August 14

Do you know what famous NFL team finalized their franchise origin on August 14? Who played in the first CFL game? We will give you these answers and discuss the formation of the most recent AFL, plus a lot more on this gridiron day. This daily football history segment features the Great events, Franchise formation anniversaries, the birthdays of notable Hall of Fame players, coaches, or anyone else in our great game, and many more Legendary stories of the Gridiron.

• August 14, 1919 - During the second of two meetings in the editorial rooms of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, the Green Bay Packers franchise is officially organized and founded by George Calhoun and Curly Lambeau.  The first meeting took place on August 11, 1919. The nickname of Packers was derived from that of their sponsor fo the first two seasons, the Indian Packing Company.
• August 14, 1953 - The 23rd Chicago Charities College All-Star Game is played as 93,818 spectators look on to see the NFL Champion Detroit Lions defeat the College team 24-10. The game's MVP, always the top College All-Star performing player was Gib Dawson from Texas.
• August 14, 1958 - The first ever Canadian Football League (CFL) game is played as Winnepeg defeats Edmonton 29-21.
• August 14, 1959 - The 29th Chicago Charities College All-Star Game is played as 70,000 spectators look on to see the Baltimore Colts defeat the College team 29-0. The game's MVP, always the top College All-Star performing player was Bob Ptacek the fine Michigan runningback.

• August 14, 1959 - The AFL forms and their original teams organize which include:

1.            Denver Broncos franchise forms AFL
2.            Houston/Tennessee Oilers/Tennessee Titans franchise forms AFL
3.            Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs franchise forms AFL
4.            Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers franchise AFL
5.            New York Titans/Jets franchise forms AFL

• August 14, 1965 - The Continental Football League or COFL plays its first games. The league played from this inaugural season until 1969. The group of teams was mostly minor league teams assembled from a few smaller leagues.
• August 14, 1973 - Legendary NFL quarterback Johnny Unitas sues the franchise he formerly played 17 season for, the Baltimore Colts for $725,000! The lawsuit had a claim that the Baltimore Colts were in breach of contract with Unitas that was made in 1970. The contract said Johhny U. would be with the team in some capacity either playing or on staff for 10 years but the team benched him and traded him to San Diego after only a couple years. Reports say that the Colts organization did pay their former signal caller the $30,000 per year for 10 years after he retired as agreed to.

• August 14, 1907 - Johnny Baker was a guard from the University of Southern California and was a two time All-American at the position. In 1983 Mr. Baker was delivered the honor of entering the College Football Hall of Fame. After his playing days Baker became the head coach of football at the Iowa State Teachers College (now Northern Iowa), the University of Denver and Sacramento State College (now California State University, Sacramento).
• August 14, 1916 - Wellington Mara Pro Football Hall of Fame was the famed owner of the New York Giants.
• August 14, 1935 - John Brodie was a quarterback that played for Stanford University. The passer's great play there earned him a place in the College Football Hall of Fame. Brodie went on to play prefessionally for 17 seasons at the helm of the San Francisco 49ers. There were multiple years where he led the NFL in both passing and touchdown throws and he played in two Pro Bowls and was the 1970 NFL MVP.