December 13

In this edition of the Football History Headlines, we discuss the final NFL game of the 1931 season, and the fact that this was the end for the League Champ to be selected by the the one who had the best overall record.

Football fans, delve into the past! Today's date is etched in NFL history. From legendary trades that shook the league to record-breaking performances on the gridiron, exciting moments unfolded on this very day. We'll explore game-changing events, iconic players who dominated the field, and pivotal decisions that altered the course of franchises. So, buckle up and get ready to revisit the fascinating stories that make NFL history so captivating!

December 13, 1931 - This was the final game played in the NFL season of 1931 and it also marked the final year that the League Champion would be the team with the best record. Scorum.com has a great write up in the season of 1931 where the National Football League Champions were the Green Bay Packers who posted a 12-2-0 record which was good enough for them to earn their 3rd straight NFL title. In second that year were the Portsmouth Spartans who would later become the Detroit Lions, as they sported an 11-3 record on the season. There was some controversy over this though as the Packers refused to play a game against Portsmouth that was on the schedule. Had this game been played and Portsmouth won it, the Packers title would have either been shared or relinquished to the team that defeated them head to head, the Spartans in that scenario. Nedless to say that Green Bay Packers are the 1931 NFL Champions.

December 13, 1936 - Polo Grounds, New York City - The Green Bay Packers win the franchise’s first NFL Championship Game against the Boston Redskins. It was the final game in Boston before the franchise moved to Washington D.C. The Packers big 21-6 victory was sparked by Arnie Herber’s aerial attack on the Redskins according to a story published the day after the game found on packersnews.com. Don Hutson hauled in one of Herber’s passes for a TD while another receiver, Milt Gantenbein scored on another. The third touchdown drive engineered by the Pack was set up by a couple more key pass plays. Each player on the Packers took home a nifty sum of $250 for their win as the Boston players placed an extra $180 in their wallets after the 1936 NFL Championship.

December 13, 1942 - Griffith Stadium, Washington, D.C. - The Redskins franchise appeared in another NFL Title tilt on the day of December 13.  The 1942 NFL Championship game saw the Washington Redskins upset the Bears of Chicago by one score in a 14-6 final. Bob Carroll in a great write up in the Professional Football Researchers Association periodical “The Coffin Corner” Volume 18 in 1996 sets the scene. The Bears if you remember from an earlier edition of the Football History Headlines destroyed the Redskins in an embarrassing 73-0 drubbing in the 1940 NFL Title Game. Carroll goes on to remind us that the ‘42 Bears at 11-0 were probably even a stronger adversary for the 10-1 Washington squad to face than two years earlier. With memories of the 73 point humiliation on their minds the Redskins came into this contest literally loaded for “Bear.”  After a scoreless first stanza the Bears changed the scoreboard with a 52 scoop and score of a Washington fumble. The Redskins responded with Sammy Baugh  threw a 39 yard touchdown pass to Wilt Moore and Washington took the lead into the half with the successful PAT. The Redskins continued to frustrate the Bears offense and used their own offensive weapon running back Andy Farkas pounded the heart of the Bears defense on ten carries of an 80 yard scoring drive. This was all the Redskins needed to go with their stifling defense to win the NFL Title! 

December 13, 1969 - The Continental Football League plays its final game as it disbanded in 1970. The Continental according to the Fun While it Lasted website was started in 1965 and in its 5 seasons heralded 44 teams in its brief history as it combined teams from multiple second tier leagues such as the Texas Football League and others to make a very widespread diverse group.

December 13, 1973 - According to the historyofcollegefootball.com website Penn State Running Back John Cappelletti gave his moving Heisman Trophy acceptance speech.  As we discussed earlier this week on the Football History Headlines Cappelletti dedicated the trophy to his ailing younger brother Joey who had leukemia.

December 13, 1997 - The 63rd Heisman Trophy was quite historic as it was the first time according to Heisman.com that since college football shifted to a two platoon of an offensive team and a defensive team that a two way player won the coveted Trophy. That player was Michigan’s cornerback, Charles Woodson. The Junior compiled some great stats in the 1997 season as he picked off 7 passes and registered 43 tackles on defense. On the offensive side of the ball he put up one touchdown on 11 receptions for 231 yards and his kick return yardage set up many more successful Wolverine drives. It was all around great play like this that Woodson earned the Heisman over a Tennessee quarterback named Peyton Manning who had some phenomenal numbers of his own.

December 13, 1999 - The Manhattan Downtown Athletic Club handed the 65th Heisman Trophy Award to Running Back Ron Dayne of Wisconsin. Dayne put up some gaudy numbers on the ground according to Heisman.com. Dayne capped off his Senior season with 1834 yards to enter the realm that only four other players have ever accomplished in having four seasons rushing over the single season 1000 yard mark. The “Dayne Train” also set an NCAA record that still stands today when you total in his bowl games to reach a career rushing total of an amazing 7125 yards on the ground in college.

