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 22
July 22 | 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.
"Bob Reade Hall of Fame Coach"
Last updated 📅 2025-07-22
Bob Reade's football coaching career is a story of unparalleled success and consistent excellence at both the high school and collegiate levels. Before his legendary tenure at Augustana College, Reade built a powerhouse program at J.D. Darnall High School in Geneseo, Illinois, where he coached for 17 years (1962-1978). During his time there, his teams amassed an incredible record of 146-21-4, including an impressive 52-game unbeaten streak. He capped his high school career with three consecutive Illinois Class 3A state championships from 1976-1978.
- HASHTAGS: #July22 #BobReade #HeadCoach #CollegeFootballHallofFame
- DOB: July 22
- EVENTDAY: July 22
- FOOTBALL NAME: Bob Reade
- FOOTBALL POSITION: Head Coach
- SPORTS: College Football Hall of Fame
In 1979, Reade took over the Augustana College football program, where he spent 16 seasons (1979-1994) and etched his name into college football history. His Augustana Vikings compiled an astounding 146-23-1 record, achieving a remarkable .862 winning percentage. The highlight of his time at Augustana was an unprecedented four consecutive NCAA Division III national championships from 1983 to 1986. His teams also had a 60-game unbeaten streak (59 wins, 1 tie) from 1983 to 1987, which remains an NCAA Division III record and is the second-longest in NCAA history across all divisions.
Under Reade, Augustana won 12 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) titles, including eight straight from 1981-1988. He was named CCIW Coach of the Year nine times and won four straight national "Kodak Coach of the Year" awards from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). His impact extended beyond wins, as he coached 37 All-Americans and 10 Academic All-Americans. In recognition of his immense contributions to the sport, Bob Reade was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1998 and received the prestigious Amos Alonzo Stagg Award from the AFCA in the same year.
- HASHTAGS: #July22 #Football
- EVENTDAY: July 22
- PODCAST: Football
"Don Hutson Calls it Quits or Does He?"
Last updated 📅 2025-07-20
July 22, 1943 - Our Newspapers.com Football History Headline of the Day is from an article found in that day's edition of the Harrisburg Telegraph in Pennsylvania.
"Tim Brown Notre Dame and Raiders Hall of Fame Wide Receiver"
Last updated 📅 2025-07-20
July 22, 1966 - Tim Brown, Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined wide receiver who played for the Raiders, along with a short stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"Nixon Makes the News & We Tell His Ties to the Gridiron"
Last updated 📅 2025-07-20
July 22, 1955 - Richard Millhouse Nixon becomes the first Vice-President of the U.S. in history to oversee a cabinet meeting. Nixon was a great fan of football.
He did not play much, but he was on the football team at Whittier College in California. In old photos, he was seen wearing jersey numbers 12 and 23. Later, when he became POTUS, he is credited with signing legislation to force the NFL to televise all playoff games in all markets, much to the chagrin of then-NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle.
So, though "Tricky Dick" may have been a "crook" despite his claims that he was not, he did force the NFL to put playoff games on TV for all of us to watch for free in our homes.
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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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