By Darin On this day in football history, the gridiron landscape shifted through legendary births and franchise-altering business deals. From the 1931 adoption of the forward pass in Canada to the birth of three iconic Hall of Famers—Raymond Berry, Bubba Smith, and Tony Gonzalez—February 28th is a date etched in pigskin lore. Join us as we journey through the archives to explore how a bankrupt New York Titans team became the Jets, and how some of the greatest pass-catchers ever to play the game first entered the world.
We have a bit of a Baltimore Colts theme in today’s football history revisited, so we aptly chose this football art image to enjoy in this edition.
Program cover for the All-America Football Conference game pitting the New York Yankees vs. the Baltimore Colts, Sept. 5, 1948, at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore.
Published by the Baltimore Colts, 6 S. Howard Street, Baltimore, 1948.
February 28 American Football History Timeline
- February 28, 1931 – Canadian Rugby Union adopts the forward pass
- February 1963 – Original NY Titans AFL owner Harry Wismer runs into financial difficulties midway through the 1962 season and is forced to sell the bankrupt team in February 1963. The AFL itself runs the franchise from November 1962 until the conclusion of the ’62 season, when it is bought by a group of 5 – spearheaded by Sonny Werblin – for $1,000,000. (source) (also Book America’s Game, The NFL at 100 by Jerry Rice and O. Williams)
- February 28, 2001 – NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue is named the Sports Industrialist of the Year by the Sports Business Daily.
February 28 Football Hall of Fame Birthdays
Conclusion
Whether it was Raymond Berry’s meticulous route-running, Bubba Smith’s defensive dominance, or Tony Gonzalez redefining the tight end position, February 28th stands as a powerhouse date for football talent. These milestones, coupled with the NFL and CFL’s business evolution, remind us that the game we love is built on a foundation of both strategic innovation and legendary personalities. As we look back on these anniversaries, the impact of these icons continues to be felt in every modern Sunday kickoff.
