By Darin 
From the 63-Yard Kick to the Merger of Leagues: November 8 in Football
November 8 is etched in football history as a day of dramatic breakthroughs, both on the field and in the halls of power. It marks the legendary moment in 1970 when the one-toed kicker Tom Dempsey of the New Orleans Saints booted a miraculous, game-winning 63-yard field goal—a record that stood for decades! This date also paved the way for the modern NFL when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the act granting antitrust immunity to the AFL-NFL merger in 1966. From the patenting of a more sophisticated leather football helmet in 1927 to Nick Saban’s triumphant return to LSU as Alabama’s coach on November 8, 2008, the game has been fundamentally shaped.
November 8 Football History Headlines
November 8, 1927 – Allen E. Kennedy Patents a more sophisticated Leather Football helmet, US Patent 1648850 (source)
On November 8, 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed antitrust immunity to the AFL-NFL merger. An Associated Press article by Frederic J. Frommer, published in January 2010, provides some details about the act. In 1966, the National Football League announced plans to merge with its rival American Football League, as cutthroat competition for college players had led some teams to the brink of financial ruin. The leagues turned to Congress to seek an antitrust exemption for the merger. Thanks to deft maneuvering by two powerful Louisiana Democrats, Senate Democratic Whip Russell Long and House acting Majority Leader Hale Boggs, Congress gave its blessing to the union of the NFL and AFL. Within two weeks, the league awarded an expansion team to New Orleans. If you remember, back in our November 1 post, we mentioned that the NFL awarded the Saints franchise. This AP article suggests it was a thank-you to some key Congressional help. LBJ made it official on November 8, 1966, by inking the deal.
November 8, 1970 – Tulane Stadium, New Orleans, Louisiana – There were only a couple of ticks left on the clock with the New Orleans Saints behind on the scoreboard by one point to the visiting and heavily favored Detroit Lions. The Lions had just taken a 17-16 lead in the game when Errol Mann booted an 18-yard field goal with 14 seconds remaining. The Saints started their drive from their own 28-yard line and with a quick 17-yard pass from QB Billy Kilmer to wide receiver Al Dodd, who got out of bounds at the Saints 45 with 2 seconds left. The Saints’ brand-new offensive line coach, Don Heinrich, who had just taken over that role, surprisingly called for the field-goal team to come out. There was a hush over the stadium as everyone couldn’t believe they were going to try to kick a field goal from that distance rather than pass to the end zone. After all, they were still on their own side of the 50-yard line! It would be a 63-yard attempt, as the reader must remember that the goal posts were positioned on the goal line in that era of NFL football. Tom Dempsey was the kicker for New Orleans that season, and he was born without toes on his right foot and no fingers on his right hand. To play in the NFL, he had to wear a special, modified shoe with a flattened, enlarged toe surface. All of this culminated in one of the most dramatic moments in NFL history. Tom Dempsey trotted out and calmly kicked the longest field goal in NFL history to win the game against the Detroit Lions 19-17. The si.com article explains how Dempsey surpassed the previous record-long field goal, a 56-yarder by Bert Rechichar, set by the Baltimore Colts in 1953. (source) You may want to see the current 2025 record set in our November 2 post.
November 8, 2008 – Tiger Stadium, Louisiana State University – The University of Alabama had just become the number one-ranked team in the nation the week before, when Texas Tech upset top-ranked Texas. The Crimson Tide had not held the top spot in the rankings since 1980, and their Head Coach, Nick Saban, who had coached at LSU before a short stint in the NFL, walked into Tiger Stadium for the first time on the visitors’ sideline. Al.com has an article on its website that describes the situation Alabama found itself in, positioned to seal the win with a 29-yard field goal as time ran out. LSU blocked the attempt, however, and took the game to overtime. LSU’s second chance at defeating the Tide didn’t last long. On third down of LSU’s possession, Lee’s pass into the end zone was picked off. Alabama finished off the victory with a touchdown run that clinched the 27-21 win and the Western Division title for the Tide.
November 8, 2008 – Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts – Per onthisday.com, In the 18th installment of the College Football Holy War, Boston College defeated Notre Dame 17-0.
November 8 Football Hall of Fame Birthday
Conclusion: Historic Deals and Unbreakable Records Define the Date
November 8 celebrates pivotal moments of innovation and high drama. It honors pioneers like Allen E. Kennedy, who improved player safety by patenting a more sophisticated leather helmet, and political deal-makers who leveraged the AFL-NFL merger to secure an expansion team for New Orleans—a move seen as a political thank-you. The day’s enduring legacy, however, is sealed by the sheer athleticism and spectacle: Tom Dempsey’s record-shattering kick and the thrilling Alabama vs. LSU overtime battle in 2008. Finally, the birthday of walk-on legend Chuck Cecil, who intercepted a Pac-10 record 21 passes, reminds us that excellence often emerges from unheralded beginnings.