February 9

In this episode of the Football History Headlines, we discuss an early agreement between the AFL and the NFL, The start of the Ravens franchise and a famous NFL broadcaster jumps network as well as many more HOF Legendary stories.

Football history enthusiasts, delve into the gridiron's past! On this very date, history unfolded on the field in several ways. We might be celebrating a record-breaking performance by a legendary player, a trade that sent shockwaves through the league, or even the birth of a new franchise that would leave its mark on the game. Let's lace up our cleats and travel back in time to see what iconic moments transpired on this date in American football history!

February 9, 1960 - AFL & NFL agreed verbally to a no tampering pact. According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s website the verbal pact between the then rival professional football league’s pertained to player contracts. It might just be the first thing that these two organizations did agree upon in the early 1960’s per the NFLPA.

February 9, 1960 - Eddie Erdelatz appointed as first head coach of Raiders. Eddie stayed on the sideline for two seasons in Oakland but they parted ways in late 1961 after his teams recorded a dismal 8-20 record in the AFL per the Raiders.com.

February 9, 1996 -  The Baltimore Ravens franchise is officially announced by the League office. The Ravens were the franchise that formerly called Cleveland home. On February 8, 1996 Art Modell the owner of the franchise learned that the Browns’ nickname belonged to the City of Cleveland and would not leave with his franchise.

February 9, 2002 - Aloha Stadium, Honolulu -  At the NFL Pro Bowl for the 2001 season the AFC streaked past the NFC, 38-30. Oakland Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon won the MVP of the game.

February 9, 2006 - Legendary play-by-play man Al Michaels joins NBC's "Sunday Night Football" broadcast with John Madden. Al had formerly worked with ABC sports for the better part of 3 decades. Michaels had a breadth of experience in covering NFL games prior to this move as he had been a mainstay for almost 20 seasons as part of ABC’s Monday Night Football. At the time of this writing in 2021, Michaels had just completed his 15th season as the voice of Sunday Night Football.

February 9, 1950 - San Angelo, Texas - The awesome Offensive Tackle from the Angelo State Rams Rod Cason was born.The Football Foundation says Rod was a three time NAIA All American selection and assisted the Rams to three winning seasons and, in 1971, a berth in the NAIA semifinal playoffs.  Rod Cason was honored with induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2002 after the National Football Foundation tallied their votes. He made it into the NFL and played for the New England Patriots.

February 9, 1952 - Mesa, Arizona - The legendary quarterback from Arizona State University Danny White celebrated the day of his birth. White guided the Sun Devils to an outstanding record of 32-4 during his time at the helm of the ASU offense and helped his team with three straight Fiesta Bowls in the early 1970s. The NFF tells of how White led the nation in pass efficiency and was named All-America in 1973.  Danny held Arizona State records for the most yards gained by passing in a career, 6717 and most touchdown passes, 64. At probably his pinnacle collegiate game against New Mexico in 1971 he threw six touchdown passes! The National Football Foundation selected Danny White for entrance into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1998. When Danny left college he joined the Memphis Southmen  sometimes remembered as the the Grizzlies of the World Football League. When the WFL folded two years later Danny was picked up by the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL and was a long time quarterback and punter for the franchise.

February 9, 1957 - Dan Ross the former tight end from Northeastern University in Boston was born. Dan Ross received the great honor of being selected for inclusion into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

The photo above titled " Edward William Schacht in football uniform 1933 " in Oxford, Ohio and was taken by an unknown photographer and was collected and distributed courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.