Record Sacks, Historic Upsets & The Birth of Coaching Legends: Unpacking October 26 Football History! 🏈
Get ready to celebrate a date that defines dramatic swings in football history! October 26 is marked by an incredible 12-sack defensive performance that tied an NFL record (1980) and one of the greatest fourth-quarter comebacks in college football history—the “Miracle at Mizzou” (2013). But the history runs deeper: we honor the birthdays of five College Football Hall of Famers, including pioneer coach Sid Gillman and two-time Lombardi winner Tony Casillas. From the scandalous early days of the Canton-Massillon rivalry (1906) to monumental upsets over national powerhouses, this is your guide to a truly unforgettable day on the gridiron!
October 26 American Football History Timeline
- October 26, 1906, from profootballhof.com. The two best teams in professional football were arch rivals, the Canton Bulldogs and the Massillon Tigers. That season, they played twice, splitting the head-to-head meetings. The second meeting, however, was for the Ohio League Championship, and the Tigers won. The fierce rivalry led both teams to overpay for talent to gain an edge, nearly driving each club to the brink of bankruptcy. That, coupled with a betting scandal, led to declining interest in pro football across Ohio.
- October 26, 1946 – Knoxville, Tennessee – The Wake Forest Demon Deacons knocked off the highest-ranked opponent in the program’s history when they defeated the No. 4 team in the nation, the Tennessee Volunteers, 19-6. The website godeacs.com has an excellent account of the game. The Wake Forest line was a granite wall against the Tennessee running attack. Bob Leonetti and Ed Royston, guards; Boyd Allen, center; and Sidney Martin, tackle, refused to let the Vol backs loose for any damaging gains. The Deacon forwards were also terrific in rushing Vol passers.
The Deacons scored first in the opening period, and then came back in the third period to register two quick touchdowns to ice the ball game after the Vols had scored their lone marker in the second period to tie the score at 6-6. (Source )
- October 26, 1980 -Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland – The visiting St. Louis Cardinals defense got after the Baltimore Colts QB Bert Jones and sacked him an NFL record-tying 12 times! According to an f64sports blog post, Cardinals defensive end Curtis Greer dropped Jones an unofficial 4-½ times in the contest. It was not the first time a player had recorded 12 sacks in an NFL game, but it was the first time an NFL defense had sacked the same player 12 times in one game! ( Source)
- October 26, 1989 – The NFL approved Paul Tagliabue as Pete Rozelle’s successor.
- October 26, 2013 – In an unbelievable comeback, the University of South Carolina upset the 5th-ranked University of Missouri 27-24. The Gamecocks found themselves trailing the heavily favored Mizzou squad 17-0 in the fourth quarter. USC quarterback Connor Shaw was banged up and had flu-like symptoms, according to an article on postandcourier.com, but he led a fierce comeback for South Carolina. Earlier in the week, Shaw admitted to a partial tear in his LCL, and a few days before kickoff, he had the flu, so head coach Steve Spurrier did not let him start, and the team took the field with Dylan Thompson under center. After watching Dylan struggle through the first 3 quarters, Spurrier turned to Shaw and asked if he could go, and the youngster responded by leading the Gamecocks to a tie and overtime against the Tigers. The Carolina victory came in the second OT session when Mizzou tried to tie the score once more, but their kick banged off the upright to fall away from its mark, allowing the underdog USC team to claim victory. (Source)
October 26, Football Hall of Fame Birthdays
- Sid Gillman [1911] – Regarded as the founding father of modern passing offenses, Gillman revolutionized football through his innovative downfield route combinations, film study discipline, and tactical spacing. Enshrined in both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame, he led the Los Angeles Chargers to the 1963 AFL Championship and created the blueprint for modern air attacks that heavily shaped coaches like Bill Walsh and Al Davis.
- Sam Francis [1913] – A punishing fullback and dominant punter for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Francis was the runner-up for the 1936 Heisman Trophy and earned unanimous All-American honors. The first overall pick in the 1937 NFL Draft, the College Football Hall of Fame enshrinee also competed in the 1936 Berlin Olympics in the shot put before starting his pro career with the Bears, Pirates, and Dodgers.
- Jim Weatherall [1929] – An anchor on both sides of the trenches for Bud Wilkinson’s powerhouse Oklahoma Sooners, Weatherall captured the 1951 Outland Trophy and helped deliver the program’s first national championship in 1950. The two-time consensus All-American tackle was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame and earned a Pro Bowl nod during his multi-year NFL career.
- Tony Casillas [1963] – A destructive defensive tackle at Oklahoma, Casillas won the 1985 Lombardi Award, earned UPI Lineman of the Year honors, and anchored the defense for the Sooners’ 1985 national championship squad. Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, the No. 2 overall pick in 1986 translated his interior dominance to the pros as a vital run-stopper for the Dallas Cowboys’ back-to-back Super Bowl XXVII and XXVIII championship defenses.
Conclusion
From the incredible 100-yard interception return that stunned BYU’s conference-winning streak in 1985 to the recognition of future Hall of Fame excellence, October 26 proves that some of football’s most compelling narratives are written mid-season. This day, marked by record-breaking upsets and the honoring of gridiron legends like Eric Allen, underscores the sport’s unpredictability and its deep historical roots. As we close the book on October 26, we’re reminded that every day in football is an opportunity to make history, preserving the game’s legacy one spectacular moment at a time.
October 26 Gridiron Image of the Day
Lon Keller illustrated the cover photo
Public domain