December 13, 2003 - Jason White, Oklahoma’s Senior quarterback won the 69th Heisman Trophy. White had to overcome two different ACL injuries during his collegiate career to settle into a true pocket passer style of quarterbacking according to the Heisman Trophy’s official website. From the shotgun formation White threw for 3744 yards and 40 touchdowns on only 8 interceptions to lead the Sooners to an undefeated season. Jason White also was an unanimous All-American, won the AP’s Player of the Year, the consensus Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, the Davey O’Brien Award winner and the Jim Thorpe Courage Awards.

December 13, 2010 - Auburn Tigers Quarterback Cam Newton took home the 76th Heisman Trophy Award. The Junior signal caller per the Heisman.com website took the SEC and all of NCAA football by storm as he used his legs and arm to slice through defenses. Newton registered 20 touchdowns and 1409 yards on the ground and added another 28 scores and 2589 yards through the air to take home the coveted hardware by a landslide. Cam was the 2010 AP Player of the Year and was a big reason the Tigers took home the BCS Title when they defeated Oregon in the Championship game to cap off an awesome season.

December 13, 2014 - The 80th Heisman Trophy Award went to Marcus Mariota, the nifty quarterback from the University of Oregon. Mariota set a bunch of ground breaking items according to Heisman.com as he became the first player of Polynesian descent, the first from the State of Hawaii and the very first Oregon Duck to take home the Trophy named for legendary Coach John Heisman. The Junior signal caller registered 3783 yards in passing with 38 TD and only having two tosses picked off. Mariota also used his legs as he put up another 669 yards on the ground with 14 additional TDs for the Ducks, oh and don’t forget he also hauled in a pass for a score on top of that!

December 13, 2015 - When you set an SEC record of 1986 yards rushing in a season in the age where the SEC was arguably the strongest conference in the nation you are going to take home the 81st Heisman Trophy Award. That is exactly what Derrick Henry, Alabama’s powerful running back did.Henry also tied the Conference’s touchdown mark with 23 scores according to Heisman.com. Derrick’s 339 rushing attempts along with his record yardage mentioned earlier both led the nation in collegiate football. He capped off the brilliant season by adding another bruising 158 yards against Clemson to help the Crimson Tide win the National Title.

December 13, 1911 - Louisville, Kentucky - Fred “Buzz” Borries the great Navy halfback was born. Borries according to the footballfoundation.org website scored the only TD in the 1933 Navy 7-0 victory over Notre Dame. During the 1934 Army-Navy game Buzz had 36 carries for the Midshipmen and helped set up a Slade Cutter field goal to knock off the Cadets 3-0. The National Football Foundation Selected Buzz Borries to enter into their College Football Hall of Fame in 1960. Commander Fred Borries was a decorated war hero who helped the vessels in his command win some stunning victories at sea just like he did on the gridiron earlier in life.

December 13, 1955 - Logansport, Indiana - The pride of Franklin College football program, Brad Crawford who played cornerback was born. Crawford’s uncanny speed and quickness helped him make bad days for quarterbacks who opposed the Franklin Grizzlies secondary per the NFF’s website bio on him. In 1975 he registered 9 pass interceptions and had 25 in his college career to go with an outstanding kick return average of 25.9 yards. Brad Crawford was invited to have a place in the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000 to go along with his 1986 induction into the NAIA Hall of Fame.

December 13, 1960 - Richard Dent the tenured 15 year NFL defensive end of the Chicago Bears came into this life. According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s website bio the Tennessee State product was picked by the Bears in the 1983 NFL Draft in the eight round. What a bargain find Chicago had with that pick as Dent dominated with 137.5 career sacks. Richard was part of one of the NFL’s greatest defenses, the 1985 Bears under legendary coordinator Buddy Ryan.  Dent was an All-Pro and went to the Pro Bowl 4 times each as well as being named the Super Bowl XX Most Valuable Player as he and the Bears capped off the monster season by winning it all. The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Richard Dent in 2011.

December 13, 1961- Fullerton, California - Gary Zimmerman the great tackle from the University of Oregon came into this life. Gary Z enjoyed a productive 12 year NFL career after being picked third in the 1984 Supplemental Draft by the New York Giants. Zimmerman was best known for anchoring the lines of the Minnesota Vikings and the Denver Broncos. He was so dominant that according to the profootballhof.com he earned spots on two All- Decade teams for both the 1980’s and the 1990’s. Gary also was durable for most of his career tallying 169 straight starts at one point. The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Gary Zimmerman in 2008’s class.