September 21

Here is what happened on September 21 in football history: Birthdays for Hall of Fame players like Sandy Stephens, Brock Strom and more; a record 98 yard punt; a passing record and some long returns make this football day special. The podcast is bursting at the seams with records and football firsts. Hear all about it with your Pigskin Daily History Dispatch Podcast!

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!

September 21, 1969 - A 98 yard punt is kicked in a professional NFL football game. Yes you read that correctly 98  green grass yards! Please check out the video clip here. New York Jets punter Steve O'Neal took the snap from the two yard line and caught and punted the ball from deep in his own endzone. The ball sailed past a Denver Bronco punt return man who had his arms outstretched and landed at the Denver 33 yard line. The impact with the ground sent the kick screaming towards the Denver goal line and apparently into the end zone. WOW! Needless to say it is a records that will probably stand the test of time!

September 21, 1980 - Rookie strong safety Johnnie Johnson of the Los Angeles Rams has a 99 yard pick-six! Not to be outdone by the rook, Ram's veteran cornerback Rod Perry intercepted a pass of his own and returned it 83 yards as LA exploded for 37 second half points in a 51-21 blow out of the Green Bay Packers.

September 21, 1980 - New York Jets quarterback Richard Todd sets a single game record by completing 42 passes in a game! The Jets signal caller didn't have much choice in the matter when the visiting San Francisco 49ers with Joe Montana under center jumped out to an early 24-0 lead in the first half. Being down by four scores took any thoughts of the running the ball in the game plan right out the window. The 42 receptions didn't help the Jets to overcome the deficit though as the Niners left Shea Stadium with a 37-27 victory. 

September 21, 1982 - NFL players began a strike on this day that lasted for 57 days. The strike forced the NFL to shorten the normally 16 game schedule to a condensed 9 game regular season and placed a unique 16 teams into a special playoff format. 8 teams from each Conference were seeded and divisional standings were ignored. The Detroit Lions and the Cleveland Brownseach made the special playoff cut with losing records. The champion of the NFL was still decided in a final game though as the Super Bowl XVII played at the Rose Bowl was won by the Washington Redskins 27-17 over the Miami Dolphins.

September 21, 1986 - A record 884 yard of total passing was registered in one game as the New York Jets toppled the Miami Dolphins 51-45 in Overtime. Quarterbacks Ken O'Brien and Dan Marino were slinging the old pigskin around the yard that day.

September 21, 1986 - Kick return specialist Mel Gray of the New Orleans Saints runs a kick back 101 yards for a score. It wasn't enough as the San Francisco 49ers held onto win 26-17. 

September 21, 1934 - Brock Strom was a former tackle from the Air Force Academy. Out of high school Strom attended Indiana University but soon transferred to the Air Force Academy.  That first season in 1955 the entire Falcon squad was made up of Freshmen. The group all received their experience together and in a few years they would be something special. What a windfall for the Air Force Academy when the 6 foot even 217 pound tackle, Brock Strom became the team’s very first All-American football player in 1958.  The 1958 Falcons were a special group as they went undefeated all the way to playing in the Cotton Bowl against a strong opponent in Texas Christian University.  As part of that regular season was the memorab;e 13-13 tie against the heavily favored Iowa Hawkeyes. Strom was a national hero as well receiving  two distinguished Flying Crosses, two Bronze Stars and three Air Medals.  He later became one of the top men in the U.S. Space Defense Program! The National Football Foundation selected Brock to enter into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1985.

September 21, 1940 - Sandy Stephens was a quarterback from the University of Minnesota. Mr. Stephens became college football’s very first first-team All-American quarterback of African American descent. Sandy’s playing time with the Golden Gophers was not alway rosey. The first season with the team they finished a dismal 2-7, but with Stephens under center the next year they bid for one of the greatest program turn-arounds in football history as they won the Big ten Title and played in the Rose Bowl where they won the National Championship! The next season Stephens and the Gophers returned to the Rose Bowl and won the game again defeating UCLA 21-3! Minnesota has only retired 4 jersey numbers and Sandy Stephen’s number 15 is one of them. Sandy Stephens was enshrined into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2011.

Special thanks to the websites of the Pro Football Reference.