From backroom office deals that altered the NFL landscape to the foundational structural shifts of the early 20th century, July 28 stands as a pivotal date in American football history. On this day in 1995, Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell secretly dispatched representatives to Baltimore, setting off a chain reaction that gave rise to the Ravens and reshaped the league forever. Combined with the NFL’s historic 1933 realignment into two divisions and the birthdays of game-changing Hall of Famers like LSU’s Charles Alexander and Baylor’s Larry Elkins, July 28 offers a captivating look at the boardroom maneuvers and on-field dominance that built the modern game.
July 28 American Football History Timeline
- July 28, 1923 – M.C. Gebert helps form the Kelly Duluths franchise (later known as the Duluth Eskimos), which plays in the NFL until 1927 before moving to Orange, New Jersey.
- July 28, 1923 – The NFL recognizes the St. Louis All-Stars franchise, a team owned and managed by starting guard Ollie Cray that plays for just a single season before folding in September 1924 due to poor fan support.
- July 28, 1929 – The NFL officially announces the addition of a fourth official—likely the line judge—to the field for regular season games.
- July 28, 1933 – The NFL officially splits into Eastern and Western divisions for the first time to determine championship match-ups, avoiding record ties like the 1932 playoff between the Chicago Bears and Portsmouth Spartans.
- July 28, 1972 – The defending Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys defeat the College All-Stars 20–7 at Soldier Field, where Auburn quarterback Pat Sullivan earns the game’s MVP award.
- July 28, 1995 – Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell secretly sends representatives to Baltimore to negotiate the franchise’s relocation to Maryland, eventually leading to the creation of the Baltimore Ravens.
July 28 Football Hall of Fame Birthdays
Happy Birthday to these collegiate titans! As we look ahead to July 28, we celebrate three historic gridiron standouts whose game-breaking plays, remarkable resilience, and Hall of Fame credentials left an indelible mark on the sport.
Here is the list in order of birth:
- Jack O’Hearn [1893] – A consensus All-American end and commanding team captain at Cornell, O’Hearn engineered a legendary mid-season turnaround in 1914, leading the Big Red to seven straight victories—including a monumental 28-13 second-half comeback upset over Michigan. The 1972 College Football Hall of Fame inductee went on to play in the fledgling NFL for the Cleveland Tigers in 1920 and joined the Buffalo All-Americans in 1921 alongside his brother, Ed.
- Larry Elkins [1943] – A game-changing wide receiver out of Baylor University, Elkins was a two-time consensus All-American who shattered school records with a nation-leading 70 receptions in 1963. Selected second overall in the 1965 AFL Draft by the Houston Oilers, the 1994 College Football Hall of Fame enshrinee spent four seasons in Houston before bad injury luck derailed what promised to be a dominant pro career.
- Charles Alexander [1957] – Affectionately known as “Alexander the Great,” this powerhouse tailback dominated the SEC at LSU, shattering 27 school records and earning two consensus All-American selections. Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2012, the two-time top-10 Heisman finisher went on to be selected 12th overall in the 1979 NFL Draft by Cincinnati, playing seven seasons for the Bengals and helping lead them to an AFC Championship in Super Bowl XVI.
Other Legendary Players Born July 28
- July 28, 1978 – Hillcrest Heights, Maryland, linebacker Julian Peterson from Michigan State from 1998 through 1999 was born, and Julian was selected as the 16th overall player taken by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2000 NFL draft. He also played for the Seahawks and Lions during his NFL career, per a Yahoo.com article. Julian played in five Pro Bowls and earned All-Pro honors three times in his tenure in the league. And for his career, Peterson had 802 combined tackles, with 595 of them being of the solo variety and 51 and a half sacks, eight interceptions, 53 passes defended, and one defensive touchdown.
- July 28, 1988 – Millington, Tennessee, defensive end Greg Hardy, who played at Mississippi from 2000 through the 2009 season, was born. According to an article on yahoo.com, Hardy was selected as the 175th overall pick by the Carolina Panthers in the 2010 NFL draft. He also played for the Dallas Cowboys later in his career, and Hardy’s career stats include 241 total tackles, with 165 of them being solo: 40 sacks, one pick, and eight forced fumbles. Hardy was a Pro Bowl selection and a second-team All-Pro in 2013. And he set a Panthers franchise record for most sacks in a season in 2013, with 15 quarterback takedowns behind the line.
Conclusion
Whether examining the forgotten early franchises of the 1920s, the addition of key on-field officials, or the birth of Pro Bowl talents like Julian Peterson and Greg Hardy, July 28th serves as a rich microcosm of gridiron evolution. From collegiate legends breaking school records to secretive relocation talks that altered sports geography, the events and birthdays of this date remind us how deeply intertwined strategy, talent, and business truly are in American football. As we reflect on these anniversaries, their impact continues to echo across Saturdays and Sundays alike.
