January 21

In this episode of the Football's History Headlines, we discuss Super Bowl XIII between the Cowboys and the Steelers as well as many more HOF Legendary stories.

January 21, 1949 - According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame this marks the day that the New York Bulldogs/Yanks franchise began. As we alluded to in our January 19 post, the Yanks 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 per the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 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.  

January 21, 1967 - Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum - The results of the 6th AFL All Star Game were that the Eastern Division knocked off the Western Division, 30-23. According to the RemembertheAFL.com the game’s MVPs were Babe Parilli the quarterback of the  Boston Patriots and the great defensive end of the New York Jets Verlon Biggs.

January 21, 1968 - Gator Bowl, Jacksonville -  The Eastern Division of the AFL must have liked playing on January 20. Because at the 7th AFL All Star Game the Eastern Division once again got one over on their Western Division rivals by the score of 25-24 per the RemembertheAFL.com.  A couple of New York Jets were voted as the offensive Most Valuable Players as Quarterback Joe Namath and Don Maynard shared that spotlight and the defensive MVP of the game was Speedy Duncan of LA Charger who played defensive back and also returned kicks. Duncan muffed an early punt that the West recovered and later scored on but his  90 yard kickoff return later in the game made up for it.

January 21, 1968 - LA Memorial Coliseum - 18th NFL Pro Bowl according to the American Football Database was won by the Western Division as they outscored their Eastern counterparts, 38-20. Otto Graham of Washington coached the East while matching wits with the Colts Don Shula. Graham took some heat from his players when he benched QB Fran Tarkenton in the 4th quarter because of who Tarkenton was and the game being a charity exhibition. The Most Valuable Players were Gale Sayers of the Chicago Bears and Green Bay’s Dave Robinson. The MVP honor was the second season in a row that Sayers earned.

January 21, 1973 - Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas - The 23rd NFL Pro Bowl story was covered once again by the American Football Database. In the contest The Steelers Chuck Noll coached the AFC and faced the man in the fedora Tom Landry who was coaching the NFC. The AFC edged out the NFC, 33-28. The game’s MVP was O. J. Simpson the running back of the Buffalo Bills. The winners cashed out $2000 per man while the NFC players got $1500 in the loss.

January 21, 1979 - Miami Orange Bowl, Miami - Super Bowl XIII may be one of the greatest NFL Championships ever played according to a 247Sports.com article. The two top teams of the era squared off with Hall of Fame Coaches, Tom Landry on the Dallas Cowboys sideline while the Pittsburgh Steelers strategist was Chuck Noll.  The game was heavily hyped in the build up of the game and it really lived up to everyone’s expectation and probably surpassed it. The game was a rematch of Super Bowl X played 3 years earlier where the Steelers  won 21-17.  The game had a still standing record of 19 future Pro Football Hall of Famers who were at the game. Nol, Landry, Tex Schramm the Cowboys GM, Pittsburgh owners Art and Dan Rooney and assistant coaches for Dallas Mike Ditka and Ernie Stautner.  Part of the pregame hype was Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson mocking Terry Bradshaw’s intelligence and this enraged many of the Steelers players. Henderson even had a big hit on T.B. that caused a fumble resulting in Dallas only lead but the Blonde Bomber overcame 3 turnovers to have a great second half.  His throws put receivers Lynn Swann and John Stalworth both over 100 yards receiving on the day, a Super Bowl record for having two on the same team. Dallas had its chance at the end but Tight End Jackie Smith dropped a wide open, sure touchdown pass in the end zone with the Cowboys facing 3rd and three from the Steelers ten yard-line in the third quarter and Dallas had to kick a field goal. The Pittsburgh Steelers were victorious over the Dallas Cowboys, 35-31. The game’s MVP was Terry Bradshaw. One final note is that this was the final Super Bowl ever played at the Orange Bowl. Five of the first thirteen were played there including the first matchup of these two teams in Super Bowl X and the great Jet versus Colts game in Super Bowl III.

January 21, 1992 - Bill Cowher is announced as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, becoming only the second head coach of the team since 1970. He replaced legend Chuck Noll, who has stepped down after 23 seasons at the helm.

January 21, 2007 - RCA Dome, Indianapolis - The Pro-Football Reference.com states that at the AFC Championship game the Indianapolis Colts outlasted the New England Patriots, 38-34. Running back Joseph Addai completed a late Colts go ahead drive at the 1:00 mark of the fourth quarter in this classic Peyton Manning versus Tom Brady contest.

January 21, 2007 - The NFC Championship was played at Soldier Field in Chicago. The Pro-Football Reference.com lists the Chicago Bears beating up on the New Orleans Saints, 39-14 to advance to Super Bowl XLI.

January 21, 2018 - Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia -The Philadelphia Eagles crushed the hopes of the Minnesota Vikings, 38-7 in the NFC Championship game.

January 21, 2018 - At theAFC Championship played at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough. Mass. The New England Patriots edges out the Jacksonville Jaguars, 24-20.

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January 21, 1901 - Bell Buckle, Tennessee - Lynn Bomar the Cllege Hall of Fame end from Vanderbilt was born. 

January 21, 1925 - Chicago, Illinois - Holy Cross and Notre Dame lineman George Connor arrived into this life. Irish Coach Frank Leahy claimed Conner as one of the best blockers he had ever seen. The NFF states that during Connor's two seasons in an Irish uniform, he never played in a losing game. Connor played eight years with the Chicago Bears and was an all-pro and was Al- NFL 5 times. George Connor was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1975.  

January 21, 1957 - Pasadena, Texas - Jacob Green the fine Texas A&M defensive lineman was born. The National Football Foundation selected Jacob Green to be inducted into their the College Football Hall of Fame in 2019.

January 21, 1975 - Wichita Falls, Texas - Aaron Taylor the former Nebraska offensive lineman was born. The National Football Foundation selected Aaron Taylor to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2018.  

The photo above in the banner  from 1936 is titled "Football" and came from Photographers Harris and Ewing and was donated to the US Library of Congress for us all to enjoy!