July 9

Today, July 9th, marks a unique date in the annals of American football, a day that, while perhaps not overflowing with gridiron action, holds a surprising place in the sport's rich history. From the very foundations of a legendary NFL franchise to significant moments that shaped the game, this seemingly quiet summer day has witnessed its share of noteworthy events.

Join us as we explore the often-overlooked but impactful history of American football on July 9th. We'll uncover the genesis of a team that would become a cornerstone of the NFL and delve into other intriguing tidbits that illustrate the sport's continuous evolution. Prepare to discover how this specific date, seemingly ordinary, contributes to the grand tapestry of football's past.

July 9, 1932 - Boston Braves/Redskins/ Washington Redskins franchise is granted by the NFL. A group headed by George Preston Marshall, which included Vincent Bendix, Jay O'Brien, and Dorland Doyle, was given the remnants of the defunct Newark Tornadoes, which folded at the end of the 1930 season.

The Washington NFL franchise, now known as the Commanders, began its journey in Boston in 1932 as the Boston Braves. Founded by an ambitious businessman named George Preston Marshall, the team initially shared Braves Field with the city's National League baseball team, leading to their original moniker. However, after incurring financial losses in their inaugural season, Marshall became the sole owner.

In 1933, Marshall decided to move the team to Fenway Park and, to avoid confusion with the baseball Braves, he changed the team's name to the Boston Redskins. This name choice was reportedly influenced by the team's head coach, William Henry "Lone Star" Dietz, who claimed Native American ancestry. Despite a winning record in 1936, Marshall grew dissatisfied with fan support in Boston and made the pivotal decision to relocate the franchise.

Thus, in 1937, the team moved to Washington, D.C., becoming the Washington Redskins. Marshall, a visionary showman, transformed the team into an entertainment spectacle, introducing innovations like a marching band and a fight song, "Hail to the Redskins," both firsts in the NFL. This move cemented the team's place in the nation's capital, where it would build a passionate fan base and achieve significant success, including NFL championships in its early years in Washington. The franchise would operate under the Redskins name for over eight decades before its eventual change to the Washington Football Team in 2020 and then the Commanders in 2022, following decades of controversy over the name's derogatory nature.

July 9, 1933 - The Frankford Yellow Jackets are sold and renamed the Eagles as the franchise is moved to Philadelphia. 

The origins of the Philadelphia Eagles NFL franchise are deeply rooted in the tumultuous early days of professional football, emerging from the ashes of a predecessor team. The story begins not with the Eagles, but with the Frankford Yellow Jackets, a successful independent football club from the Frankford section of Philadelphia that joined the NFL in 1924 and even captured the NFL Championship in 1926. However, the economic hardships of the Great Depression proved too much for the Yellow Jackets, and they went bankrupt, ceasing operations midway through the 1931 season.

After more than a year of searching for a new Philadelphia franchise, the NFL found a solution in a syndicate led by two former University of Pennsylvania teammates: Lud Wray and Bert Bell. On July 8, 1933, this group purchased the assets of the defunct Yellow Jackets franchise for $2,500. While the Eagles inherited the NFL rights to the Philadelphia market, they officially consider themselves a new and separate franchise, not a continuation of the Yellow Jackets.

Inspired by the "Blue Eagle" symbol of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's National Recovery Act, a key part of the New Deal, Bell and Wray named their new team the Philadelphia Eagles. Bert Bell, a visionary figure who would later become NFL Commissioner and is credited with proposing the NFL Draft, served as the team's first president and general manager, with Wray taking on coaching duties.

The early years of the Eagles were challenging, marked by financial struggles and limited on-field success. Despite these difficulties, the establishment of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1933 laid the groundwork for one of the NFL's most enduring and passionate franchises, creating a legacy that continues to this day.

July 9, 2018 - Billionaire David Tepper purchases ownership of the Carolina Panthers for an NFL record $2.275 billion. Tepper was quoted as saying, "I am thrilled to begin this new era of Carolina Panthers football and am humbled by the overwhelming excitement and support for the team."

The new owner is the founder and CEO of global hedge fund Appaloosa Management and had a net worth of over $11 billion. He had recently relinquished his 5% minority stake in the Pittsburgh Steelers by selling it, so as to be free to invest in the Panthers. Tepper promised to keep the Panthers in Charlotte, the city they started in in 1993.

Nile Kinnick won the Heisman Trophy in 1939 as a consensus All-American halfback, as he also claimed the rights to the Maxwell and Walter Camp trophies. Mr. Kinnick was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951. The Hawkeyes renamed their stadium after the star back in 1972 to Kinnick Stadium. He suffered an untimely death serving his country during World War II.