By Darin From franchise-altering trades to the birth of Outland Trophy winners, May 2nd is one of football’s most pivotal dates. It marked the start of the “Elway Era” in Denver after a tense standoff with Baltimore and the day Houston drafted the legendary Earl Campbell. Whether revisiting the 1983 AFC-shaping trade or honoring small-school standout Richard Ritchie, this date proves how a single day can define decades of gridiron glory.
Take a second to enjoy a piece of gridiron artwork:
May 2 American Football History Timeline
- May 2, 1978 – The first pick in the 1978 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers was Earl Campbell from the University of Texas. Other members of the 1978 Draft class that have joined him in Canton are Stanford wide receiver James Lofton and Alabama tight end Ozzie Newsome. Here is our full coverage of the 1978 NFL Draft.
- May 2, 1983 – Quarterback John Elway was traded from the Baltimore Colts to the Denver Broncos. Here is the full story.
- May 2, 1999, was indeed a big day in the career of John Elway, as exactly 16 years after the 1983 trade that sent number 7 to Denver, he announced his retirement from the NFL.
May 2 Football Hall of Fame Birthdays
Happy Birthday to these gridiron greats! Since today is May 2, we celebrate a trio of Hall of Famers who left an indelible mark on the sport, particularly in the state of Texas.
Here is the list in order of birth:
- Joe Utay [1887] A standout halfback for Texas A&M, Utay’s greatest contributions came after his playing days when he helped found the Southwest Conference and the Texas Officials Association. His 55-year career in law and sports administration earned him a place in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1974.
- Loyd Phillips [1945] A defensive force for the Arkansas Razorbacks, Phillips was a two-time All-American who anchored a defensive unit that went 29-3 over three seasons. The 1966 Outland Trophy winner recorded 304 career tackles and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992.
- Richard Ritchie [1955] After taking over as a freshman, Ritchie led Texas A&I (now Texas A&M-Kingsville) to a staggering 39 consecutive wins and three straight NAIA Division I championships. A versatile threat who passed, ran, and kicked, he finished his career undefeated as a starter and entered the College Football Hall of Fame in 1998.
Conclusion
The legacy of May 2nd is woven through every level of the game, from the formation of the Southwest Conference by Joe Utay to John Elway’s bookend career moments of arrival and retirement. These milestones remind us that football is a game of leverage, leadership, and longevity. As we look back on the Hall of Fame careers of Campbell, Phillips, and Elway, we see a date that didn’t just record history—it fundamentally changed the sport’s trajectory.