By Darin 
From Blue Laws to a 62-3 Rout: November 7 Shaped the NFL
November 7th marks the day American professional football truly earned its Sunday stripes. In a pivotal 1933 election, Pennsylvania voters overturned the Sunday Blue Law, immediately validating the existence of the new Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Pirates (Steelers) franchises, which desperately needed weekend game revenue to survive college football’s Saturday monopoly. Decades later, November 7 showcased football extremes: in 1943, the Detroit Lions and New York Giants played the NFL’s last-ever scoreless tie on a muddy field, followed by the 1954 Cleveland Browns recording their largest margin of victory with a crushing 62-3 win over Washington.
November 7 Football History Headlines
November 7, 1933 – Pennsylvania voters overturn a blue law by permitting sports to be played on Sundays. This was big news for both the Philadelphia Eagles’ new franchises—the Eagles and the Pittsburgh Pirates, later known as the Steelers. The NFL awarded franchises to both cities earlier in 1933, based on the expectation that voters would repeal the Pennsylvania Sunday Blue Laws in that year’s general election. Why were Sundays so crucial to the NFL? An article on the website ellwoodcityledger.com from January 2015 has the answer. Being able to play on Sundays was imperative for professional football at the time because college football, which monopolized autumn Saturdays, was more popular than the pro game, and by a relatively wide margin. It wouldn’t be until decades later that the pro game would even come close to the college game. The article raises an interesting point: even though the very first paid pro player was in the Pittsburgh area, William “Pudge” Heffelfinger was paid $500 in 1892 for a game. But alas, there were no NFL teams in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania until these cities were awarded franchises in 1933.
November 7, 1936 – Keystone State rivals Pitt and Penn State squared off on the gridiron with the Panthers dominating in a 34-7 victory in the Steel City.
November 7, 1943 – Briggs Stadium, Detroit, Michigan – The last scoreless tie in the NFL occurred when the Detroit Lions hosted the New York Football Giants in front of a crowd of 16,992 fans. The website f64sports.com tells us that the weather and field conditions were every bit as responsible as the defenses and inept offenses, as it was a rainy day with a muddy, sloppy turf.
On November 7, 1954, the Cleveland Browns recorded their largest margin of victory, crushing the Washington Redskins 62-3. In the same game, the Browns, Chet Hanulak set a club record with 7 punt returns, according to onthisday.com.
November 7, 1987 – South Bend, Indiana – The third edition of the College Football Holy War took place as Notre Dame defeated Boston College by the score of 32-25 per onthisday.com.
November 7, 1992 – South Bend, Indiana – The College Football Holy War arises once again as the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame overpowered the Boston College Eagles 54-7. (source)
November 7, 2015 – Arkansas and Ole Miss had a very memorable SEC matchup with one of the most amazing finishes ever.
November 7 Football Hall of Fame Birthdays
- Jake Gibbs
Conclusion: Legislative Victories and Enduring Legacies
The ability to play professional football on Sunday, secured by the 1933 Pennsylvania vote, remains the most critical factor that eventually allowed the NFL to surpass the college game in popularity. This date also marks the college career of Ole Miss quarterback Jake Gibbs, who led his team to a 10-0-1 season and a national championship before making a surprising transition to catcher for the New York Yankees. From crucial legislative victories to the bizarre end of the scoreless tie, November 7 encapsulates the financial struggles and foundational moments that defined the league’s early decades.