Football History of October 13

Touchdown Records, Tides, and the GOAT’s Birthday: The Most Electric Moments on October 13th

Mark your calendars! October 13th is one of the most explosive dates in American football history, defined by legends reaching incredible heights and last-second miracles. We celebrate the birth of Jerry Rice (born 1962), the man widely hailed as the greatest receiver of all time.

But the headlines don’t stop there: Some of American football’s most celebrated athletes were born on this day. Dive into the biggest scores, surprises, and statistical triumphs that make October 13th unforgettable!

October 13 American Football History Timeline

• October 13, 1963 – Mike Ditka Records Four Touchdowns in Wrigley Rout: Hall of Fame tight end Mike Ditka delivered one of the most dominant single-game performances by a tight end in league history during Chicago’s 52–14 blowout over the Los Angeles Rams at Wrigley Field. Ditka caught four touchdown passes—split evenly between quarterbacks Bill Wade and Rudy Bukich—fueling George Halas’s Bears on their march to the 1963 NFL Championship
• October 13, 1996 – NY Jets Nick Lowery breaks Jan Stenerud‘s NFL field goal record at 374. If you look at our October 6 History Headlines, you’ll see that Lowery tied Stenerud’s record that day and had to wait a week to claim the crown.
• October 13, 2002 – Brett Favre Joins the 300-Touchdown Club: Green Bay Packers gunslinger Brett Favre tossed the 300th touchdown pass of his career in a 28–10 victory over the Chicago Bears. At the time, Favre joined Dan Marino as only the second quarterback in NFL history to cross the 300 regular-season touchdown threshold

• October 13, 2007 – 17th College Football Holy War: Boston College beats Notre Dame 27-14 in South Bend

• On October 13, 2019, during week six of the 2019 season, a handful of exciting and close games were played. The Seahawks and Browns traded points all day, with the Seahawks getting the better of the exchange in a 32-28 final as Chris Carson rushed for 124 yards for the Hawks, while his Browns counterpart Nick Chubb also put up 122 yards on the ground. The Washington Redskins overcame a late Dolphins charge to win 17-16. Adrian Peterson ran for 118 yards to help Washington seal the victory. The Atlanta Falcons mounted a late charge but fell to the upstart Arizona Cardinals, 33-34. Matt Ryan was 30 of 36 passing, throwing for 356 yards and 4 scores. Meanwhile, the Cardinals’ young gun Kyler Murray was 27 of 37, tossing 340 yards and 3 TD passes, and rushing for another 32 yards on the ground!

October 13 Football Hall of Fame Birthdays

No day encapsulates football excellence quite like October 13, the birth date of some of the most dominant players ever to grace the field. We kick off our celebration by honoring the legendary Jerry Rice (born 1962), the undisputed G.O.A.T. of wide receivers and a Pro Football and College Football Hall of Famer. While the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Brian Dawkins also claims this day, Rice’s indelible impact on the NFL makes it important for football statisticians and fans alike.

Happy Birthday to these legendary gridiron figures! All three share an October 13 birthday, spanning a dominant dynasty architect, the game’s greatest wide receiver, and one of the most ferocious safeties in NFL history.

Here is the list in chronological order of birth:

• Jerry Jones [1942]Before purchasing the Dallas Cowboys in 1989 and overseeing three Super Bowl victories as owner and general manager, Jones was a co-captain and starting offensive lineman on the University of Arkansas’s undefeated 1964 National Championship squad. Enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017 as a contributor, his visionary commercial acumen and larger-than-life presence revolutionized NFL marketing, stadium architecture, and modern league television contracts.
• Jerry Rice [1962]Widely regarded as the greatest wide receiver in NFL history, Rice shattered records at Mississippi Valley State before dominating the pros for two decades—primarily with the San Francisco 49ers. A three-time Super Bowl champion, Super Bowl XXIII MVP, and first-ballot Hall of Famer (2010), he retired holding virtually every major career receiving record, including 1,549 receptions, 22,895 receiving yards, and 208 total touchdowns.
• Brian Dawkins [1973]Affectionately dubbed “Weapon X,” Dawkins set the standard for hard-hitting, versatile safety play as the spiritual leader of the Philadelphia Eagles’ defense for over a decade. A nine-time Pro Bowler, five-time First-Team All-Pro, and 2018 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee, he became the first player in NFL history to record at least 25 sacks, 25 forced fumbles, and 25 interceptions in a career.

Conclusion

October 13th is a date etched in football history, marked by legendary individual achievement and unforgettable drama. It’s also the birthday of giants like the unquestioned wide receiver G.O.A.T., Jerry Rice. October 13 captures the high-stakes thrills, record-breaking ambition, and unpredictable magic that make American football truly legendary.