January 19

In this episode of the Football History Headlines, we discuss the founding of the CFL and the Tuck Rule Game as well as many more Hall of Fame Legendary stories.

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!

January 19, 1952 - NFL took control of the New York Yanks according to a story on ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com. The Yanks who really got their League start in 1945 when the Brooklyn team reassembled the Yanks franchise that left the NFL in the mid 1940’s and went into the All-America Football Conference. They played as the AAFC’s Boston Yanks for three seasons  from 1946-1948. In 1949, the franchise changed homes again and returned to the Big Apple and became the New York Bulldogs and played at the Polo Grounds along with the New York Giants. The 1950 season had the Bulldogs change their name back to the Yanks. Later in 1952, the NFL purchased the Yanks from owner Ted Collins. The franchise then moved to Texas for the upcoming season, and the club donned the Dallas Texans moniker. It was not a good move as the team was not very good and fan support in the Dallas area was not strong. The team struggled, losing 11 of 12 games. By season’s end, the league was running the team and had moved the headquarters to Hershey, Pennsylvania. In the end, the Texans finally folded operations and as we discussed in the January 18 edition of the Football History Headlines they eventually morphed into the second rendition of the Baltimore Colts.

January 19, 1958 - The Canadian Football League is officially founded. According to an article on the CFLHOF.ca the LEague is the highest level of competition of professional football in Canada.

January 19, 1964 - Balboa Stadium, San Diego, California - The 3rd annual AFL All Star Game resulted in the Western Division outlasting the Eastern Division by the close score of 27-24. The Most Valuable Players was LA Chargers rushing weapon Keith Lincoln and Archie Matsos, a linebacker of the Oakland Raiders franchise per Onthisday.com.

January 19, 1969 - Gator Bowl, Jacksonville - The 8th AFL All Star Game had a change of venue. In the game it was the Western Division Stars who vanquished their Eastern Division rivals 38-25. According to the RemembertheAFL.com website the MVPs were Len Dawson the great quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Oilers linebacker, George Webster. This game took place one week after the AFL had possibly its greatest triumph ever when the Jets defeated the Colts in what later became known as Super Bowl III.

January 19, 1969 - LA Memorial Coliseum - 19th NFL Pro Bowl had the West edging out the East, 10-7 per the Onthisday.com web pages. The Most Valuable Players were appropriately for the home crowd both Los Angeles Rams as Merlin Olsen the defensive tackle and Quarterback Roman Gabriel took home the honors.  

January 19, 2002 - "Tuck Rule Game"  or the AFC Divisional Playoff Game where with less than 2 minutes to play in regulation the New England Patriots were trailing the Oakland Raiders, 13-10 in a driving snowstorm. The American Football Database says that the Patriots drove the ball down the field and while they were still slightly out of field goal range, Tom Brady dropped back to pass and then was hit by a blitzing Charles Woodson of the Raiders jarring the ball out of Brady’s hand. Raiders linebacker Greg Biekert dove on the ball, and was initially credited with a recovered fumble. The on field officials ruled that it was a fumble but after instant replay reviewed the play, that call was overturned and then ruled an incomplete pass. They said that Brady’s arm was moving forward. The Patriots tied the game on a field goal a few moments later and then won  the game in overtime 16-13.

OnthisDay.com Conference Championship Scoreboard.

January 19, 2003 - Network Associates Coliseum, Oakland - Oakland Raiders beat Tennessee Titans, 41-24 in the AFC Championship game.

January 19, 2003 - NFC Championship, Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia: Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat Philadelphia Eagles, 27-10

January 19, 2014 - Mile High Stadium, Denver- In the AFC Championship, the Denver Broncos knocked off the New England Patriots, 26-16 to advance to the Super Bowl.

January 19, 2014 - CenturyLink Field, Seattle - The  Seattle Seahawks outlasted the San Francisco 49ers by the score of 23-17 at the NFC Championship.

January 19, 2020 - Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara - The results of the NFC Championship game was that the San Francisco 49ers thwarted the Green Bay Packers, 37-20.

January 19, 2020 - Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City - The AFC Championship game for the 2019 season found the Kansas City Chiefs defeating the Tennessee Titans, 35-24.

January 19, 1892  - Natick, Massachusetts - The tough Harvard fullback Eddie Mahan was born. 

January 19, 1932 - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - Joe Schmidt the swift linebacker from the University of Pittsburgh arrived into this life. The footballfoundation.org site says that going into the October 1952 game that Pitt had lost eight straight seasons  to the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. As Captain of the team Joe asked for a player only meeting five minutes prior to taking the field.  That’s when Joe Schmidt  took the locker room floor and made a rousing speech. He told his teammates they must win this game. The talk must have inspired the team as they knocked Notre Dame 22-19. The International News Service namedJoe as an All-American linebacker. The NFF selected Joe Schmidt to enter into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1971. After college Joe played with the Detroit Lions. In his 13 seasons in the NFL Schmidt was an all-pro linebacker eight times., went to 10 straight Pro Bowls and registered 24 interceptions. Joe Scmidt was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1973.

January 19, 1947 - Shelbyville, Indiana - Purdue’s former excellent Quarterback Mike Phipps was born. The footballfoundation.org website bio of Phipps says that in just his second game after taking over for a graduating Bob Griese his picture was put him on the cover of Sports Illustrated as he threw for two scores over top-ranked Notre Dame. In his Junior season he guided the Boilermakers to a win over Notre Dame in a number one vs., number two match-up. As a senior he became a unanimous All-America selection and the runner up in the Heisman Trophy race. The National Football Foundation in 2006 selected Mike Phips to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. After graduation Phipps was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the first round of the NFL draft as the third overall selection. He played for 12 NFL seasons with the Browns and Chicago Bears.

January 19, 1969 - San Diego, California - Junior Seau the outstanding linebacker from Southern Cal was received into this world.  Seau played an amazing 20 seasons in the NFL as he was first drafted in the first round by his hometown San Diego Chargers in 1990 according to his bio on the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  In 1992 was voted as the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Junior was an All Pro 8 times and played in 12 Pro Bowls. In 1994, he led the Chargers to their first and only Super Bowl appearance. Junior Seau was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.  

January 19, 1974 - Aliceville, Alabama - The great Florida State Offensive Tackle Walter Jones celebrated his birth. Walter was chosen in the 1997 NFL Draft as the 6th player taken overall by the Seattle Seahawks. Per the Profootballhof.com Jones plates 12 seasons and made it to 9 Pro Bowls all with Seattle.  Walter Jones in 2014 had his football legacy placed into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.