July 22

Here is what happened in Football History on July 22: Don Hutson called it quits, and President Nixon gets it right for the NFL fans, as the sports/entertainment bigwigs have it all wrong. That is the case in today's chronicle of football history! As well as many more Hall of Fame Legendary stories.

Gridiron ghosts are stirring! Today's date is etched in the annals of NFL history. From legendary comebacks to record-breaking performances and monumental trades to heart-wrenching defeats, the pigskin has witnessed its share of drama today. Let's take a trip down memory lane and revisit the iconic moments, game-changing plays, and unforgettable figures that forever marked their place in the grand narrative of professional football. So, gear up, football fans, as we delve into the captivating stories that unfolded on this historic day in the NFL!

July 22, 1943 - Our Newspapers.com Football History Headline of the Day is from an article found in the that day's edition of the Harrisburgh Telegraph in Pennsylvania. 

Don Hutson Will Quit Pro Football Ranks

The article stated that Green Bay Packers star receiver Don Hutson confirmed that he would not be returning to the NFL to play in the upcoming season after setting 16 different records the year prior. Speculation was that Hutson made his decision to retire after quarterback Cecil Isbell announced that he was leaving the pro circuit to coach at Purdue. Hutson refuted these claims and said his decision to leave the playing field was made long before Isbell's. Despite these reports the Alabama Antelope played all the way through the 1945 season. We will assume the war effort limiting the amount of Pro players available and the persuasive manner of one Coach Curly Lambeau could have helped sway Hutson to return to the Packers.

Nixon Makes the News & We Tell His Ties to the Gridiron

July 22, 1955 - Richard Millhouse Nixon becomes the first Vice-President of the U.S. in history to oversee a cabinet meeting. Nixon was a great fan of football. He did not play much but was on the football team at California's Whittier College. In old photo's he was seen wearing the jersey numbers of 12 and 23. Later when he became POTUS he is creditted with signing legislation to force the NFL to televise all playoff games in all markets, much to the chagrin of then NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle. So though "Tricky Dick" may have been a "crook" despite his claims that he was not, he did force the NFL to put playoff games on TV for all us to watch for free in our homes.

July 22, 1966 - Tim Brown Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined wide receiver that played for the Raiders along with a short stint with the Tampa Bay Bucaneers. Mr. Brown had a stellar college career at the University of Notre Dame even earning the covetted Heisman Trophy in 1987, and because of his fine play he was selected to enter the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009 per the National Football Foundation. As a pro Brown recorded 9 consecutive 1000 receiving yard seasons from 1993 through 2001.

For more stats on football people born on July 22nd 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.