Football History

"A great defense is a great offense." - Michigan Wolverine Head Coach Harry Kipke (1929-1937)

We chose to quote Coach Kipke today because we salute him below as he was born on March 26 and we love to remember the greats, especially Hall of Famers on their birthdays.

Look back each day for more.

Could the NFL unexpectedly throw a financial lifeline to the CFL? Explore the potential for a surprising cash infusion between the two leagues. What could trigger such an unprecedented move and what would it mean for the future of Canadian football?

April 9, 1997 -  NFL announced it will give $3M to the CFL and a possible "World Classic Bowl". The agreement was to lessen hostilities of the CFL when the NFL would schedule games in Toronto to try and expand its reach. After all, Toronto is the third largest city in North America. The NFL reached a five-year partnership agreement with the CFL in 1997, which included a $3 million loan to the financially struggling Canadian league. Therefore, the NFL received the CFL's blessing to hold an annual preseason or regular season game in either Toronto or Vancouver for the duration of the agreement.

While no recent official announcements confirm a direct cash surprise from the NFL to the CFL specifically on April 9th or any other date in 2025, the two leagues have a history of occasional collaboration and financial considerations. In the late 1990s, the NFL provided a loan to the CFL during a period of financial instability in the Canadian league. Any future financial support would likely stem from strategic partnerships or mutual growth initiatives rather than a simple, unexpected cash handout.

The relationship between the NFL and CFL has evolved over decades, marked by player movement agreements and efforts to grow the sport of football in North America. While the CFL has faced financial challenges at various points in its history, a sudden, unannounced cash injection from the NFL on April 9th seems improbable without preceding discussions or a clear strategic rationale benefiting both leagues. Any significant financial support would likely be part of a more formal agreement aimed at long-term stability and mutual benefit.

USA Today Thu, Apr 10, 1997 ·Page 15

The 1940 NFL season was marked by dominance, innovation, and a record-breaking finale, as well as vying with yet another rival league.

The Short-Lived American Football League (AFL III) (1940-1941)

The American Football League (AFL III) was a professional American football league from 1940 to 1941. It was the third major league to bear that name, but its existence was short-lived due to competition from the established National Football League (NFL).

The AFL III was formed in 1940 when three teams from the minor-league American Professional Football Association (APFA) - the Cincinnati Bengals, the Columbus Bullies, and the Milwaukee Chiefs - were lured away to join three new franchises in Boston, Buffalo, and New York City. This move dissolved the APFA, which had just announced its plans to compete with the NFL as a major league.

The AFL III faced an uphill battle, competing against the well-established and popular NFL. Despite some innovative features, such as the first-ever use of a double round-robin schedule (five home games and five away games for each team), the AFL III needed traction.

There were several reasons for the AFL III's demise:

-Financial difficulties: The league needed more financial resources from the NFL and struggled to attract fans and sponsors.

-Competition from the NFL: The NFL had a more extended history, extensive fan base, and established teams, making it difficult for the AFL III to compete.

-Internal turmoil: The league was plagued by internal disagreements and a lack of stability.

Despite its short existence, the AFL III made a few notable contributions to American football:

-Innovation: The league introduced the double round-robin schedule, which is still used today in some sports leagues.

-Player development: Several players who later starred in the NFL, such as Don Maynard and Pat Harder, got their start in the AFL III.

NFL 1940

The 1940 NFL season was marked by dominance, innovation, and a record-breaking finale.

The Chicago Bears reigned supreme, showcasing the power of the T-formation offense orchestrated by legendary coach George Halas. Led by aerial artistry and Sid Luckman's leadership, the Bears secured the Eastern Division title.

Innovation: This season saw the rise of the T-formation, revolutionizing how offenses operated. This innovative scheme emphasized teamwork and precision, opening passing lanes and creating a formidable rushing attack.

Memorable Moments:

-In one of the most bizarre finishes in NFL history, the New York Giants were leading the Packers 27-0 when the game was cut short due to bad weather. However, the Packers had rallied in the second half, and upon further review, the NFL awarded them the victory due to their progress before the interruption.

-Sammy Baugh's Passing Prowess: Baugh led the league in passing yards, further cementing his status as one of the game's all-time great quarterbacks.

The season culminated in an epic NFL Championship Game between the Bears and the Washington Redskins. In a display of offensive dominance, the Bears crushed the Redskins by a score of 73-0, still the most significant margin of victory in NFL history.

This lopsided victory remains the most one-sided in NFL history, a testament to the Bears' sheer power and precision.
The game was a landmark moment for the league, not just for the score but also because it became the first NFL title game broadcast nationwide by the Mutual Broadcasting System. This brought the excitement of professional football to millions of listeners across the country, further solidifying its place as America's favorite sport.

The Bears' offense, led by quarterback Sid Luckman and fueled by the innovative T-formation, was unstoppable. They scored eleven touchdowns, with ten different players finding the end zone. This dominance cemented the T-formation as a revolutionary strategy, influencing offensive schemes for decades.

Legacy: The 1940 NFL season cemented the Chicago Bears as a powerhouse and showcased the growing popularity of professional football. The rise of the T-formation and the innovations on the field laid the groundwork for the dynamic, pass-oriented NFL we see today.

