The 2007 American football season stands as one of the most chaotic, historic, and memorable years in the history of the sport. From an unprecedented pursuit of perfection in the professional ranks to a collegiate season defined by weekly upsets, 2007 delivered moments that are still heavily referenced today.
The NFL: A Quest for Perfection and the Ultimate Upset
The 2007 National Football League season was completely dominated by the New England Patriots. Led by head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady, the Patriots fielded an unstoppable spread offense that broke numerous scoring records. Brady threw a then-record 50 touchdown passes, 23 of which went to wide receiver Randy Moss (an NFL single-season record that still stands). New England finished the regular season 16–0, becoming the first team to achieve an undefeated regular season since the NFL expanded to a 16-game schedule in 1978.
However, the season’s defining moment came in Super Bowl XLII. The New York Giants, who had entered the playoffs as a Wild Card team and won three straight road playoff games, faced the heavily favored Patriots.
- The Upset: In a grueling defensive battle, the Giants shocked the world by defeating New England 17–14, ending the Patriots’ bid for a perfect 19-0 season.
- The Helmet Catch: The game’s climax featured Giants quarterback Eli Manning escaping a near-certain sack to launch a desperation pass to wide receiver David Tyree, who famously pinned the ball against his helmet to keep the game-winning drive alive.
College Football: The “Year of the Upset”
If the NFL was defined by dominance, the 2007 NCAA college football season was defined by pure chaos. It is widely considered the wildest college football season ever played, with the No. 2 ranking famously becoming a “curse” as highly ranked teams fell to unranked opponents week after week.
- The Appalachian State Shock: The tone was set in Week 1 when the FCS-level Appalachian State Mountaineers blocked a field goal in the final seconds to upset the No. 5 Michigan Wolverines 34–32 at the Big House. It remains one of the greatest upsets in college sports history.
- LSU’s Historic Run: The LSU Tigers, led by head coach Les Miles, navigated a grueling SEC schedule. Despite losing two games in triple overtime, the season’s chaos allowed them to reach the BCS National Championship, where they decisively defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes 38–24. They became the first two-loss team to win a national title in the BCS era.
- Tebow’s Milestone: Florida quarterback Tim Tebow shattered SEC rushing and passing records, becoming the first sophomore in history to win the Heisman Trophy.
More 2007 Gridiron Milestone Moments
Beyond the final scores, the 2007 season fundamentally changed how football was perceived and played:
- The Wildcat Formation: The 2007 season saw the popularization of the “Wildcat” offense in college football, prominently utilized by the Arkansas Razorbacks behind running backs Darren McFadden and Felix Jones—a trend that would soon bleed into the NFL.
- Record-Breaking Offenses: The Patriots’ high-flying offense revolutionized NFL passing attacks, proving that a team could win consistently by spreading out the defense and operating out of the shotgun, moving away from traditional run-first philosophies.
- Unpredictability as the Standard: The 2007 college season saw non-traditional powerhouses like Kansas, Missouri, and South Florida briefly surge to the top of the national rankings, proving that a new era of parity had arrived in college football.
A Deep Dive into 2007 Football History and Highlights
- January 1, 2007 – The 93rd Rose Bowl Game returned to its New Year’s Day timeslot after hosting the National Championship game a year earlier. The Big Ten versus Pac-10 traditional matchup also returned, as the Michigan Wolverines took on the USC Trojans. USC won the battle 32-18 as the Most Valuable Player awards went to Offensively Dwayne Jarrett (USC WR) and Defensive player: Brian Cushing (USC OLB).
- January 1, 2007- The Fiesta Bowl featured the No. 9 Boise State Broncos upending the perennial powerhouse No. 7 Oklahoma Sooners.
- January 5, 2007, marked the fifth day of the year, notable for another Hall of Fame coach’s retirement. On this day, Bill Cowher stepped down as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Cowher, who succeeded Chuck Noll in 1992, coached the team for 15 seasons. The Steelers appeared in two Super Bowls under his leadership, winning Super Bowl XL. Cowher posted a 149-90-1 regular season record, .623, and went 12-9 in the postseason, .571, for an overall record of 161-99-1. He was named NFL Coach of the Year in 1992 by the AP and in 2004 by the Sporting News.
- January 6, 2007 – The Dallas Cowboys cannot overcome a one-point deficit against the Seahawks in the NFC Wildcard Playoff game when Quarterback/holder Tony Romo muffs the snap for a would-be go-ahead field goal by Martin Grammatica.
- January 8, 2007 – The BCS National Championship once again featured the top two teams in the polls squaring off to determine a champion. This year, Ohio State held the top spot, and its opponents were the Florida Gators. Sports-Reference.com shows how the game was a rout as #2 Florida demolished #1 Ohio State, 41-14.
- January 21, 2007 – The NFC Championship was played at Soldier Field in Chicago. The Pro-Football Reference.com lists the Chicago Bears beating up on the New Orleans Saints, 39-14, to advance to Super Bowl XLI.
- February 4, 2007 – Dolphin Stadium, Miami Gardens – Super Bowl XLI saw Peyton Manning and coach Tony Dungy finally capture the championship that had escaped them. Despite a strong Chicago Bears defense, Manning threw for 247 yards and a touchdown to earn MVP honors, leading the Indianapolis Colts to a 29-17 victory in a rainy South Florida classic.
