From franchise-altering contracts and historic insurance policies to the birthdays of gridiron royalty, August 18 is packed with football history. On this date in 1986, the Buffalo Bills secured their future by finally signing USFL sensation Jim Kelly—setting off a run of four consecutive AFC Championships. Pair that with Herschel Walker’s million-dollar insurance policy in 1981, Earl Campbell hanging up his legendary cleats, and birthdays for trailblazers from Matt Snell to Jeremy Shockey, and August 18 proves to be an unforgettable date on the football calendar.
August 18 American Football History Timeline
- August 18, 1981 – University of Georgia running back Hershel Walker takes out a $1 million insurance policy through Lloyd’s of London for compensation in the event he would get injured before the big payday as a professional. The great rusher would eventually start his career in the USFL before later playing in the NFL.
- August 18, 1986 – Former USFL and University of Miami star quarterback Jim Kelly signs a five-year NFL contract with the Buffalo Bills for $75 million. Kelly would end up leading the Bills to four straight Super Bowl appearances, and what a player he was. $75 million for five years back in 1986.
- August 18, 1987 – Hall of Fame running back Earl Campbell, formerly of the Houston Oilers, announced his retirement. The Tyler Rose played his college ball at the University of Texas.
- August 18, 1989 – Arena Bowl III is played as the Detroit Drive knocks off the Pittsburgh Gladiators 39-26 at Detroit’s home track at Joe Louis Arena.
August 18 Hall of Fame Birthdays
Happy Birthday to these outstanding gridiron icons! As we look ahead to August 18, we celebrate a powerhouse roster featuring early passing pioneers, Ivy League triathletes, foundational franchise anchors, electric return kings, and Super Bowl champions.
Here is the list in order of birth:
- Everett Bacon [1890] – A dazzling four-sport athlete at Wesleyan University, “Ev” Bacon became one of college football’s earliest forward-passing pioneers, earning All-American honors in 1910 and 1912. Enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1966, his legacy is permanently honored by Wesleyan through the annual C. Everett Bacon Trophy awarded to the team’s MVP.
- Cosmo Iacavazzi [1943] – A rugged, two-way fullback for Princeton, Iacavazzi was a consensus First-Team All-American who led the undefeated 1964 Tigers while standing firm against the era’s shift toward single-platoon specialization. Enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 2002, he went on to play briefly for the AFL’s New York Jets and starred in minor league football circuits.
- Greg Pruitt [1951] – An electric, open-field runner for the Oklahoma Sooners, Pruitt was a two-time unanimous All-American who finished in the top three of Heisman Trophy voting in back-to-back seasons (1971, 1972). Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999, he went on to earn five Pro Bowl selections across 12 NFL seasons, teaming up with Mike Pruitt in Cleveland’s bruising backfield and winning Super Bowl XVIII with the Raiders.
And some players aren’t in the Hall of Fame yet; celebrate their birthdays.
- Matt Snell [1941] – A punishing, physical fullback out of Ohio State, Snell was the 1964 AFL Rookie of the Year and a three-time AFL All-Star with the New York Jets. He forever etched his name into football lore as the offensive engine of Super Bowl III, carrying the ball 30 times for 121 yards and scoring the Jets’ lone touchdown in their historic upset of the Baltimore Colts.
- Brian Mitchell [1968] – A former collegiate quarterback at Southwestern Louisiana, Mitchell transformed into the most prolific return specialist in NFL history after being drafted by Washington in 1990. Across 14 seasons with the Redskins, Eagles, and Giants, he amassed an astonishing 23,330 all-purpose yards—second only to Jerry Rice in league history—and scored 13 total return touchdowns.
- Jeremy Shockey [1980] – A fiery, playmaking tight end for “The U,” Shockey helped lead the 2001 Miami Hurricanes to a national championship before being selected 14th overall by the New York Giants in 2002. A four-time Pro Bowler and First-Team All-Pro, he caught 547 career passes for 6,143 yards and 37 touchdowns while winning two Super Bowl rings (Super Bowl XLII with the Giants and Super Bowl XLIV with the Saints).
Conclusion
The gridiron milestones of August 18 highlight the full spectrum of football evolution, from pioneering passing schemes and power running to high-stakes contract drama. Whether reflecting on the game-changing moments delivered by icons like Jim Kelly and Earl Campbell or celebrating the enduring legacies of Hall of Fame inductees and Super Bowl MVPs, this date reminds us how each generation builds on the last. As we look back on these historic birthdays and timeline events, their impact continues to echo across modern college campuses and NFL stadiums alike.
