By Darin December 14 stands out in football history and is commemorated for Heisman achievements and championship moments. This date is notable for a dynasty of Heisman winners: Desmond Howard, Ricky Williams, Danny Wuerffel, Mark Ingram Jr., and Joe Burrow. Beyond the Heisman, reflect on the 1941 Bears-Packers postseason tiebreaker, the “Miracle at the Met,” and the enduring legacy of George Gipp.
December 14 American Football Timeline
- The story of December 14, 1920, begins with Fighting Irish legend George Gipp, who died of pneumonia at age 25. The History of College Football reminds us that Gipp is probably best known for asking his Coach, Knute Rockne, for help from his hospital bed, which later inspired the team. Gipp wanted Rockne to ask the Irish, when they needed motivation, to “win one for the Gipper.”
- Moving forward to December 14, 1930, an interesting Gridiron charity game featured the New York Football Giants against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The Giants surged earlier in the season but lost their last two games, which eliminated them from a chance at the NFL Title. With this in mind, they teamed up with the ever-popular Notre Dame eleven to hold a benefit game. The goal was to raise money for cash-strapped families during the Great Depression, according to Hapmoran.org. The G-men triumphed 22-0.
- On that same day in 1930, the National Football League Champions were the Green Bay Packers. With a 10-3-1 record, they repeated as champions by having the best record. In that era of the NFL, the team with the best record received the title, per the fandom.com American Football story on the season.
- Fast forward to December 14, 1941, the Bears and Packers met in their only postseason game, which also marked the first NFL divisional playoff game. At the time, the two division leaders would face off in the NFL Championship Game. That season, the Bears and Packers had identical 10-1 records, each winning on the other’s field earlier in the season. The Bears won at City Stadium on September 28 (25-17), and the Packers triumphed at Wrigley Field on November 2 (16-14), as reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Online. In this decisive third meeting, the Bears earned the right to play for the title with a 33-14 victory.
- On December 14, 1947, the Cleveland Browns defeated the New York Yankees 14-3 in the AAFC Championship Game, winning yet another title in the fledgling league.
- Several decades later, on December 14, 1980, at Metropolitan Stadium, the Minnesota Vikings experienced the “Miracle at the Met.” The team has witnessed many famous plays—before the Minneapolis Miracle, there was this fantastic game when the Cleveland Browns were in town, according to ESPN.com. The Browns held a one-point lead with only 14 seconds left. It looked dismal for the home fans. The Vikings had possession but were 80 yards from the Browns’ goal line. In the season, they passed for 456 yards against the Browns, winning 28-24.
- On the same day in 1980, New Orleans Saints fans ended their “Aints” era when their favorite team edged out the New York Jets 21-20 to end a 14-game losing streak.
- On December 14, 1991, the 57th Heisman Trophy was awarded to Desmond Howard, the University of Michigan’s standout wide receiver and return specialist. According to Heisman.com, Howard achieved the second-largest voting margin in Heisman history, helping the Wolverines to a 10-1 record. He recorded 61 receptions for 960 yards and 19 touchdowns, added two rushing scores, and notched another two touchdowns on kick and punt returns. Howard also averaged 31 yards per kick return and 15.3 yards per punt return, setting up excellent field position for his team.
- On December 14, 1996, Florida Gators quarterback Danny Wuerffel was voted the 62nd Heisman Trophy winner. Wuerffel was only the second Gator to win the award, reinforcing Florida’s emergence as a premier program. He later delivered in the national championship game, throwing for 306 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 52-20 victory. That win earned Florida its first-ever national title, underscoring the Heisman winner’s direct impact on team success.
- On December 14, 1998, the Downtown Athletic Club presented its 64th Heisman Trophy to University of Texas running back Ricky Williams. As noted on the award’s website, Williams earned 43% of the votes cast, surpassing even Howard in percentage. Williams set 21 NCAA records, rushed for 2,124 yards and 27 touchdowns, and received the Maxwell and Walter Camp Player of the Year Awards. He was also the only player to win the Doak Walker Award twice in college football history.
- December 14, 2009, University of Alabama hard-working running back Mark Ingram Jr. won the 75th Heisman Trophy Award. He was, unbelievably, the Bama Heisman winner to also win a National Championship Title with the Tide that same season. According to the Trophy’s official site, Ingram won the narrowest vote in Heisman history up to that point. In 2009, Mark Ingram rushed for 1,542 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also caught 30 passes for 322 yards and three touchdowns. On December 14, 2019, Joe Burrow, LSU’s quarterback, earned the 85th Heisman Trophy. Heisman.com notes the LSU senior threw a Heisman-tying 48 touchdowns, with 4,715 passing yards. His 2019 completion rate of 77.9% is the highest ever for the Award. ever in the Award’s history.
December 14 Football Hall of Fame Birthdays
Conclusion
In summary, December 14 delivers an incomparable mix of legend, triumph, and tragedy. The timeline is truly “Heisman Day,” celebrating five unique legends who defined their eras, from Desmond Howard’s electric returns to Joe Burrow’s statistical perfection. The date also remembers the heartbreaking loss of George Gipp and Ernie Davis, two men whose brief lives continue to inspire. Unforgettable NFL drama is also part of December 14: the 1941 Bears vs. Packers playoff and the spectacular “Miracle at the Met.” If you’d like to explore the life and career of the versatile Charley Trippi or the impact of the Giants vs. Notre Dame charity game during the Great Depression, just let me know!
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.
