Football History of July 20

From the creation of television limits to the signing of multi-million-dollar modern contracts, July 20 stands as a monumental date in the history of football business and on-field dominance. Imagine a time when the NCAA strictly limited national TV appearances to protect local gate receipts, or the frantic summer day in 1986 when the USFL’s collapse sent superstars like Herschel Walker and Doug Flutie rushing to the NFL. This date also marks the massive extensions that fueled historic MVP runs, blockbuster trades, and the birthdays of iconic innovators—like Dan Rooney—who fundamentally changed how the sport is managed, played, and shared with millions of fans.

July 20 American Football History Timeline

• July 20, 1951 – The NCAA Binds the Television Era: Taking its first monumental step toward policing the emerging medium of television, the NCAA executive committee finalized its landmark, restrictive July 1951 television plan. Spearheaded by newly appointed executive director Walter Byers, the plan centralized national broadcasting rights. The blueprint aimed to protect game-day gate receipts for smaller programs and strictly limited how often perennial powerhouses like Notre Dame, Michigan, or Oklahoma could appear on a national stage each autumn. (Source)
• July 20, 1967 – Bert Rose Takes the Reins in New Orleans: Marking a major foundational milestone for the expansion franchise, the New Orleans Saints officially appointed Bert Rose as the team’s very first permanent General Manager on July 20, 1967. Rose, who had previously served as the inaugural GM of the Minnesota Vikings, brought crucial expansion-building experience to the upstart Saints organization just weeks before they took the field for their historic, inaugural preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams. (Source)
• July 20, 1986 – The Daily Advertiser in Lafayette, Louisiana reports on the mass exodus of cash-strapped USFL players—including quarterback Bobby Hebert, Joe Cribbs, Herschel Walker, and Doug Flutie—who negotiate contracts with NFL teams as the league faces collapse.
• July 20, 1994 – Former NFL running back O.J. Simpson offers a $500,000 reward for information or evidence leading to the killer of his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson.
• July 20, 1997 – The Detroit Lions sign Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders to a six-year, $33.5 million contract extension, paving the way for his 2,053-rushing-yard season and co-MVP honors.
• July 20, 1998 – Michigan’s Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson signs his rookie contract with the Oakland Raiders after the team selects him fourth overall in the 1998 NFL Draft.
• July 20, 2008 – The Miami Dolphins trade future Hall of Fame pass rusher Jason Taylor to Washington in exchange for two draft picks.

July 20 Football Hall of Fame Birthdays

Happy Birthday to these legendary gridiron pioneers and icons! As we celebrate July 20, we look back at a stacked lineup of Hall of Famers whose combined contributions span more than a century of football history—from the grueling canvas-jacket days of the 1880s to the creation of the modern-day Rooney Rule.

Here is the list in order of birth:

• William “Pa” Corbin [1864] A towering, revered pioneer of early college football, Corbin was a commanding center and strategist who captained Yale through a golden era. In his senior campaign of 1888, the 1969 College Football Hall of Fame inductee led a legendary, undefeated squad that famously outscored its opponents 698–0, finishing his historic collegiate career with a mind-boggling 31-0-1 record.
• Frank Merritt [1920] A dominant and rugged trench warrior, Merritt was a standout tackle for Army during the height of the World War II era, earning back-to-back All-American honors in 1942 and 1943. He carried his elite leadership skills from West Point into the military ranks, later serving with distinction as the Athletic Director at the United States Air Force Academy from 1967 to 1974, before his 1996 induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.
• Dick Stanfel [1927] After serving his country in World War II, Stanfel became an elite, five-time All-Pro guard for the Detroit Lions and Washington Redskins. The Class of 2016 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee anchored the line for the Lions’ back-to-back NFL Championship teams in 1952 and 1953, and spent another 35 years as a legendary offensive line coach at both the collegiate and pro levels.

• Dan Rooney [1932] One of the most beloved and influential owners in NFL history, Rooney guided the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise to six Super Bowl titles and fiercely protected the sport’s traditions. Enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000, his enduring legacy includes fighting for the dual-purpose design of Three Rivers Stadium and authoring the revolutionary “Rooney Rule” to ensure that minority candidates receive equal opportunities in head-coaching searches.

• Jake Scott [1945] A spectacular, ball-hawking safety and dynamic punt returner, Scott was named the SEC’s most valuable player after leading the Georgia Bulldogs to a conference championship in 1968. He translated that playmaking brilliance into a stellar pro career with the Dolphins and Redskins, earning five consecutive Pro Bowl nods and recording 35 interceptions during Miami’s legendary 1970s dynasty, including Super Bowl VII MVP honors.

Conclusion

The milestones of July 20 show just how much football has transformed over the decades. The sport evolved from the grueling 1880s era of Yale’s “Pa” Corbin into a massive media empire shaped by Walter Byers’ television policies and the structural excellence of figures like Bert Rose and Dan Rooney. Whether celebrating Barry Sanders’ contract extension that launched his legendary 2,053-yard season or remembering Jake Scott’s dynamic secondary play for the undefeated Dolphins, today proves that the game’s greatest triumphs are a perfect blend of visionary business and raw gridiron talent.