By Darin December 26: The Day Football Champions Fall and Dynasties Rise
Discover why December 26th stands out as the most explosive post-Christmas day in football history. This legendary date features colossal upsets, NFL Championship thrillers, and the emergence of gridiron legends. Experience the stunning 1927 win by the All-Native American Hominy Indians over the NFL champion New York Giants. Relive the Cleveland Browns’ 1950s dominance in NFL Championships and recall Vince Lombardi’s sole playoff defeat. From Chuck Noll’s retirement to significant college bowl triumphs, explore the events that defined the league and the sport on December 26.
Hallam (Washington, PA)
Our football image of the day comes from the Wikimedia Commons archives of the1896 Washington & Jefferson football team. This image was posted in the W&J media in December of 1896. To learn more about Washington and Jefferson football history, you might enjoy a couple of books we wrote that cover the W&J early program: The World’s Greatest Pro Gridiron Team and When Greasy Met the Wonder Coach.
December 26 Football History Timeline
- December 26, 1927 – Pawhuska, Oklahoma – The All-Native American Hominy Indians defeated the NFL’s New York Giants, who had won the world title three weeks prior. ILoveAncestry.com provides a detailed article on the game, with key highlights. The Hominy team, made up entirely of Native Americans, traveled the country as an independent professional team, never losing or tying during their 26-game winning streak. Owned and funded on the Osage reservation by brothers Ira and Otto Hamilton, the players came from across the nation. The Hominy Indians made the most of their spotlight against the NFL Champs, extending their streak by outlasting the G-men 13-6.
According to Luckyshow.com, following the game in Oklahoma, the Giants lost two additional exhibition games in Florida in early January 1926. Reports also suggest possible games in California, with Ernie Nevers offering to coach the West Coast contingent, contingent upon participation. - December 26, 1943 – Wrigley Field, Chicago – The NFL Championship Game saw the Washington Redskins face the Chicago Bears. Hall of Fame Quarterback Sid Luckman led the Bears, coming off a stellar season. Luckman completed 110 of 202 passes for 2,194 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, earning a 107.5 passer rating. The Bears finished 8-1-1, despite owner/coach George Halas serving in the Navy for much of the year. The Redskins, led by Sammy Baugh, were tough opponents. These teams had met in past championships: Bears crushed Washington 73-0 in 1940, but Washington won 21-7 in 1942. The Bleacher Report article gives all the details, but the final score is Bears 41, Redskins 21. It was the Bears’ sixth NFL title.
- December 26, 1954: Cleveland Municipal Stadium – Lou Groza set a new record with 8 extra points as the Cleveland Browns dominated the Detroit Lions 56-10 in their third consecutive NFL Championship meeting, according to the American Football Database. The Browns took the lead after Detroit’s early field goal and never relinquished it, earning another NFL Title.
- December 26, 1955 – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum – The Browns appeared to enjoy playing the NFL Championship game the day after Christmas. They defended their title by traveling to face the LA Rams. Cleveland jumped ahead with a first-half field goal and a pick-six and never looked back. Otto Graham threw two TD passes and ran for two more, leading the Browns to a 38-14 win over the Los Angeles Rams, per Pro-Football-Reference. The Browns claimed their third NFL Championship of the 1950s.
- December 26, 1960 – Philadelphia’s Franklin Field – Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers met the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL Championship. The Packers won the Western Division after beating the two-time champion Baltimore Colts, who had lost their last four games. The Eagles stayed one game ahead of the Browns to win the East. In the first quarter, the Packers were stopped at the Eagles’ 5-yard line after a fourth-down try. Norm Van Brocklin, an experienced quarterback, threw for 202 yards with one interception and led the Eagles to a 17-13 win over Green Bay. This was Lombardi’s only playoff loss in his 10-year NFL head coaching career. He would lead the Packers to three NFL Championships and the first two Super Bowl wins over the next seven seasons.
