January 31

In this episode of the Football History Headlines, we discuss 3 Super Bowls and some great stories 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 31, 1982 - NFL Pro Bowl was played at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. The final score had the AFC squad defeating their counterparts of the NFC by the score of 16-13. There were Co-MVPs in this game as Kellen Winslow Sr. the tight end of the San Diego Chargers shared the honor with Lee Roy Selmon the standout defensive end of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

January 31, 1988 - Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego - Super Bowl XXII was not a very close one when the Denver Broncos faced the Washington Redskins. The Broncos jumped out quickly to a 10-0 lead  after Ricky Nattiel caught a John Elway pass for 56 yards and a score. But the Powerful Washington team tattled off 42 unanswered points as QB Doug Williams caught fire and threw for 340 yards and 4 TDS to help the Washington Redskins cruise to a 42-10 victory. The MVP was Doug Williams per the Pro Football Reference website.

January 31, 1993 - Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California - Super Bowl XXVII had some special historic moments, the Buffalo Bills became the second team since the early 1970’s Dolphins to play in three straight Super Bowls. It is interesting that this would be the third different NFC East team that the Bills would meet in this run of Super Bowls for them. The Cowboys were just 4 seasons removed from having a League worst 1-15 record. Super Bowl XXVII was shaped up to be interesting indeed, but one team came in a bit more prepared than the other. According to the American Football Fandom site Dallas forced a Super Bowl record nine turnovers —four interceptions and five lost fumbles and scored 35 points off of those Bills miscues. The Dallas Cowboys won in a landslide 52-17 over the Bills. Troy Aikman, the quarterback of the Cowboys, won the Most Valuable Player  honors as he tossed four touchdown passes and racked up 273 yards through the air. Another interesting note was that a 30 second commercial spot cost $850,000.

January 31, 1999 - Pro Player Stadium, Miami, Florida - Super Bowl XXXIII featured the Dirty Birds of the Atlanta Falcons facing the AFC Champs the Denver Broncos. Denver was the defending champs as a year earlier they had defeated Green Bay for the franchise’s first championship per the PFR. Quarterback John Elway was getting a little long in the tooth but his mastery of the offense was never in doubt. The Falcons were appearing in their first Super Bowl led by Quarterback Chris Chandler and running back Jamal Anderson. The Broncos were a little too much for upstart Atlanta though as they grounded the Falcons 34-19. Elway who threw for 336 yards and a touchdown took home the MVP trophy and traveled to Disney. A 30 second commercial during this Super Bowl would set you back a cool $1.6 million.

January 31, 2010 - Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens - The NFL Pro Bowl game had the AFC one upping the NFC, 41-34. The MVP of the game was Matt Schaub, the Houston Texans signal caller.

January 31, 2016 -  Aloha Stadium, Honolulu - NFL Pro Bowl Team Irvin defeated Team Rice, 49-27 as the NFL was still in the series of games where two legends would divide the Pro Bowl players up instead of playing Conference versus Conference. The dual Most Valuable Players were Seattle Seahawk players Quarterback Russell Wilson and Defensive End Michael Bennett.

January 31, 1909 - Hinsdale, Illinois - Bert Metzger the guard from Notre Dame was born. The National Football Foundation voters selected Bert Metzger to gain entrance into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1982.

January 31, 1913 - Pine Bluff, Arkansas - The fine Alabama End Don Hutson celebrated his birth. Don Hutson had no trouble gaining entrance into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963. 

January 31, 1913 - Roxbury, Massachusetts - Wayne Millner the legendary end from the University of Notre Dame was born. According to the National Football Foundation’s bio on him,  "Double L" Millner was a hero in two spectacular Fighting Irish wins during a dismal season otherwise in South Bend in 1933. Notre Dame had won only two of its first eight games and was scheduled against the unbeaten Army team. With one minute to play Notre Dame trailed the Cadets by 6. With his legendary teammate, Moose Krause, leading the the way for him, Millner blocked an Army punt and recovered it for a touchdown. Notre Dame won 13-12 on the last minute heroics! Another story had Millner catching a late touchdown pass from QB Bill Shakespeare with 32 seconds left to lift the Irish to a 18-13 victory over Ohio State in a battle of unbeatens. He ended up having the honor of All-American status in two different seasons.  The National Football Foundation selected Wayne Millner in 1990 to enter into the College Football Hall of Fame. After college Millner joined the Boston Redskins and played 11 seasons for them, being interrupted briefly for his military service during the war. When he retired he was the top pass catcher in Redskins history. Probably his highlight game was in the 1937 NFL Championship game where he caught TD passes of 55 and 78 yards. The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Wayne Millner in 1968.


January 31, 1938 - Oakland, California - The great Stanford end Chris Burford was born. The National Football Foundation voters chose the legacy of Chris Burford to enter into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1995.

January 31, 1953 - Brenham, Texas - Roosevelt Leaks the running back from Texas University arrived into this life. Leaks was the first African American Texas Longhorns player to earn All-America honors according to the NFF. Roosevelt Leaks finished his collegiate career with 2,923 yards and 26 touchdowns in just three seasons and was recognized as a  consensus All-America selection in 1973. The National Football Foundation selected Roosevelt Leaks to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006.

The picture in the banner above is from the US Library of Congress' collection and was taken by photographer Carol M. Highsmith and is titled " Dallas Cowboys and the Denver Broncos at the Cowboys' home field AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas " What brilliant camera work!