June 8

We're diving into the archives to revisit the headlines that rocked the NFL landscape. From legendary draft-day decisions that changed franchises to record-breaking performances that left fans in awe, get ready to relive the electrifying moments that shaped the game we love. So, lace up your cleats and join us as we explore the captivating stories from the gridiron's rich past!

This day goes down in football history as the BIG AFL-NFL Merger Announcement day and we remember it along with some fantastic players in either the College or Pro Football Hall of Fame born on this date! 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 Hall of Fame players, coaches or anyone else in our great game and many more  Legendary stories of the Gridiron.

The picture in the banner above is from the US Library of Congress' collection and was contributed by multiple contributors circa 1968 and is titled " The Houston Astrodome ." Per the Library of Congress description It was Originally called the Harris County Domed Stadium, the Astrodome was completed in 1964. Conceived as the home of the Houston Colts and Houston Oilers, it was termed by many as the Eighth Wonder of the World. It was the first time that a stadium was built for both baseball and football that was totally enclosed and fully air-conditioned. The building covers 9.14 acres of land. Circular in shape, the outer diameter of the Astrodome is 710' and the clear span of the dome roof is 642'

The Newspapers.com Football History Headline of the Day comes from the June 9, 1966 Danville Register in Danville, Virginia when it had the headline of:

NFL, AFL Announce Plans for Merger Into Giant Loop!

Yes the report was true, this was the merger that did the most to form the behemoth of the National Football League in one swoop. 

June 8, 1966- The NFL and AFL anounced that they were officially merging into one league. Under the merger agreement the two would operate under the National Football League name as the NFC and the AFC and use the NFL logo. They agreed to play seperate regular season schedules and then play each other in a post season championship which eventually became known as the Super Bowl. In 1970 the schedules and teams reorganized into one league with two conferences. A press release from the meeting stated: "The NFL and AFL today announced plans to join into an expanded major professional football league. It will consist of 26 teams in 25 cities - with the expectation of additional teams in the near future." The group announcement went on to say, "The Main points of the plan include; Pete Rozelle woill be the Commissioner, A world championship game this season (1966 season) , All existing franchises retained, two new franchises no later than 1968." The World Championship game referred to would become what we now call Super Bowl I. The two new franchises would be the New Orleans Saints in the NFL and the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFL. 

June 8, 1917 - Fort Collins, Colorado - Byron “Whizzer” White the great University of Colorado halfback from 1935 to 1937 was born. The NFF voters chose Byron Whizzer White to be inducted into their College Football Hall of Fame in 1954. Whizzer White played pro football with Pittsburgh in 1938, studied at Oxford University in England in 1939, played professionally with Detroit in 1940- 1941. 

June 8, 1928 - Ogilvie, Minnesota - The University of Minnesota’s two-way center/linebacker from 1946 through the 1949 season, Clayton Tonnemaker was welcomed into the world. Clayton earned unanimous All-America honors as a senior in 1949 when he captained Bernie Bierman's powerhouse Golden Gophers per his bio on the FootballFoundation.org website. Tonnemaker helped the Gophers to a 25-11 record during his four years on the varsity squad. Most famously Clayton was a co-captain of the Chicago College All-Star squad which defeated the NFL Champion Philadelphia Eagles 17-7. The collegiate gridiron legacy of Clayton Tonnemaker was placed with honor into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1980. 

June 8, 1939 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Herb Adderley is a Pro Football Hall of Fame member that had played Defensive Back for the Green Bay Packers and ended his career with the Dallas Cowboys.