65 years ago today, the only playoff game that Vince Lombardi ever lost as a head coach. The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Green Bay Packers 17-13 at Franklin Field for the 1960 NFL Championship. Eagles Rookie Tim Dean with the carry pic.twitter.com/B182fXr6RD
— Cool Old Sports (@CoolOldSports) December 26, 2025
- December 26, 1965 – Balboa Stadium, San Diego – The 1965 AFL Championship game saw the San Diego Chargers compete against the Buffalo Bills. The Bills won 23-0, repeating their previous year’s success over San Diego, as noted by Onthisday.com.
- December 26, 1970 – The lowest-scoring playoff game in NFL history occurred
December 26, 1970
— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) December 27, 2025
° 1970 NFC DIVISIONAL°
Lowest-Scoring Postseason Game in NFL History
In the first #NFL postseason game played on artificial turf and the first-ever NFC Divisional Playoff, the #Cowboys sink the #Lions by an oddball score of 5-0 in a defensive grind at the… pic.twitter.com/xn6M2aM3KK
- December 26, 1975 – According to Onthisday.com, the 5th Fiesta Bowl occurred, with the #7 Arizona State University team defeating the #6 Nebraska Cornhuskers 17-14.
- December 26, 1976 – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum – The AFC Championship game matched Oakland and Pittsburgh for the third year in a row. ProFootballHOF.com notes the Steelers had won the previous two years and were seeking a three-peat. But the Raiders capitalized on injuries to Rocky Bleier and Franco Harris, limiting the Steelers to just 72 rushing yards. Oakland ran for 157 yards, powering to a 24-7 win.
December 26, 1976
— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) December 26, 2025
° 1976 AFC CHAMPIONSHIP °
John Madden's #Raiders control the clock, rushing 51 times for 157 yards to march over the two-time defending-Super Bowl champion #Steelers in Oakland, 24-7.
Pittsburgh was without its two 1,000-yard rushers — Franco Harris and Rocky… pic.twitter.com/wNV6Baxjwf
- December 26, 1976 – Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota – The NFC Championship featured the Minnesota Vikings hosting the LA Rams. Pro-Football-Reference.com explains that Minnesota built a 17-0 lead in the first half. The Rams scored 13 points in the third quarter. Sammy Johnson’s 13-yard touchdown in the fourth sealed the Vikings’ 24-13 win.
- December 26, 1980 – The Fiesta Bowl featured #10 Penn State against #11 Ohio State. Penn State won the game 31-19.
- December 26, 1991 – Chuck Noll retired after 23 seasons coaching the Pittsburgh Steelers, tying Steve Owen for the third-longest tenure with one NFL team. Curly Lambeau and Tom Landry each coached 29 seasons. The Washington Post notes Noll started in 1969, suffering through a 1-13 debut. From there, he transformed the Steelers into a powerhouse, recording 209 wins and 4 Super Bowl titles in 6 seasons.
- December 26, 1992: New York Jets announcer Marty Glickman retired at 74, according to OnthisDay.com.
- December 26, 2000 – GeorgiaEncyclopedia.org reports that Mark Richt became the 25th head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs. Richt’s 2002 season was the peak: 13-1, an SEC championship, and a Sugar Bowl win over Florida State. Richt led Georgia for 15 seasons, posting a 145-51 record, two SEC championship berths, and 9 bowl wins.
December 26 Football Hall of Fame Birthdays
- Tom Hamilton
- Scott Reppert
Conclusion:
December 26th is a date when gridiron champions were both crowned and humbled. It saw the underdog Hominy Indians achieve a massive upset over the reigning NFL champion New York Giants, proving that heart and talent transcend titles. This day also established dynasties, marked by the powerful Cleveland Browns teams of the 1950s and the crucial championship moments involving legends like Sid Luckman and Vince Lombardi. Finally, we honor the lasting impact of four-time Super Bowl-winning coach Chuck Noll’s retirement and celebrate the birthdays of College Football Hall of Famers like Glenn Davis. December 26th truly delivers high-stakes football history.
Big thanks to our sources, especially Pro-Football-Reference.com and Newspapers.com
