July 20

Here is what happened on July 20 on Football History: Barry Sanders and Charles Woodson inked deals; while the trade of a superstar Jason Taylor took place in Miami; and we celebrate the accomplishments of Dan Rooney, Pa Corbin, Dick Stanfel, among others, on the birthday.

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!

The picture in the banner above is from the US Library of Congress' collection and was contributed by The Transatlantic Publishing Co., 53 Fifth Avenue, New York  circa 1894 and is titled " Football and Love : A story of the Yale-Princeton game of '94 by Butt W. McIntosh ("Taffy"), illustrated by B. West Clinedinst, decorative designs by Hooper, price 50 cents."

The Newspapers.com Football History Headline of the Day comes from the July 21, 1986 Daily Advertiser in Lafayette, Louisiana when they printed this headline:

USFL Gave Hebert Needed Exposure

The article discussed the mass exodus of USFL players who were terminating their contracts enmass with the cash strapped United States Football League and in particular star Oakland Invaders Quarterback Bobby Hebert was one that was talking quite a bit about it. Other USFL players such as Joe Cribbs of the Birmingham Stallions, Herschel Walker and Doug Flutie  and many more were all in negotiations with NFL clubs.

July 20, 1994 - Former NFL RB O.J. Simpson offers a $500,000 reward for information/evidence given for the killer of his wife, Nicole.

July 20, 1997 - The Detroit Lions re-signed Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders to a 6-year, $33.5 million contract extension. The NFL.com shares that Sanders only played 2 seasons of this contract before at the age of 30 years old, the former Oklahoma State star retired from playing football in 1998. Those two season of the contract that he did play he led NFL with 2,053 rush yards in 1997 which was the fourth highest rushing total for a season in League history and he was chosen with Packers Quarterback Brett Favre to be Co-MVP of the NFL after that same season.

July 20, 1998 - Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson from Michigan signed his rookie contract with the Raiders after he was chosen with the fourth overall selection in the1998 NFL Draft according to the NFL.com.

July 20, 2008 - A monster trade went down when the Miami Dolphins traded future Hall of Fame pass rusher Jason Taylor to Washington for two draft picks. The NFL.com website says that 2006 AP Defensive Player of the Year played just one season with D.C. before being waived in 2009. Taylor then rejoined the Dolphins roster for the 2009 & 2011 seasons and squeezed a one season cup of coffee with the New York Jets in 2010 in between.

• July 20, 1864 - Hartford, Connecticut - William "Pa" Corbin was a center on the 1886 through 1888 Yale University teams and played so well that he earned his spot in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1969. The National Football Foundation's website says that Corbin's very appearance demanded respect as he was tall and had prominant facial bone structure, and he received nothing but loyalty and support from his teammates as he led Yale during football's pioneer era per the National Football Foundation. "The captain should be the real leader," he said, appraising his position among his peers. "He should be able to say 'come on' instead of 'go on.' He should be a strategist, always checking the signals and often changing them. Quarterbacks may come and go, but the captain should always be largely responsible for the tactics and the success of the plays." Corbin was the fireplug and catalyst of the great Yale teams he played on. In the 1888 season, his senior year, Pa was the captain of the squad that went undefeated and outscored their opponents 698 -0! Yale's record was 31-0-1 in his career. 
• July 20, 1920 - New York City, New York - Frank Merritt was a tackle from 1942 to 1943 with Army that entered into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996. According to the National Football Foundation, Frank was selected as an All-America team member in 1942 and 1943. Mr. Merritt served as the Athletic Director for the United States Air Force Academy from 1967 through 1974. 
• July 20, 1927 - San Francisco, California - Dick Stanfel Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined guard that played for the Detroit Lions and later the Washington Redskins. He was a two way player for the University of San Francisco. Prior to college Mr. Stanfel served in the US Army. Dick suffered an injury just before the College All-Star game in Chicago and missed the majoirty of the 1951 season. Through pateince and diligent rehab his body recovered and he had a sensational 1952 season. In fact the Lions advanced to the NFL championship game in the first three seasons in which Stanfel played. He was a standout player on the Lion's NFL Championship teams of 1952 & 1953.   According to the ProFootballHOF.com Stanfel made the Pro Bowl in four of the seven seasons he played in the NFL. After his playing days he put in another 35 years of coaching, mostly offensive lines, on teams such as Notre Dame, Cal, the Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, New Orleans Saints. His total football career as a player and coach spanned over 50 years! 
• July 20, 1932 - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - Dan Rooney was the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2000 enshrined former owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Mr. Rooney guided the Steelers franchise to 6 Super Bowl Titles, the first two with the assistance of his father Art Rooney Sr. One of his greatest contributions to the NFL was his inception of the Rooney Rule that established a protocol for teams to follow when hiring a head coach to give minorities an opportunity to be interviewed for the positions. Dan was integral in the operation of the franchise, working in many different positions and capacities through out the years. When Three Rivers Stadium was being planned in the 1960s, Rooney fought for and got a dual-purpose stadium design, rather than a horseshoe shape that would have favored baseball. In 1975 he was selected to the position of franchise President. Mr. Rooney also served as the US Ambassador to Ireland under the Obama administration.
• July 20, 1945 - Grenwood, South Carolina - Jake Scott was a safety from Georgia that was enrolled into the College Football Hall of Fame in the entry class of 2011. Besides playing defensive back, Jake was also an excellent punt returner for the Bulldogs from 1967-68, leading the Bulldogs to an SEC championship his final year in Athens. In addition to making numerous All-America teams in 1968, he was named the SEC's Most Valuable Player by the Nashville Banner per the National Football Foundation. Mr. Scott later played in the NFL as a member of both the Dolphins and the Redskins. In Miami he went to 5 consecutive Pro Bowls as he recorded an amazing 35 interceptions in 5 years with the orange and blue. In Washington he added another 14 picks in 3 seasons.

For more stats on football people born on July 20th check out Pro Football Reference.

See something that happened on this date that we missed? Please let us know via email at PigskinDispatch@gmail.com.

We will provide you with a little bit of football nostalgia. This daily football history segment features the Great events, Franchise formation anniversaries as well as the birthdays of notable players, coaches or anyone else in our great game.