By Darin From “The GOAT” changing the face of the NFL to the birth of legendary Hall of Fame defenders and halfbacks, March 20th is a day defined by greatness. Whether it was the 2020 shockwave of Tom Brady signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or the incredible eight-year collegiate reign of Tuskegee’s “Big” Ben Stevenson, this date proves that impact players come from every era and every background. Step into the vault as we revisit the moments and icons—including Notre Dame’s Marchy Schwartz and Saints legend Rickey Jackson—that rewrote the football record books.
March 20 American Football History Timeline
- March 20, 2020, After 20 seasons in a New England Patriots uniform, six-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady officially agreed to move and play with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a 2-year, $50m guaranteed deal. We look back at this now and know the results with the Bucs winning the Super Bowl with Brady at the helm, but at the time, many believed it would be a disaster for both Brady and the Patriots when the QB was separated from the genius of Bill Belechik. Tom Brady was a sixth-round pick, the 199th draftee overall in the 2000 NFL Draft. Hindsight makes it unbelievable that there were 198 others taken before him in any Draft, and maybe all the drafts put together!
March 20 Football Hall of Fame Birthdays
Happy Birthday to these gridiron greats! Here is your list for March 20, organized by their year of birth:
- “Big” Ben Stevenson [1906] A legendary halfback for Tuskegee, Stevenson was a dominant force who lost only two games in eight years of eligibility. Regarded as one of the greatest all-around players in the history of HBCU football, he was a multi-time All-American and a 2003 College Football Hall of Fame inductee.
- Marchy Schwartz [1909] The last elite running back coached by Knute Rockne, Schwartz fueled Notre Dame to back-to-back undefeated seasons in 1929 and 1930. A versatile star, he averaged nearly six yards per carry and once set a long-standing school record by punting for over 500 yards in a single game against Army.
- Rickey Jackson [1958] A cornerstone of the New Orleans Saints’ “Dome Patrol” linebacker corps, Jackson was a ferocious pass rusher who tallied 128 career sacks. A six-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro, he capped his Hall of Fame career by winning a Super Bowl ring with the San Francisco 49ers.
Conclusion
The common thread through these March 20th milestones is the power of the “find.” Whether it was a coach scouting a farm in Kansas for Ben Stevenson, the Saints snagging Rickey Jackson in the second round, or the Buccaneers betting on a 42-year-old Tom Brady, football history is made by those who recognize untapped potential. These legends transitioned from overlooked prospects to Hall of Fame icons, proving that while talent gets you on the field, it is the drive to succeed—regardless of the jersey or the decade—that ensures immortality in Canton and beyond.
