From the 63-Yard Kick to the Merger of Leagues: November 8 in Football
November 8 is etched in football history as a day of dramatic breakthroughs, both on the field and in the halls of power. It marks the legendary moment in 1970 when the one-toed kicker Tom Dempsey of the New Orleans Saints booted a miraculous, game-winning 63-yard field goal—a record that stood for decades! This date also paved the way for the modern NFL when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the act granting antitrust immunity to the AFL-NFL merger in 1966. From the patenting of a more sophisticated leather football helmet in 1927 to Nick Saban’s triumphant return to LSU as Alabama’s coach on November 8, 2008, the game has been fundamentally shaped.
November 8 American Football History Timeline
- November 8, 1926 – 1st Pro Game Outside of the USA – The New York Yankees—featuring legendary star Harold “Red” Grange—played the Los Angeles Wildcats at Maple Leaf Stadium in Toronto, Ontario. This wasn’t just an exhibition; it marked an official regular-season game of the first American Football League (AFL) and the first time anyone played an American professional football game outside the U.S. The Yankees shut out the Wildcats 28–0 in front of about 10,000 Canadian fans, and Red Grange opened the scoring with a 60-yard touchdown run.
- November 8, 1927 – Allen E. Kennedy Patents a more sophisticated Leather Football helmet, US Patent 1648850 (source)
- November 8, 1942 – 7 Picks: The Cleveland Rams lost to the Green Bay Packers with a score of 30–12 at League Park in front of 16,473 fans. The Green Bay defense was the story of the game, intercepting struggling Rams quarterback Parker Hall 7 times.
- On November 8, 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed antitrust immunity to the AFL-NFL merger. An Associated Press article by Frederic J. Frommer, published in January 2010, provides some details about the act. In 1966, the National Football League announced plans to merge with its rival American Football League, as cutthroat competition for college players had led some teams to the brink of financial ruin. The leagues turned to Congress to seek an antitrust exemption for the merger. Thanks to deft maneuvering by two powerful Louisiana Democrats, Senate Democratic Whip Russell Long and House acting Majority Leader Hale Boggs, Congress gave its blessing to the union of the NFL and AFL. Within two weeks, the league awarded an expansion team to New Orleans. If you remember, back in our November 1 post, we mentioned that the NFL awarded the Saints franchise. This AP article suggests it was a thank-you to some key Congressional help. LBJ made it official on November 8, 1966, by signing the deal.
- November 8, 1970 – Tulane Stadium, New Orleans, Louisiana – Only a couple of ticks remained on the clock, with the New Orleans Saints trailing the visiting, heavily favored Detroit Lions by one point. The Lions had just taken a 17-16 lead when Errol Mann booted an 18-yard field goal with 14 seconds remaining. The Saints started their drive from their own 28-yard line with a quick 17-yard pass from QB Billy Kilmer to wide receiver Al Dodd, who got out of bounds at the Saints’ 45 with 2 seconds left. The Saints’ brand-new offensive line coach, Don Heinrich, who had just taken over that role, surprisingly called for the field-goal team to come out. A hush fell over the stadium as no one could believe they were going to try to kick a field goal from that distance rather than pass to the end zone. After all, they were still on their own side of the 50-yard line! It would be a 63-yard attempt, as readers should remember that the goalposts were positioned on the goal line in that era of NFL football. Tom Dempsey was the kicker for New Orleans that season, and he was born without toes on his right foot and no fingers on his right hand. To play in the NFL, he had to wear a special, modified shoe with a flattened, enlarged toe surface. All of this culminated in one of the most dramatic moments in NFL history. Tom Dempsey trotted out and calmly kicked the longest field goal in NFL history to win the game against the Detroit Lions 19-17. The SI.com article explains how Dempsey surpassed the previous record-long field goal, a 56-yarder by Bert Rechichar, set by the Baltimore Colts in 1953. (source) You may want to see the current 2025 record set in our November 2 post.
- November 8, 1980 – Georgia’s “Run, Lindsay, Run!” Miracle vs. Florida: Facing a 21–20 deficit with just over a minute left and backed up on their own 7-yard line on 3rd-and-11 in the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party, No. 2 Georgia needed a miracle. Quarterback Buck Belue scrambled out of the end zone and found wide receiver Lindsay Scott, who turned upfield for an iconic 93-yard touchdown. Immortalized by radio play-by-play legend Larry Munson, the play kept Georgia’s undefeated campaign alive en route to the consensus 1980 national championship.
- November 8, 1981 – Shula Register 200th Win: The Miami Dolphins edged the New England Patriots 30-27 in overtime, giving Miami Coach Don Shula his 200th NFL victory as an NFL head coach.
- November 8, 1997 -Nebraska’s “Flea Kicker” Miracle at Missouri: Trailing 38–31 with seven seconds remaining at Faurot Field, No. 1 Nebraska faced 3rd-and-goal from the Missouri 12-yard line. Scott Frost’s pass deflected off receiver Shevin Wiggins’ foot as he fell into the end zone, popping into the arms of diving teammate Matt Davison for a touchdown as time expired. The extra point forced overtime, where the Cornhuskers won 45–38 to preserve their undefeated march to a split national championship.
- November 8, 2008 – Tiger Stadium, Louisiana State University – The University of Alabama had just become the number one-ranked team in the nation the week before, when Texas Tech upset top-ranked Texas. The Crimson Tide had not held the top spot in the rankings since 1980, and their Head Coach, Nick Saban, who had coached at LSU before a short stint in the NFL, walked into Tiger Stadium for the first time on the visitors’ sideline. Al.com has an article on its website describing the situation Alabama found itself in, poised to seal the win with a 29-yard field goal as time ran out. LSU blocked the attempt, however, and forced overtime. LSU’s second chance at defeating the Tide didn’t last long. On third down of LSU’s possession, Lee’s pass into the end zone was picked off. Alabama sealed the victory with a touchdown run to clinch the 27-21 win and the Western Division title.
- November 8, 2008 – Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts – Per onthisday.com, In the 18th installment of the College Football Holy War, Boston College defeated Notre Dame 17-0.
November 8 Football Hall of Fame Birthday
- Chuck Cecil [1964] – A punishing free safety who went from a walk-on at the University of Arizona to a consensus All-American and College Football Hall of Fame enshrinee, Cecil became renowned for his ferocious, bone-jarring tackling style. A 1992 Pro Bowler with the Green Bay Packers, his fearless, high-impact hits embodied era-defining defensive intensity and made him one of the most feared secondary enforcers of his generation.
Conclusion: Historic Deals and Unbreakable Records Define the Date
November 8 celebrates pivotal moments of innovation and high drama. It honors pioneers like Allen E. Kennedy, who improved player safety by patenting a more sophisticated leather helmet, and political deal-makers who leveraged the AFL-NFL merger to secure an expansion team for New Orleans—a move seen as a political thank-you. The day’s enduring legacy, however, is sealed by the sheer athleticism and spectacle: Tom Dempsey’s record-shattering kick and the thrilling Alabama vs. LSU overtime battle in 2008. Finally, the birthday of walk-on legend Chuck Cecil, who intercepted a Pac-10 record 21 passes, reminds us that excellence often emerges from unheralded beginnings.
November 8 Gridiron Image of the Day