- June 29, 2007 – The Sunset of NFL Europa (2007): The NFL officially announced it was discontinuing NFL Europa after 15 seasons of operation. The spring league closed its doors to redirect international strategy toward playing regular-season games abroad. This closed a chapter on a developmental pipeline that produced stars like Kurt Warner, Jake Delhomme, and Adam Vinatieri. (Source)
- July 11, 2007 – Ladainian Tomlinson wins honors at the 15th Annual ESPY Awards.
- September 1, 2007 – A significant shocker occurred in the NCAA when Appalachian State pulled off what many believe to be the most crucial upset in NCAA football history. When they knocked off the University of Michigan, 34-32. App State’s Cory Lynch blocked a 37-yard field goal attempt by Michigan kicker Jason Gingwell at the Big House in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to preserve the win.
- October 13, 2007 – 17th College Football Holy War: Boston College beats Notre Dame 27-14 in South Bend.
- October 21, 2007 – Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas – Tennessee Titans kicker Rob Bironas sets an NFL record for most points scored in a game without a TD by a player, with 26. The Tennessee Titans needed all of Bironas’s eight field goals to secure a close 38-36 win against the Houston Texans.
- November 3, 2007 – The Navy Midshipmen defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 46-44 in triple overtime, ending the Fighting Irish’s NCAA Football-record winning streak against the Midshipmen at 43 games. When was the last Navy win over Notre Dame, you might ask? It was a 35-14 Midshipmen win in 1963.
- November 10, 2007 – Denton, Texas – Navy and North Texas set a major-college record by combining for 136 points in the Midshipmen’s 74-62 win, per an ESPN.com post. The previous record for college football’s top tier of competition was 133 points, set by San Jose State in its 70-63 win over Rice on October 2, 2004. North Texas Mean Green quarterback Giovanni Vizza tossed for 478 yards and 8 touchdowns in the loss.
- November 10, 2007 – Denton, Texas – Navy and North Texas set a major-college record by combining for 136 points in the Midshipmen’s 74-62 win, per an ESPN.com post. The previous record for college football’s top tier of competition was 133 points, set by San Jose State in its 70-63 win over Rice on October 2, 2004. North Texas Mean Green quarterback Giovanni Vizza tossed for 478 yards and 8 touchdowns in the loss.
- November 10, 2007 – South Bend, Indiana – The armed forces academies were performing well on this day as the Air Force Falcons defeated the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. According to the goairforcefalcons.com website, this occurred one week after the Navy Midshipmen eked out a triple-overtime victory against the Fighting Irish for the first time since 1963. The loss marked Notre Dame’s ninth loss of that season, a school record. The last time the Irish lost to two military academies in the same season was 1944.
- November 23, 2007 – The excellent Triple Overtime thriller as Arkansas and LSU battled, with Tigers star back Darren McFadden leading the way with three scores.
- November 24, 2007– Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, AL. – In the 72nd volume of the annual Iron Bowl, it was just as much a matchup of coaching strategy as it was raw talent on the field. Alabama had recently hired Nick Saban to counter Auburn’s success under Tommy Tuberville, according to the ESPN.com story on the game. The Tigers scored a touchdown with Brandon Cox running a sneak from 1 yard out to hang on for a 17-10 SEC victory over their rival, the Crimson Tide of Alabama.
- November 25, 2007 – Rogers Centre, Toronto – Saskatchewan Roughriders won their 3rd title in the 95th Grey Cup Championship game of the CFL, per the Grey Cup’s website. The Roughriders squeaked past the Winnipeg Blue Bombers by the score of 23-19. DB James Johnson sealed the deal of victory for Saskatchewan as he picked off a Bombers pass with a mere 54 seconds remaining on the clock. Roughriders receiver Andy Fantuz was named the game’s Most Outstanding Canadian. The Most Valuable Player was awarded to James Johnson, not just for his interception at the end of the game, but also for his two other picks, which set a Grey Cup record for a single player.
- December 1, 2007, the 3rd ACC Championship Game was another great game on the bill as #6 Virginia Tech faced #12 Boston College. The American Football Database provides insight that at the half, the two teams battled to a 16–16 tie. The halftime adjustments were just what the Hokies needed as they came out of the locker room and not only shut down the Eagles’ offense but also put two additional scores of their own on the board. The final score was 30-16 in favor of Virginia Tech.
- December 1, 2007 – The 12th Big 12 Championship Game was the top-billed game of the day of conference championships as #9 Oklahoma took on #1 in the nation, Missouri. Rockmnation.com has the details on the game in which the Sooners upset Mizzou 38-17.
- December 8, 2007 – Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow claimed the 73rd Heisman Trophy. Heisman.com informs us that Tim was the first sophomore ever to take home the prestigious Trophy. Tebow accounted for 51 touchdowns for the Gators that season, gained by a combination of his arm and his legs. He passed for 3132 yards and 29 scores with 6 interceptions while rushing for 828 yards and 22 TDs. Tebow was drafted in the first round by the Denver Broncos and then bounced around the League, playing for the Jets, Patriots, and Eagles.
- December 29, 2007 – Tom Brady sets a then-NFL record, throwing his 50th TD pass, and the New England Patriots become the first team in NFL history to finish the regular season 16-0.