a collective 8 times. (source)
- March 28, 2017 – According to NFL.com, a representative of each of the NFL’s 32 teams attended the 2017 Florida State pro Day. One of the main reasons was to evaluate the talented Running Back Dalvin Cook, who, per the report, had an “exceptional workout” according to NFL Network analyst Gil Brandt.
Further emphasizing his status, Brandt said, “In my mind, he’s the No. 2 RB prospect in the draft behind Leonard Fournette… he’s explosive & catches the ball well.”
March 28 Football Hall of Fame Birthdays
- Buck Shaw (1899) – College football Hall of Fame Coach who played for Knute Rockne at Notre Dame and later became the only head coach to defeat Vince Lombardi in an NFL Championship game.
- Toby Gerhart (1987) – legendary Stanford running back.
Conclusion
Whether we are looking back at the 1953 loss to the New York Giants or at the New York Jets’ strategic rebranding, March 28 reminds us that the game is constantly in motion. The “midnight move” of the Colts remains one of the most debated chapters in NFL lore, yet it paved the way for a new era of Super Bowl success in Indy. From the coaching genius of Buck Shaw to the explosive Pro Day drills of modern First-Rounders, today’s anniversaries celebrate the individuals and organizations that have kept the pigskin spiraling forward for over a century.
