December 10

In this edition of the Football History Headlines, we discuss the youngest Heisman winner, the longest drop kick for points in the NFL as well as many more Football Hall of Fame Legendary stories.

We're diving into the archives to revisit the headlines that rocked the NFL landscape. From legendary draft-day decisions that changed franchises to record-breaking performances that left fans in awe, get ready to relive the electrifying moments that shaped the game we love. So, lace up your cleats and join us as we explore the captivating stories from the gridiron's rich past!

December 10, 1922 - Pete Henry didn’t look like the prototypical gridiron player, he was 5’-11” and 240 pounds according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s website. His teammates called him “Fats'' but opponents should have never doubted the threat he was on the football field. It was on this day, as a member of the Canton Bulldogs, that Fats Henry allegedly made the longest known NFL drop-kicked field goal when he nailed it from 45 yards as documented on the American Football Database against the Toledo Maroons in a 19-0 Bulldog victory that gave the undefeated Canton Bulldogs the title of the Leagues’ inaugural champions.

December 10, 1938 - At the Grey Cup it was a repeat of the previous season, as the Toronto Argonauts whallopped the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, 30-7 to keep the Canadian title. 

December 10, 1939 - West Allis, Wisconsin  - “The Dairy Bowl” - The National Football League’s Championship game in 1939 pitted the Green Bay Packers against the New York Football Giants. The Pack took home their fifth title as they blanked the Giants, 27-0 according to the packershistory.net site.  

December 10, 1940  - The Chicago Bears used the number one pick in the 1941 NFL Draft to select Tom Harmon from the University of Michigan. Harmon had just won the Heisman Trophy as well as the Maxwell Award, according to IMDB.com. Harmon turned down George Halas and the Bears, though, and accepted an offer from the upstart American Football League's New York Americans. After that version of the AFL folded the subsequent off-season, Tom became a fighter pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corp. and fought in WWII for four years. In 1946 he returned and played in the NFL for the LA Rams for three seasons.

December 10, 1961 - In the AFL the Houston Oilers great rusher, Billy Cannon set a single game all-purpose yards record of 373 yards against the New York Titans. The Houston Chronicle shares a great video of the event with more details.

December 10, 1983 - Shea Stadium the home of the New York Jets for 20 seasons had its last NFL game played at it as the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Jets 34-7 according to a great News Day article with more details.

December 10, 1994 - The 60th Heisman Trophy Award went to Rashaan Salaam of the University of Colorado who played the position of running back. The Heisman’s official webpage tells us that Rashaan was the first player from Colorado to win the award as he became the third finalist in history of the Trophy to surpass 2000 yards rushing in a season for Division I. Salaam totaled 2055 yards on the season with 24 scores and a remarkable 7.61 rushing average to lead the Buffs to a 4th place ranking in the polls.

December 10, 2001 - Eric Crouch the option quarterback from Nebraska won the 67th Heisman Trophy Award. Eric was a dual threat in the 2001 season as he rushed for 1115 and 18 scores on the ground while passing for 1510 yards according to Heisman.com. In addition to the Heisman, Crouch also took home the Davey O’Brien quarterback Award and the Walter Camp player of the Year Award.

December 10, 2005 - The 71st Heisman Trophy Award was given to USC standout runner Reggie Bush. However if you look at the Heisman’s website you will not see an entry for a winner in 2005. That is because Bush later forfeit his trophy due to what ESPN.com describes as him and other Trojan athletes receiving improper benefits that violated NCAA rules.  

December 10, 2012 - 78th Heisman Trophy went to the first freshman to ever win the award when Quarterback Johnny Manziel of Texas A&M was chosen to receive the coveted honor in his red shirt season with the Aggies. It is interesting to note that on Manziel’s bio on Heisman.com it states that he originally committed to play at Oregon out of High School signing about the same time as the 2014 Heisman winner Marcus Mariota.  Johnny Football tossed 24 TD’s on 3419 yards passing while using his legs for another 1181 yards and 19 scores. The game that really set the table for Manziel’s Heisman votes was most likely when he led the A&M to a 29-24 upset of the top ranked Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, where he tallied 345 yards of total offense and performed some real dazzling plays.iframesrc="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3ud89TwCQL0"

December 10, 2016 - The youngest player to win a Heisman Trophy Award did it at the age of just 19 in the 82nd edition of the Trophy. Lamar Jackson, the uniquely talented option quarterback of the Louisville Cardinals was given the Trophy per Heisman.com. Jameis Winston of Florida State was 5 days older than Jackson when he took home the hardware in 2013. Lamar’s 4928 yards of total offense was second in Heisman history only to Ty Detmer’s 5022 yards in the 1990 season. Jackson was the first player from Louisville to receive the honor and he was only the fourth sophomore to win it in the Trophy’s history.

December 10, 1916 - Tunica, Mississippi - Ole Miss Halfback Linus Parker Hall was born, but he may be better known as “Bullet” Hall. The NFF’s bio states that Hall had an incredible 1938 season where he led the nation in all purpose yards and scoring while being unnamed by the UPI and AP as an All-America player. His eleven TDs and 7 extra points chalked him up for a total of 73 points and his all purpose yards season total stood at 1558. Bullet was also the nation’s leader in rushing average, kick return average, had the most interceptions, and total touchdowns made with 11 rushing and  11 more passing  the ball.  The National Football Foundation selected Bullet Hall to enter into their College Football Hall of Fame in 1991.

December 10, 1933 - Decatur, Georgia - Larry Morris the great Georgia Tech center and linebacker was born. Larry excelled at more than just two positions on the gridiron. He not only lettered and captained the Ramblin Wreck football team but he also was the captain of the Yellow Jacket baseball team as well as lettering in that sport too. The footballfoundation.org website states that on the gridiron he was an All conference player as well as an All-America team member in 1953.  The National Football Foundation selected Larry Morris to enter into their College Football Hall of Fame in 1992. Larry went into the NFL ranks after college as he played for the Rams, Bears and Falcons during his 12 year career.