Passing Leader: Sammy Baugh, 1367 Yds

Rushing Leader: Whizzer White, 514 Yds

Receiving Leader: Don Looney, 707 Yds

April 20, 1888 - The University of Notre Dame played it second official football game ever at South Bend, Indiana's Green Stocking Ball Park. The Wolverines triumphed 26-6. The two teams would meet again the following day.

Since then much has changed as Notre Dame has one of the richest gridiron traditions at any level.

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Steelers Nation mourns! Relive the iconic career of Troy Polamalu as the legendary safety hung up his helmet. Explore his electrifying plays, signature hair, and the impact he had on Pittsburgh's defense and the hearts of fans. A true game-changer bids farewell.

On April 9th, 2015, the football world witnessed the end of an era as Troy Polamalu officially announced his retirement after 12 unforgettable seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Known for his unparalleled instincts, acrobatic interceptions, and ferocious yet controlled playing style, Polamalu redefined the safety position and became a symbol of the Steelers' dominant defense during the 2000s. His impact transcended statistics, resonating with fans through his passion and unique talent.

Troy Polamalu's retirement on April 9th, 2015, left a void in the NFL that few could fill. An eight-time Pro Bowler, two-time Super Bowl champion, and the 2010 Defensive Player of the Year, Polamalu's highlight reel is a testament to his exceptional athleticism and football IQ. His influence on the game extends beyond his on-field achievements, inspiring a generation of players and solidifying his place as a Hall of Fame icon.

1991- Fans at the home of the Citrus Bowl welcomed the World League of American Football's Orlando Thunder's inaugural game against the San Antonio Riders. The Thunder outlasted the Riders 35-34 in a thriller.

Thunder QB Number 12 Kerwin Bell enters the stadium to applause. Image courtesy Newspapers.com via the Orlando Sentinal March 26, 1991.

The World League of American Football (WLAF) was a professional American football league founded by the NFL in 1991. It featured teams in North America and Europe, aiming to expand the sport's global reach. 1 While showcasing some promising talent and generating initial interest, the WLAF struggled with financial sustainability and inconsistent attendance. It underwent restructuring and rebranding before eventually ceasing operations in 2007, providing a platform for players and coaches and briefly introducing American football to new markets.

As football fans, we appreciate having the broadcasts of our favorite games in color to enjoy the vivid colors and pageantry of the gridiron.

With this being April Fool's Day and all I want to share with you a great prank completed back in 1962 from hoaxes.org, from Sweden's only television network Sweden's SVT (Sveriges Television) brought their technical expert, Kjell Stensson, on to the news to inform the public that, thanks to a new technology, viewers could convert their existing sets to display color reception.

At the time, there was only one TV channel in Sweden, and it broadcast in black and white, so this was big news. Stensson explained that all viewers had to do was pull a nylon stocking over their TV screen, and the mesh would cause the light to bend so that the image appeared in color.

He proceeded to demonstrate the process, and thousands of people were taken in. Many Swedes today still report remembering their fathers rushing through the house trying to find stockings to place over the TV set. Regular color broadcasts only commenced in Sweden on April 1, 1970.

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April 17, 1963: Paul Hornung of the Green Bay Packers and Alex Karras of the Detroit Lions were suspended from the NFL indefinitely for betting on NFL games.

According to a newspaper article in the Nashville Banner on that day, not only were these two NFL stars suspended, but five other Detroit Lions, other than Karras, were fined $2000 each, and the Michigan franchise incurred a penalty of $4000 as a result of an investigation into pro football gambling.

The five Lions players involved were guard John Gordy, DB Gordy Lowe, linebacker Joe Schmidt, DE Sam Williams, and another unnamed player who allegedly bet $50 each on the 1962 NFL Championship game between the New York Giants and the Green Bay Packers. Alex Karras, on the other hand, incriminated himself in a television interview, stating that he bet on games but only for cigarettes and cigars, but the NFL judged him as guilty by association with individuals described by the Detroit Police as “known hoodlums.” Paul Hornung befriended a wealthy West Coast businessman just before the East-West Shrine game in 1956 in San Francisco, and that mystery figure who was known to bet on both college and pro games from then on would call to “query” Hornung about football. In 1959, Hornung was said to have started placing bets on NFL games with this so-called friend as they spoke twice weekly, and $100 to $500 bets were said to have been placed. Commissioner Pete Rozelle said that the review of Karras and Hornung’s suspensions would not be reviewed until 1964. We now know there was a reprieve to the sentence on 3/16/1964 (See March 16 reinstatement). 

On April 2, 1906, the Harvard Athletic Committee "favorably acted" to reinstitute the game of football at the school.

Though it was never officially dropped as a sport, Harvard was a leader in suggesting the game should be banned in 1905 due to its brutality. Reforms were made after the 1905 season, spurring the Harvard board to reconsider.

The Crimson were an early power in the game, claiming a legacy that includes 13 national titles.

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April 12, 1940 - The NFL reduced the penalty for clipping. According to the FootballZebras.com website, up until 1940, the offense might as well have given the ball to the defense immediately if they got flagged for clipping.

Before 1940, a clipping penalty was a 25-yard penalty from the spot of the foul. From 1940 to today, the penalty is 15 yards. At some time during the 1990, all levels of football adopted the Block in the Back rule that partially cleaned up the clipping rule further.

Before this change, almost any block from behind was considered a clip. The Block in the back fouls are blocks from behind above the waist and have a ten-yard penalty, while the clip was limited to behind the back below the waist of the offended player.