Step onto the gridiron of history as we explore significant football moments occurring on this calendar date. From the foundational days of college play to crucial developments in the professional leagues, this date marks key milestones, player legacies, and pivotal events shaping the game we know today.
July 12
July 12 | This Day in American Football History
Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer
We invite you to take a ride through 1920's sports history in the audio drama that takes the listener through the sounds and legendary events of the era through the eyes of a young newspaper journalist. You will feel like you were there!
Brought to you by Number 80 Productions and Pigskin Dispatch
Sports Jersey Dispatch
If you like remembering players of the NFL by their numbers then you may also enjoy going uniform number by number in othre team sports as well. We have it for you on our other website in baseball, basketball, hockey and more on the Sports Jersey Dispatch.
"Bill Cooper Muskingum and 49ers Monster Fullback"
Last updated 📅 2025-07-12
July 12, 1939 - Carrollton, Ohio - Bill Cooper is a College Football Hall of Fame member who played for Muskingum University in New Concord, Ohio, from 1957 to 1960. Cooper was a hard-nosed, put-your-head-down-and-run-you-over type of runner.
This rushing style earned Bill the nickname of "Cannonball" Cooper. According to the National Football Foundation, as a junior, Cannonball rushed for 1,191 yards and 15 touchdowns. In his senior year, he rushed for 1,102 yards and 23 touchdowns on 158 carries.
Cannonball finished his collegiate career with 3,651 yards, a 5.5-yards-per-carry average, and 364 points. The NFF says that Cooper was named as a first-team All-America in 1960 after leading the Fighting Muskies to a 9-0 season.
The prized fullback played his way into the NFL on the San Francisco 49ers squad.
"Glenn Dobbs Top Tulsa Tailback"
Last updated 📅 2025-07-12
July 12, 1920 - McKinney, Texas - Glenn Dobbs is a football player who was voted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1980 as a halfback out of the University of Tulsa. Dobbs' career with the Golden Hurricane spanned from 1940 through the 1942 season, according to the National Football Foundation.
"July 12th: A Day of Innovation and Gridiron Legacies"
Every date on the calendar holds unique threads woven into the rich tapestry of American football. As we turn to July 12th, we uncover a fascinating intersection of pioneering safety advancements, franchise evolution, and the birthdays of iconic figures who shaped the game.
"Milestone Helmet Design Patent Awarded 1960"
Last updated 📅 2025-07-11
On July 12, 1960, a significant step forward in player safety was officially recognized when inventor D.H. Rayburn was awarded U.S. Patent 2,944,263 for a "Football Safety Helmet with Face Guard." While not the very first face guard or helmet patent, this particular patent reflects the ongoing evolution and formalization of protective headgear in football, coming at a critical juncture in the sport's development when player safety was gaining increased attention.
Prior to the widespread adoption of integrated face masks, players often suffered severe facial injuries, including broken noses and missing teeth. Early attempts at facial protection included various nose guards and even makeshift solutions. The 1950s saw the introduction of the single-bar face mask, famously popularized by players like Otto Graham of the Cleveland Browns after he sustained an injury. This single bar was a crucial initial step, offering some protection to the nose and mouth area.
"Bob Torrey The Versatile Penn Quaker"
Last updated 📅 2025-07-11
July 12, 1878 - Henrico County, Virginia - The guard from the University of Pennsylvania for the 1902 to 1905 seasons, Bob Torrey was born.
"Brooklyn Dodgers"
Last updated 📅 2025-07-11
July 12, 1930 - The Brooklyn Dodgers franchise is established in the NFL when, according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame website, Brooklyn businessman John Dwyer purchased the league’s Dayton Triangles franchise and moved it to New York.
"Rams Sign Future Hall of Famer"
Last updated 📅 2025-07-11
July 12, 1949 - The LA Rams sign Quarterback Norm Van Brocklin to a contract.
Van Brocklin, along with fellow QB Bon Waterfield helped make the Rams one of the most potent offenses in Pro Football history!
"Hector Cowan Princeton Star"
Last updated 📅 2025-07-11
July 12, 1863 - Hobart, New York - Hector William "Hec" Cowan is enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame as possibly the member of any of the football halls of fame with the earliest birth date.
"Dodgers, Indians, Tigers All Share History On July 12 & It Is NOT Baseball Related!"
Last updated 📅 2025-07-11
In this special July 12 edition, we discuss early football teams with events on July 12, including the Spartans, Indians, Tigers, and Dodgers. We also remember when the Dutchman was signed, and Hec Cowan was born. We will provide you with a little bit of football nostalgia.
This daily football history segment features the great events, franchise formation anniversaries, and the birthdays of notable Hall of Fame players, coaches, or anyone else in our great game, as well as many more legendary stories of the Gridiron.
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Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer
We invite you to take a ride through 1920's sports history in the audio drama that takes the listener through the sounds and legendary events of the era through the eyes of a young newspaper journalist. You will feel like you were there!
Brought to you by Number 80 Productions and Pigskin Dispatch
_________________________
Sports Jersey Dispatch
If you like remembering players of the NFL by their numbers then you may also enjoy going uniform number by number in othre team sports as well. We have it for you on our other website in baseball, basketball, hockey and more on the Sports Jersey Dispatch.
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