By Darin March 14 marks a pivotal day in football history, featuring record-breaking rushers and a fundamental evolution in officiating. For instance, from the Baltimore Colts selecting legendary Bubba Smith first overall in 1967 to the birth of NCAA rushing king Ron Dayne, this day celebrates the “big men” who dominated the trenches and the backfield. Transitioning from players to tradition, we also dive into the fascinating origin of the “Hook ’em, Horns” slogan—born out of a desperate attempt to stop TCU’s Jim Swink—and highlight the moment the NFL added a seventh official to the field to keep the secondary in check.
We have a bit of a Texas flavor in today’s football history, so let’s bring out a piece of University of Texas football art.
March 14 American Football History Timeline
- March 14, 1967, 1967 NFL Draft: Bubba Smith from Michigan State was the first pick by the Baltimore Colts. We discussed Mr. Smith on his birthday, just recently, in our February 28 post. Bubba played five great seasons for the Colts before a knee injury kept him out of the 1972 season. Smith rejoined the Oakland Raiders in 1973 after his recovery and played there for two years before joining the Houston Oilers for his final two NFL seasons. Bubba played in two Pro Bowls, was an All-Pro for one season, and received a Super Bowl Ring with the Colts for their victory in Super Bowl V, per Pro Football Reference.
- 1967: The First Combined Draft – As mentioned with Bubba Smith, today marks the anniversary of the 1967 AFL-NFL Common Draft. It was a pivotal moment in the merger process, ensuring that the two leagues stopped “warring” over the same players and began the transition toward the unified league we know today.
- On March 14, 1978, the NFL permanently added a 7th official, the Side Judge, to the game-day field. The Operations.NFL.com website notes that the SJ position was added in the late 1970s at the urging of Hall of Fame Coach Don Shula, who felt defensive backs were regularly getting away with holding and interference. Like the Field Judge on the opposite sideline, the Side Judge is usually about 20 yards downfield at the snap, in the defensive secondary. This seventh official allows each of the five eligible receivers to be monitored (the widest player on each side and three backfield players). The Side Judge also has pre-snap duties, such as counting the defense, controlling the sideline, assisting in getting the football to the umpire during dead balls, and watching substitutions from their assigned sideline.
- March 14, 2006: The Drew Brees “New Beginning” Twenty years ago today, the New Orleans Saints signed free-agent quarterback Drew Brees. Coming off a major shoulder injury that many thought was career-ending, Brees signed a six-year deal that would eventually lead to a Super Bowl title and rewrite nearly every major passing record in NFL history.
March 14 Football Hall of Fame Birthdays
Happy Birthday to these legendary gridiron figures! Here is the list for March 14, ordered by their year of birth:
- Ed Weir (1903) – A cornerstone of Nebraska’s “Huskers” in the 1920s, Weir was a two-time All-American tackle whom Knute Rockne famously called the best he ever saw. He led Nebraska to historic victories over the “Four Horsemen” of Notre Dame and Red Grange’s Illinois before a professional stint with the Frankford Yellow Jackets.
- Jim Swink (1936) – Known as “Ol’ Swivel Hips,” this TCU halfback was so elusive that University of Texas fans coined the phrase “Hook ’em, Horns” specifically as a rallying cry to stop him. The 1955 Heisman runner-up once torched the Longhorns for 235 yards and a school-record 26 points in a single afternoon.
- Charlie Green (1943) – “Chuckin’ Charlie” was the architect of a nearly perfect era at Wittenberg, leading the Tigers to a 25-0-1 record and three conference titles. A prolific passer for his time, he racked up over 5,500 yards and 61 touchdowns before playing four seasons in the AFL/NFL with the Patriots and Raiders.
- Ron Dayne (1978) – The “Great Dayne” remains the NCAA’s all-time leading rusher with a staggering 7,125 yards, a career defined by his “bulldozer” style at Wisconsin. The 1999 Heisman Trophy winner led the Badgers to back-to-back Rose Bowl victories and played seven NFL seasons, including a Super Bowl appearance with the Giants.
Conclusion
Whether it was Ed Weir earning praise from Knute Rockne or “Chuckin’ Charlie” Green rewriting the record books at Wittenberg, March 14th highlights the sport’s diverse evolution. The addition of the Side Judge in 1978 proved that the game’s rules must adapt as players get faster and stronger, a testament to the influence of coaches like Don Shula. As we look back on these Hall of Fame careers and officiating milestones, it’s clear that the legends born and drafted on this day provided the highlight reels and the integrity that define modern football.
Want more daily history? Look back every day, or see March 13’s history here.
Special thanks to our sources for accuracy, including Pro-Football-Reference
