By Darin December 13 stands out in football history as “Heisman Day,” when legends like Charles Woodson (the first two-way player to win in the modern era), Cam Newton, and Derrick Henry were crowned. But the drama doesn’t stop there: this date features the iconic 1942 NFL Championship upset where the Washington Redskins avenged a 73-0 loss to the undefeated Chicago Bears. Dive into the full list of championships, Hall of Fame birthdays (including Richard Dent and Gary Zimmerman), and emotional Heisman moments that make this day unforgettable!
December 13 Football History Timeline
- December 13, 1931 – The last game of the 1931 NFL season also marked the final year when the League Champion was simply the team with the best record. Scorum.com describes the 1931 season, when the Green Bay Packers were National Football League Champions with a 12-2-0 record, earning their third consecutive NFL title. The Portsmouth Spartans, later known as the Detroit Lions, finished second with an 11-3 record.
- December 13, 1936 – Polo Grounds, New York City – The Green Bay Packers secured their first NFL Championship Game win against the Boston Redskins. It was Boston’s final game before moving to Washington, D.C. The Packers’ decisive 21-6 victory stemmed from Arnie Herber’s passing, as documented by packersnews.com. Don Hutson caught one of Herber’s TD passes, while Milt Gantenbein grabbed another. Key passes also set up the third Packers touchdown drive. Each Packers player earned $250 for their win, while each Boston player received $180.
- December 13, 1942 – Griffith Stadium, Washington, D.C. – The Redskins appeared in another NFL Title tilt, upsetting the Chicago Bears 14-6. Earlier, the Bears embarrassed the Redskins 73-0 in the 1940 NFL Title Game. This time, the 11-0 Bears faced a 10-1 Washington team determined to avenge that loss. After a scoreless first quarter, the Bears scored on a 52-yard scoop and score. The Redskins answered with Sammy Baugh’s 39-yard touchdown pass to Wilt Moore, taking the lead with the extra point. Running back Andy Farkas then spearheaded an 80-yard drive, securing the win for Washington, whose defense held strong for the championship.
- December 13, 1969 – The Continental Football League held its final game before closing in 1970. According to Fun While it Lasted, the league began in 1965 and, in five seasons, included 44 teams by combining several second-tier leagues, such as the Texas Football League, creating a broad and varied group.
- Transitioning into the 1970s, on December 13, 1973, Penn State running back John Cappelletti delivered his emotional Heisman Trophy acceptance speech, according to historyofcollegefootball.com. As previously reported in Football History Headlines, Cappelletti movingly dedicated the award to his younger brother, Joey, who was battling leukemia.
- On December 13, 1997, the 63rd Heisman Trophy marked the first time, according to Heisman.com, that a two-way player had won since college football instituted separate offensive and defensive teams. That player was Michigan’s cornerback, Charles Woodson. Woodson, a junior, compiled strong statistics in the 1997 season, intercepting 7 passes and making 43 tackles on defense. On offense, he recorded one touchdown on 11 receptions for 231 yards, and his kick return yardage contributed to successful Wolverine drives. Woodson’s all-around play earned him the Heisman over Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning.
- December 13, 1999, The Manhattan Downtown Athletic Club handed the 65th Heisman Trophy Award to Running Back Ron Dayne of Wisconsin. Dayne put up some gaudy numbers. In the late 1990s, on December 13, 1999, the Downtown Athletic Club in Manhattan awarded the 65th Heisman Trophy to Wisconsin’s Ron Dayne. As noted by Heisman.com, Dayne’s senior year produced 1834 rushing yards, making him one of just five players to surpass 1000 yards in four seasons. Including bowl games, he set a career NCAA record with 7125 yards rushing. legitimate career to settle into a true pocket passer style of quarterbacking, according to the Heisman Trophy’s official website. From the shotgun formation, White threw for 3744 yards and 40 touchdowns on only 8 interceptions to lead the Sooners to an undefeated season. Jason White was also a unanimous All-American, won the AP’s Player of the Year, the consensus Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, the Davey O’Brien Award winner, and the Jim Thorpe Courage Award.
- December 13, 2010, Auburn Tigers Quarterback Cam Newton received the 76th Heisman Trophy. The Junior quarterback, per Heisman.com, dominated SEC and NCAA football using both his legs and arm. Newton rushed for 20 scores and 1409 yards and added 28 passing touchdowns with 2589 yards to clinch the award decisively. He was the 2010 AP Player of the Year and led Auburn to the BCS Title by defeating Oregon.
- On December 13, 2014, the 80th Heisman Trophy was awarded to Marcus Mariota, quarterback for the University of Oregon. According to Heisman.com, Mariota became the first player of Polynesian descent, the first from Hawaii, and the first Oregon Duck to receive the award. The junior recorded 3,783 passing yards, 38 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. He also had 669 rushing yards with 14 touchdowns and caught one touchdown pass.
- December 13, 2015, When you set an SEC record of 1986 yards rushing in a season in the age when the SEC was arguably the strongest conference in the nation, yCapping off this stretch, on December 13, 2015, Alabama’s Derrick Henry won the 81st Heisman Trophy. According to Heisman.com, Henry set a new SEC rushing record with 1986 yards and tied the conference touchdown mark at 23. His 339 carries and yardage topped the nation, and he sealed his season with 158 yards in the National Title game against Clemson. According to the footballfoundation.org website, he scored the only touchdown in Navy’s 7-0 victory over Notre Dame in 1933. During the 1934 Army-Navy game, Buzz had 36 carries for the Midshipmen and helped set up a Slade Cutter field goal to knock off the Cadets 3-0. The National Football Foundation Selected Buzz Borries to enter the College Football Hall of Fame in 1960. Commander Fred Borries was a decorated war hero who helped the vessels in his command win some stunning victories at sea, just like he did on the gridiron earlier in life.
Quote of the Day
Our quote of the day comes from a birthday celebrant on this December 13, Richard Dent who was quoted as saying:
“AFTER YOU LEAVE THIS GAME, WHAT YOU WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING -WHAT I WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING IS RESPECT FROM MY PEERS.”
December 13 Football Hall of Fame Birthdays
- Buzz Borries
- Brad Crawford
- Gary Zimmerman
- Richard Dent
Conclusion
December 13 stands as a monumental day, defined by the Heisman Trophy, which has crowned six of the award’s most dynamic and historic winners—including the courageous Jason White and the unique talent of Charles Woodson. The date also encapsulates legendary pro football moments, from the Packers establishing their dynasty to the Washington Redskins achieving one of the greatest NFL Championship upsets of all time. Let me know if you’d like to dive deeper into Richard Dent’s performance during the 1985 Bears defensive season or explore the career of the influential Navy star, Fred “Buzz” Borries!
Special thank you to the work shared by Pro-Football-Reference.com and the other sources linked in this post for helping us to tell the gridiron stories of the day.
