By Darin January 6 is far more than just another day on the calendar for football fans; it’s a pivotal date steeped in gridiron history, featuring one of the most controversial playoff calls ever (the Mike Renfro non-catch), multiple championship clashes, a thrilling BCS title, and the birthdays of Pro Football Hall of Famers like Howie Long and Charles Haley.
January 6 Football History Timeline
- January 6, 1980 – Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh – The AFC Championship game was held to decide who would win the Lamar Hunt Trophy and represent the American Football Conference in Super Bowl XIV. Two of the AFC Central foes met for the third time that season: the Houston Oilers and defending champs, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Late in the third quarter, one of the most controversial officiating calls in NFL history occurred. With the Oilers deep in Pittsburgh territory, QB Dan Pastorini threw a pass to the back right corner of the end zone. Houston receiver Mike Renfro seemed to catch the ball, with Steeler corner Ron Johnson closely covering him. The official on the play called nothing, so the crew met in a huddle to discuss. Moments later, they ruled it incomplete because Renfro had fallen out of bounds when he secured the catch. This was six years before instant replay was used in NFL officiating. Some believe it was the play that led to its adoption. The Oilers had to settle for a field goal. For the second straight year, the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Houston Oilers, 27-13, to advance.
- January 6, 1980 – Tampa Stadium – The Buccaneers hosted the NFC Championship in only their fourth season. The Bucs played tough, but the Los Angeles Rams came determined and won 9-0. This secured the Rams’ spot in the Super Bowl against the Steelers.
- Fast forward five years to January 6, 1985, at the Miami Orange Bowl, where the Dan Marino-led Miami Dolphins outlasted the Pittsburgh Steelers, 45-28, to move on to the big game.
- On the same date, January 6, 1985, but across the country at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, the NFC Championship game was played. The San Francisco 49ers, with Joe Montana under center, advanced to the Super Bowl as they blanked the Chicago Bears, 23-0.
- January 6, 2007 – The Dallas Cowboys cannot overcome a one-point deficit against the Seahawks in the NFC Wildcard Playoff game when Quarterback/holder Tony Romo muffs the snap for a would-be go-ahead field goal by Martin Grammatica.
- January 6, 2014 – The Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California – The BCS National Championship was memorable. Top-ranked Florida State faced a tough test against #2 Auburn, according to ESPN.com. The game featured Heisman winner Jameis Winston, Kelvin Benjamin, and Devonta Freeman on the Seminoles’ offense. Auburn countered with Sammie Coates, Dee Ford, Carl Lawson, and CJ Uzomah. As often happens in great games, the outcome was decided in the final moments. With 13 seconds left, Winston threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Kelvin Benjamin. This lifted FSU to a 34-31 win and the National Title!
- On January 6, 2018, Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota threw a touchdown pass to himself! In one of the craziest play sequences, the Titans had the ball at the Kansas City Chiefs’ 6-yard line, facing third-and-goal, per Ringer.com. Mariota dropped back and scrambled around a bit, then saw daylight left. As he approached the line of scrimmage, he launched a pass towards the end zone, but a defender, KC’s Darrell Revis, batted the ball, which went back to Marcus, and he caught it and dove to the pylon for a TD. It was important, too, as it helped the team secure a 22-21 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. Mariota was the second NFL quarterback in history to have done so. The other was Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brad Johnson in 1997, who also caught his own pass on a third-and-goal and scored against the Panthers.
- On January 6, 2018, the Oakland Raiders formally announced that Jon Gruden would return as their head coach, per ESPN.com. It had been nearly a decade since Gruden’s first stint as the Raiders coach, from 2009 through the 2017 season, and he was broadcasting on ESPN’s Monday Night Football.
January 6 Football Hall of Fame Birthdays
Conclusion
From legendary playoff upsets and controversial officiating moments that arguably changed the course of NFL history to iconic college football thrillers like FSU’s dramatic BCS National Championship victory in 2014, January 6th proves to be a consistently pivotal date. Coupled with the birthdays of five Hall of Famers, including Charles Haley and Howie Long, this single day encapsulates the enduring legacy and excitement of both professional and collegiate football.
Thanks to our sources, including Pro-Football-Reference.com
