From a small editorial office in Wisconsin to the multi-billion-dollar empire of modern professional sports, August 14 stands as one of the most transformative dates in football history. On this day in 1919, George Calhoun and Curly Lambeau officially founded the Green Bay Packers, setting in motion a small-town miracle that would redefine the NFL. Decades later, August 14 would mark the official birth of the American Football League (AFL) in 1959, the dawn of the Canadian Football League (CFL) in 1958, and high-profile drama like Johnny Unitas taking the Baltimore Colts to court. Coupled with the birthdays of titans like Wellington Mara and John Brodie, this date is a masterclass in gridiron heritage.
August 14 American Football History Timeline
- August 14, 1919 – During the second of two meetings in the editorial rooms of the Green Bay Press-Gazette (the first took place a few days earlier, August 11), the Green Bay Packers franchise was officially organized and founded by George Calhoun and Curly Lambeau. The first meeting took place August 11, 1919. The nickname of the Packers was derived from that of their sponsor of the first two seasons, the Indian Packing Company.
- August 14, 1953 – The 23rd Chicago Charities All-Star Game was played as 93,818 spectators looked on to see the NFL champion Detroit Lions defeat the college team 24 to 10. The game’s most valuable player, one of the college stars and a top performer, was Gib Dawson from the University of Texas.
- August 14, 1958 – The first-ever Canadian Football League CFL game is played as the Winnipeg team defeats Edmonton 29 to 21.
- August 14, 1959 – The 29th Chicago Charities All-Star game is played as 70,000 spectators look on to see the Baltimore Colts defeat the college team 29 to 0. The game’s MVP, one of the college All-Stars, was Bob Patak, the fine Michigan running back.
- August 14, 1959 – The American Football League, the third generation, formed with its original teams and organized to include the Denver Broncos franchise, the Houston Tennessee Oilers/Tennessee Titans franchise, the Dallas Texans, which turned into the Kansas City Chiefs franchise, and the Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers, back to the LA Chargers franchise in the AFL form. The New York Titans, which became the New York Jets franchise, also formed in the American Football League. So four or five franchises formed that are still with us today that came out of the American Football League, and with that merger with the NFL in the late 60s, they are still teams today.
- August 14, 1965 – The Continental Football League, or COFL, played its first games. The league played from this inaugural season until 1969. The group of teams was mostly minor league teams assembled from a few smaller leagues around the country.
- August 14, 1973 – Legendary NFL quarterback Johnny Unitas sued the franchise he formerly played 17 seasons for, the Baltimore Colts, for $725,000. The lawsuit claimed that the Baltimore Colts were in breach of a contract with Unitas that was made in 1970. The contract said that Johnny U would be with the team in some capacity, either playing or on staff, for 10 years, but the team benched him and then traded him to San Diego after only a couple of years. Reports say that the Colts organization did pay their former signal caller $30,000 per year for 10 years after he retired, as agreed.
August 14 Hall of Fame Birthdays
Happy Birthday to these gridiron icons! As we celebrate August 14, we honor a lineup featuring a dominant collegiate standout, a foundational NFL patriarch, and a prolific MVP quarterback.
Here is the list in order of birth:
- Johnny Baker [1907] – A two-time All-American guard from the University of Southern California, Baker was a dominant collegiate force who earned induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983. Following his playing days, he enjoyed a prolific collegiate coaching career, leading programs at Northern Iowa, the University of Denver, and Sacramento State.
- Wellington Mara [1916] – The legendary owner of the New York Giants, Mara inherited the team in 1930 and helped build the franchise into a powerhouse that secured six league titles, including two Super Bowls. Beloved by his players, he was dubbed “The Duke”—a royal moniker the NFL famously adopted for its official Wilson game ball in 1941 in honor of his immense contributions to professional football.
- John Brodie [1935] – An elite Stanford University quarterback enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame, Brodie put together a stellar 17-season professional career under center for the San Francisco 49ers. The two-time Pro Bowler and 1970 NFL MVP led the league in passing yards and touchdowns in multiple seasons, cementing his legacy as one of the premier signal-callers of his era.
Conclusion
August 14 serves as a vivid timeline of how football expanded from humble local gatherings into a continent-spanning phenomenon. Whether tracking the birth of iconic franchises like the Packers, Broncos, and Chiefs, witnessing the birth of the CFL, or honoring individual brilliance from Wellington “The Duke” Mara to MVP John Brodie, the events of this day built the bedrock of today’s game. As we look back on these milestones, we are reminded that the passion, business, and competitive spirit of football have always been forged on the late-summer gridiron.
