September 20

Here is is what happened on September 20 in football history: Sweetness sets a record; Dwight Clark's streak ended; and the first game for the Steelers!

Gridiron fans, gear up for another exciting day of football history! Dive into the archives and relive the moments that shaped the game we love. Today's headlines take us back in time, exploring everything from legendary quarterback duels that captivated a nation to groundbreaking rule changes that redefined the sport. So, whether you're a die-hard traditionalist or a stats guru, we have something for everyone. Let's lace up our virtual cleats and take a trip down memory lane!

September 20, 1933 - The Pittsburgh Steelers franchise, who were known as  the Pirates from 1933 through the 1940 seasons, played their very first game. The home team Pirates that day lost 23-2 to the New York Football Giants at old Forbes Field. It wouldn’t take the upstart team long to find victory though as the very next week the Pittsburgh Professional Football Club defeated the Chicago Cardinals 14-13 in the friendly confines of Forbes Field. Art Rooney Sr. applied for entry of his proposed franchise on May 19, 1933 and less than two months after that on July 8, 1933 then National Football League President, Joe Carr announced via a newsletter that Rooney was approved to join the 10 team league in the fall of 1933 to fill a vacancy caused by the withdrawal of the Staten Island franchise.  The team had to play early and night time weekday games until a new Pennsylvania law would allow them to play games on Sundays.  The team suffered through some dreadful losing seasons including two during World War II where they had to join forces with the Cardinals and Eagles respectively due to player shortages, for over 40 seasons until Mr. Rooney would finally have a winner. Art Rooney’s Steelers would go on to win 4 Super Bowls in the 1970’s and then add a couple more in later decades. The Rooney family still holds the majority stake of the franchise and still call the Steel City their home. 

September 20, 1986 - According to the National Football Foundation, the Miami University Redhawks from Ohio upset LSU, 21-12 in Baton Rouge! The big play was a long scoring strike from quarterback Terry Morris to receiver Andy Schillinger in the 3rd quarter. This was the ninth time that the Redhawks faced an SEC team and at the time it gave Miami a 8-0-1 record against the South-Eastern Conference teams.

September 20, 1987 - Wide Receiver Dwight Clark of the San francisco 49ers has his NFL record streak of 105 consecutive games with a reception end. Despite Clark not having a catch in the game, the visiting Niners still managed to squeak out a 27-26 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

September 20, 1987 - The great Walter Payton helped the Chicago Bears earn a 20-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as he scored an NFL record career 107th rushing touchdown.

September 20, 2003 - An NCAA Division I touchdown reception record is reached when Oklahoma State's Rashaun Woods caught 7 against a porous SMU defense per the National Football Foundation. Wood's great day helped his Ok State Cowboys leave Dallas with a 52-7 win. The record for TD catches at all levels and divisions of NCAA football is 8 scoring catches from DIvision II's Paul Zaeske of North Park University in 1968. 

September 20, 1935 - Jim Taylor was a fullback that hailed from LSU during the late 1950’s. The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Jim Taylor  in 1976

September 20, 1943 - Tommy Nobis was a former guard and linebacker from the University of Texas that played from 1963 through the 1965 seasons. Nobis as a sophomore  was one of the starters of the Longhorn team that won the University’s very first National Championship in 1963.  During his final two seasons Nobis was an All-American. Tommy also won the Maxwell Award as the nation’s best player as well as the Outland Trophy for being the top interior lineman in the country.  In 1965 the Atlanta Falcons made Tommy their very first pick in franchise history. He played for the Falcons for 11 seasons and led the team in tackles in nine of them. He was named as an All- Pro twice and played in 5 Pro Bowls. Both the Falcons and the University of Texas retired his number 60 jersey. Tommy Nobis was enshrined into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1981.

September 20, 1973 - Ronald McKinnon was a linebacker from the University of North Alabama from 1992 through the 1995 seasons.  The three-time consensus First Team All-American helped lead the North Alabama Lions to 3 consecutive NCAA Division II National Championships! Ronald is the only defensive player in the history of the award to have won the Harlon Hill Trophy. Ronald McKinnow went on to have a fruitful NFL pro career after college, starting for the Arizona Cardinals for 9 seasons and then playing a final year with the New Orleans Saints.  Mr. McKinnon was a volunteer in his football community too as he provided his service and conducted many youth football clinics in both Arizona and Alabama. The National Football Foundation placed Robert McKinnon into their College Football Hall of Fame in 2008.

Special thanks to the Pro Football Reference website.