By Darin From Rule Books to the “Greatest Show on Turf”: November 4th Football Milestones
November 4 is a day of foundational moments and record-smashing dominance across football history. In 1882, Walter Camp shaped the first official Wright & Ditson Foot-ball Rules Book. By publishing this guide, the company cleverly merged the game with commerce by including a sporting goods catalog within its pages. This date also celebrates the birth of Hall of Fame offensive tackle Orlando Pace, the 1997 number one overall draft pick who anchored the St. Louis Rams’ legendary “Greatest Show on Turf” and blocked for three consecutive NFL MVPs! Plus, mark the 2003 debut of the NFL Network, which forever changed how fans consume the game.
November 4 Football History Headlines
- November 4, 1882 – The American Intercollegiate Association published the first Wright & Ditson Foot-ball Rules Book, crediting Walter Camp for the revisions. Henry A. Ditson demonstrated marketing genius by securing deals to publish various athletic rules books, including football. By including the sporting goods manufacturer’s catalog within the rules publication, Ditson placed his company’s products directly into the hands of every athlete and coach.
- November 4, 1934 –The Detroit Lions finally surrendered points at University of Detroit Stadium after opening the season with seven consecutive shutouts. According to onthisday.com, an opponent finally broke through the Lions’ legendary defense, ending one of the most dominant scoring droughts in NFL history. The Lions rushed for an NFL single-game record of 426 yards as they defeated Pittsburgh by the score of 40-7.
- November 4, 1951 – NYC, New York – The New York Football Giants and the New York Yanks score back-to-back touchdowns on kickoff returns.
- On November 4, 1973, the New Orleans Saints earned their first shutout victory, blanking the Buffalo Bills 13-0.
- November 4, 1989 – Big 12 Has Showdown with National Implications as No. 2 Colorado 27, beat No. 3 Nebraska 21
- November 4, 1992, NYC, New York – A big shakeup in local gridiron radio coverage is announced as the New York Giants state they will end coverage on WNEW Radio after 32 years to allow station WOR to carry their games. On the other side of town, the Jets announced they were moving their game-day coverage away from WABC to WFAN.
- November 4, 2000 – A Big 10 Conference Offensive explosion erupts as No. 21 Northwestern knocked off No. 12 Michigan 54 – 51
- November 4, 2003 – NFL Network debuts on DirecTV, becoming the first 24-hour Football Station.
November 4 Football Hall of Fame Birthdays
November 4, 1975 – Sandusky, Ohio – Orlando Pace, a tackle from Ohio State University, was born. Pace was twice recognized as a unanimous All-American while with the Buckeyes. The NFF reports that Pace was the first player in history to repeat as the Lombardi Trophy winner, earning the honors as a sophomore and junior, and he also claimed the 1996 Outland Trophy. The National Football Foundation voted to send Orlando Pace into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2013. Pace was drafted as the number one pick in the 1997 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams. Orlando, in 13 seasons, was a three-time first-team All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowl selection. He earned a spot on the NFL All-Decade Team for the 2000s, as he was a core contributor to the Rams’ Greatest Show on Turf offense that won the franchise’s first Super Bowl title in Super Bowl XXXIV. In fact, he blocked for three straight NFL MVPs with the Rams, as Kurt Warner won the honor in 1999 and 2001, while Marshall Faulk took home the hardware in 2000. The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Orlando Pace in 2016.
Conclusion: Defining Eras: Unbeaten Streaks and Media Milestones
Beyond individual brilliance, November 4 highlights critical organizational and media shifts. In 1934, the dominant Detroit Lions finally surrendered their season-long shutout streak but simultaneously set an NFL record with 426 rushing yards in a single game. Decades later, the New Orleans Saints secured their franchise’s first-ever shutout victory in 1973. The day also saw a significant shakeup in New York radio coverage in 1992 and the launch of the NFL Network in 2003, proving that this November 4 is a date where the game’s foundation, its media landscape, and its greatest players all converged.
