By Darin Hayes Record-Breakers and New Eras: Why September 26th is a Landmark Day in Football History
From the birth of the NFL game day to Jerry Rice’s untouchable pursuit of greatness, September 26th is stacked with football history!
Did you know this date marks the very first game the Los Angeles Rams played in their new home? It’s also the day Jerry Rice surpassed Walter Payton to become the NFL’s all-time yards-from-scrimmage leader, and when Shaun Alexander set a wild record with five touchdowns in a single half!
Whether you’re interested in the Dallas Cowboys defense recording a historic 12 sacks or the opening of the revamped Soldier Field, this post has it all. Dive in to explore the game’s evolution through the legends and milestones of September 26th.
September 26 Football History Headlines
September 26, 1920 – The first game featuring an American Professional Football Association team would be played on September 26, 1920, as the Rock Island Independents beat up on their non-league opponent, the St. Paul Ideals, 48-0. The APFA would change its name to the National Football League in 1922; therefore, this is essentially the first NFL game played, involving at least one team, that was discussed in Ralph Hay’s organizational meeting on September 17, 1920.
For more, check out the following links: https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1920_APFA/coaches.htm
September 26, 1977 – The Cleveland Browns franchise plays the first Overtime game as they knock off the New England Patriots 30-27 in the extra period. The NFL adopted an overtime session in 1940 for divisional ties, and in 1946, it opened this rule to championship games as well. It wasn’t until 1974, though, that the League adopted sudden-death overtime for regular-season games. Although it was the Browns’ first extra regular-season session in history, it’s worth noting that the rule was only a little over two seasons old at the time.
September 26, 1978 – New York District Court Judge Constance Baker Motley rules that women journalists can not be barred from the locker rooms after a game when men reporters are allowed into them. The case was officially titled Ludke v. Kuhn, referring to Bowie Kuhn, the former Major League Baseball Commissioner. Journalist Melissa Ludtke was the plaintiff in the case, suing the MLB, Kuhn, and certain New York City officials to gain the right to enter the New York Yankees locker room after a game, just like her male counterparts. The breakthrough court decision paved the way for female reporters to enter locker rooms at most American sports events alongside their male counterparts.
September 26, 1983 – The New York Giants kicker Ali-Haji Sheikh boots a franchise record field goal of 56 yards. The record kick was made in the prime time lights of Monday Night Football and helped the Giants defeat the Green Bay Packers 27-3 at Giants Stadium in the New Jersey Meadowlands. The Giants’ record was broken in week 13 of the 2018 season when Aldrick Rosas knocked down a 57-yard field goal to help the G-Men get past the Chicago Bears.
September 26, 1998 – This record was broken on September 26, 1998, during the Bethune-Cookman vs. Virginia State football game, which went to an unprecedented 8 overtime sessions to decide a winner, with Bethune-Cookman ultimately pulling it out 63-57.
[…] That is our history in American football for this day. If you missed it, here is the significant Gridiron news that occurred on September 26. […]