By Darin December 30 is a landmark date in football history, celebrated for its iconic championships, record-breaking performances, and the emergence of gridiron legends. The New York Giants’ dominant 1956 NFL title win, the Green Bay Packers’ hard-fought 1962 championship, and the simultaneous NFC and AFC title showdowns of 1973 all took place on this date. Fans also celebrate the legacies of Hall of Famers like Ron Wolf and Mel Renfro, and witness the modern marvel of Patrick Mahomes’ 5,000-yard, 50-touchdown season—all on this remarkable day in football lore.
December 30 Football History Timeline
- December 30, 1956: The Giants won their fourth NFL title by defeating the Bears, 47-7. Charlie Conerly threw two TDs and Alex Webster rushed for two, according to Pro-Football-Reference. Moving ahead six years, another key title game unfolded on this date.
- December 30, 1962: The Giants lost the NFL Championship to the Packers, 16-7. Kicker Jerry Kramer scored three field goals, and Ray Nitschke was MVP, per Bleacher Report. A decade later, December 30 would again become a pivotal day for championship football.
- December 30, 1973 – Miami Orange Bowl – The AFC Championship had the Dolphins hosting the Oakland Raiders. The Miami squad became the first team to play in 3 consecutive Super Bowls, knocking off the Raiders, 27-10, powered by 3 touchdown runs by Larry Csonka, according to a barstoolsports.com article. Meanwhile, on the very same day, the NFC would see its own decisive clash.
- December 30, 1973 – Texas Stadium, Irving – The NFC Championship game also ended 27-10. The Pro-Football-Reference.com site shows that Bobby Brown had a 63-yard scoop and score to help seal the Super Bowl invitation for the Minnesota Vikings as they beat the Dallas Cowboys to earn the right to play in the big game. Moving forward several decades, December 30 continued to host memorable moments in football history.
- December 30, 2002- A CBSSports.com story reports that the 2002 Season concluded with an all-time NFL record of 25 overtime games. The date also became notable for significant coaching changes in subsequent years.
- December 30, 2008, NFL head coach Mike Shanahan was fired by the Denver Broncos. Just five years later, another major coaching move unfolded involving Shanahan.
- December 30, 2013, NFL head coach Mike Shanahan is fired by the Washington Redskins. December 30 would soon be marked by close collegiate contests and remarkable professional milestones.
- December 30, 2016 – 83rd Orange Bowl: #10 Florida State beats #6 Michigan, 33-32. The following year, another heated Orange Bowl contest brought similar excitement to fans.
- December 30, 2017. – The 84th Orange Bowl saw #6 Wisconsin defeat #11 Miami (Florida), 34-24. Turning from the collegiate stage back to the pros, December 30 once again witnessed a record-setting NFL achievement.
- On December 30, 2018, during the KC Chiefs’ 35-3 win over the Oakland Raiders, Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes became only the 2nd quarterback in NFL history to throw for 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns in a season. Both milestones were reached on a 3rd-quarter 89-yard TD pass to Demarcus Robinson, per Onthisday.com. Notably, these historic moments share the date with the birthdays of several football Hall of Famers.
December 30 Football Hall of Fame Birthdays
- Ron Wolf
- Mel Renfro
- Joe Micchia
Conclusion
From the legendary defenses that powered the Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings to conference titles in 1973, to the coaching shakeups involving Mike Shanahan, December 30th offers a complete snapshot of the NFL’s dynamic history. It’s a day defined by the competitive spirit of champions like Charlie Conerly, the birth of Hall of Fame talent like Mel Renfro and Kerry Collins, and the record-setting brilliance of Patrick Mahomes. Remember this date as one of the most significant intersections of collegiate and professional football milestones.
Want more of the Daily football timeline? Check out our December 29 edition.
Thanks go to our sources, including Newspapers.com, NFL.com, ProFootballHOF.com, and Pro-Football-Reference.com.
