From redemption stories behind bars to the birth of a global sports media empire, August 19 holds a unique place in American football history. On this date, the Cincinnati Bengals kicked off a new era at Paul Brown Stadium, the NFL consolidated its broadcasting powerhouse into NFL Enterprises, and Heisman winner Billy Cannon began an unbelievable journey from federal prison back to practicing dentistry. Add in birthdays for Hall of Fame cornerstones Anthony Muñoz, Morten Andersen, and Bob Johnson, and August 19 emerges as a pivotal day celebrating resilience, business acumen, and all-time gridiron greatness.
August 19 American Football History Timeline
- August 19, 1983 – Former Louisiana State University and AFL/NFL football star Billy Cannon was sentenced to five years in prison for counterfeiting after getting involved in some bad real estate investments. After serving two and a half years, he was hired by the correctional facility where he served time as its dentist, a profession he had practiced after his college days.
- August 19, 1993 – Formation of NFL Enterprises: The NFL officially announced the formation of NFL Enterprises. This critical corporate restructuring consolidated NFL Films, home video distribution, and special domestic and international broadcasting under a unified media umbrella, laying the strategic foundation for the league’s modern global media empire.
- August 19, 2000 – Cincinnati’s Paul Brown Stadium opens for its first live action and preseason contest as the Bengals hosted the Chicago Bears. In our Newspapers.com football history headline of the day, we use the Cincinnati Inquirer’s August 20, 2000 headline: Bengals finally capitalize in red zone. The story celebrates the fact that the Bengals offense went three for three inside the Chicago ‘Bears’ 20-yard line for the three first-half touchdowns that helped them secure a 24-20 win. Former number one pick Achille Smith went 21-29 for 184 yards and led three scoring drives in the win, giving hope to Bengals fans for the 1999 NFL Draft’s number three overall selection. Now, Paul Brown Stadium, of course, was named for the great head coach Paul Brown, who was formerly with the Cleveland Browns. After a few decades of coaching there, he was dismissed from the Browns and moved to the AFL, where he helped found the Cincinnati Bengals, which he owned and coached at first. The family still owns it. You know, of course, we lost him a few decades ago. But what contributions has Paul Brown given to the NFL? Quite a bit, especially in integration. He’s one of the first NFL teams to reintegrate minority players into the NFL back in the AFC, when he coached the Browns and the L.A. Rams. And, you know, Marian Motley and Jim Brown and just some of those great players that they had from that era.
August 19 Hall of Fame Birthdays
Happy Birthday to these Canton legends! As we look ahead to August 19, we celebrate two of the most durable, elite specialists to ever step onto the gridiron—widely regarded as the gold standards at offensive tackle and placekicker.
Here is the list in order of birth:
- Bob Johnson [1946] – A consensus All-American center and Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner at Tennessee, Johnson was selected second overall in the 1968 draft as the Cincinnati Bengals’ inaugural franchise player. The 1989 College Football Hall of Fame inductee served as team captain for 11 seasons, earned Pro Bowl honors, and became the first player whose No. 54 jersey the Bengals officially retired.
- Anthony Muñoz [1958] Widely considered the greatest offensive tackle in NFL history, Muñoz anchored the Cincinnati Bengals’ offensive line for 13 seasons after being selected third overall in 1980 out of USC. The Class of 1998 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee started 184 games, earned 11 consecutive Pro Bowl selections, was named NFL Offensive Lineman of the Year three times, and led the Bengals to two Super Bowl appearances (XVI and XXIII).
ANTHONY MUñOZ
- Morten Andersen [1960] Known as the “Great Dane,” Andersen enjoyed an astonishing 26-year NFL career primarily with the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons after starring at Michigan State. A seven-time Pro Bowler and member of both the 1980s and 1990s All-Decade Teams, the Class of 2017 Pro Football Hall of Famer retired as the NFL’s all-time leading scorer with 2,544 points and 565 career field goals.
MORTEN ANDERSEN
Additional Birthdays
- Kirk Cousins [1988] – Born in Barrington, Illinois, Cousins starred at Michigan State before being drafted in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft by Washington. Developing into one of the most accurate, durable pocket passers of the modern era, the multi-time Pro Bowler has racked up over 40,000 passing yards and 270 touchdowns across prolific tenures with Washington, the Minnesota Vikings, and the Atlanta Falcons.
- Brandon Brooks [1989] – Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Brooks emerged out of Miami (Ohio) to become one of the NFL’s premier interior offensive linemen. A three-time Pro Bowl guard with the Philadelphia Eagles, Brooks was a foundational anchor in the trenches for Philadelphia’s championship run in Super Bowl LII.
Conclusion
August 19 showcases the full spectrum of gridiron history—from front-office milestones that transformed NFL broadcasting into a multibillion-dollar machine, to the memorable debuts and personal reinventions that define football’s biggest personalities. Whether celebrating the legendary longevity of the “Great Dane” Morten Andersen or the peerless trench dominance of Anthony Muñoz, this date stands as a testament to the pioneers who elevated the sport on and off the field.
