From Record Sacks to Historic Feats: Why September 29 is an NFL Power Day
The calendar date September 29th might look like any other autumn day, but in American football history, itโs a powerhouse. This single date is packed with pivotal moments that shaped the NFL record books and marked significant franchise milestones. From the Los Angeles Ramsโ very first game to the night the legendary Jerry Rice cemented his status as the NFL’s All-Time Leader in yards from scrimmage, September 29th has delivered jaw-dropping performances. It was a day of extremes, witnessing both a punishing 12-sack record against Warren Moon and a breathtaking 5-touchdown half by Shaun Alexander. Ready to dive into the historic openings, broken records, and legendary birthdays that make this one of the most remarkable dates on the gridiron calendar? Letโs explore the epic history of September 29.
Our gridiron image of the day:
September 29 American Football History Timeline
- September 29, 1946 – The Rams franchise plays its very first game representing the city of Los Angeles. Before 1946, the Rams called Cleveland their home.
- September 29, 1968 – A new single-game NFL punting return record was established as the St. Louis Cardinals ‘ Chuck Latourette set the NFL record with 47.7 yards per return in a game against the New Orleans Saints on 3 returns!
- September 29, 1985 – Houston Oilers quarterback Warren Moon is sacked an NFL record 12 times by an aggressive Dallas Cowboys defense.
- September 29, 2002 – Jerry Rice, a member of the Oakland Raiders, surpassed Walter Payton’s 21,281 all-purpose yards to become the NFL’s All-Time Leader in yards from scrimmage.
- September 29, 2002 – Running back Shaun Alexander of the Seattle Seahawks sets an NFL record for most touchdowns in a half with 5 in the 1st half of a 48-23 win over the Minnesota Vikings at Seahawks Stadium. The stalwart running back also added an 80-yard reception to his stats.
- September 29, 2003 – The newly renovated Soldier Field, now improved and enhanced, opened in Chicago, Illinois, with an attendance of 61,500 fans. Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers scored 17 unanswered points, defeating the Chicago Bears 38-23 on Monday Night Football.
September 29 Football Hall of Fame Birthdays
We celebrate football history by remembering the significant people who have birthdays on September 29. Here are some members of the Pro and College Football Halls of Fame born on this day.
- Edwin Horrell [1902] – An anchor at center for the University of California’s famed “Wonder Teams,” Horrell was a consensus All-American in 1924 who helped power the Golden Bears through an era of national gridiron dominance. Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1969, he later moved to the sideline as UCLAโs head coach, guiding the Bruins to the Rose Bowl at the end of the 1942 season.
- Pete Elliott [1926] – A versatile, single-wing quarterback and defensive back at Michigan, Elliott was a first-team All-American on the Wolverines’ undefeated 1948 national championship team and remains the only person to earn 12 varsity letters in Ann Arbor. Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1994, he went on to lead Illinois to a Big Ten title and 1964 Rose Bowl victory as head coach before serving for over 16 years as executive director of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton.
- Paul Giel [1932] – A dynamic, single-wing tailback for the Minnesota Golden Gophers, Giel was a two-time All-American, two-time Big Ten MVP, and the runner-up for the 1953 Heisman Trophy in one of the closest votes in history. Enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1975, the multi-sport phenom turned down professional football to pitch in Major League Baseball before returning to lead his alma mater as athletic director for nearly two decades.
- Dave Wilcox [1942] – Nicknamed “The Intimidator,” Wilcox spent his entire 11-year NFL career with the San Francisco 49ers as one of the most dominant, point-of-attack outside linebackers of his generation. A seven-time Pro Bowler and two-time First-Team All-Pro, the Class of 2000 Pro Football Hall of Famer was famous for jamming tight ends at the line and completely disrupting opposing run and pass schemes.
- Calvin Johnson [1985] – Nicknamed “Megatron” for his rare combination of 6-foot-5 size, leaping ability, and sub-4.4 speed, Johnson was an unstoppable wide receiver for the Detroit Lions and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Enshrined in both the College (2018) and Pro Football (2021) Halls of Fame, he earned six Pro Bowl selections, three First-Team All-Pro honors, and shattered the NFL single-season receiving record with 1,964 yards in 2012.
We hope you enjoyed this trip down football’s memory lane and appreciate the events and people who mattered on the day. Perhaps you missed what occurred on September 27?
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