Football History

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In the heart of the American South, where rolling hills meet razor-sharp wit, lies a tale of pigskin glory and unwavering passion. Buckle up, because we're taking a deep dive into the history of the Arkansas Razorbacks, a football program as fiery as their namesake and as storied as the Ozark Mountains themselves.

From their humble beginnings as the "Arkansas Cardinals" in 1894, the Razorbacks have clawed their way to gridiron greatness. Witness the birth of the legendary "Wooo, Pig!" cheer, echoing through packed stadiums like a thunderous chorus. Feel the electric sting of defeats that fueled future triumphs, like the epic "Game of the Century" against Texas in 1969.

Step into the shoes of coaching giants like Frank Broyles, who led the Hogs to their only undisputed national championship in 1964, and Darren McFadden, the Heisman Trophy runner-up who left defenses gasping for air with his electrifying runs.

Experience the heartbreak of near misses and the ecstasy of unexpected victories. Celebrate the underdog spirit that defines Razorback fans, their loyalty as thick as Arkansas molasses and their cheers as potent as moonshine.

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Born June 11, 1956, was Joe Montana, the Pro Football Hall of Fame NFL Quarterback that played for the San Francisco 49ers & the Kansas City Chiefs. Joe hails from Notre Dame where he was the signal caller and guided the Irish to be National Champions in 1977.

He earned the nickname, the "Come Back Kid" in the following year when he played in a frigid temperature Cotton Bowl. The QB was suffering from hypothermia at halftime and he stayed in the locker room being fed chicken soup and warm I.V.s. When he returned in the second half his team trailed 34-12 to the University of Houston when Montana guided the rally for a ND 35-34 win. The Pro Football Hall of Fame states that his uncanny ability to bring a team back from apparent defeat was so common that it simply became referred to as “Montana Magic.” A true student of the game, Montana won the NFL’s passing title in both 1987 and 1989. He topped the NFC in passing five times (1981, 1984, 1985, 1987, and 1989).

Joe threw for more than 300 yards in a game 39 different times in his career and 7 of those had yardage over 400 yards too. His six 300-yard passing performances in the post-season are an NFL record. He also owns the career playoff record for attempts, completions, touchdowns, and yards gained passing. In the NFL he became known as Joe Cool where he guided the 49ers to 4 Super Bowl victories under Bill Walsh. His amazing 15 seasons included 40,551 passing yards as he also earned a spot in 8 Pro Bowls.

Explore the historic 1943 NFL Draft! Held amidst World War II, this April 8th event showcased how the league adapted to wartime. Discover the player selections and the unique circumstances shaping professional football during this pivotal era. A fascinating look at NFL history!

The 1943 NFL Draft, which took place on April 8th, occurred during the height of World War II, significantly impacting the league's operations and player pool. Many draftees were either already serving or would soon join the armed forces, leading to unique team-building strategies and roster uncertainties. This draft highlights the NFL's resilience during a challenging period in global history.

On April 8, 1943, the National Football League held its annual player draft at the Palmer House Hotel in Chicago, Illinois. The Detroit Lions, holding the first overall selection, chose halfback Frank Sinkwich from the University of Georgia. Notably, the 1943 draft stands out in NFL history as the only one that did not produce a future member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

In this draft, each of the league's ten teams made a total of 30 selections. To promote competitive balance, the five teams with the poorest records from the 1942 season were granted exclusive picks in the second and fourth rounds. Conversely, the five top-finishing teams were relegated to sole participation in the 31st and 32nd rounds.

The first round of the 1943 NFL Draft unfolded as follows: the Detroit Lions picked Frank Sinkwich (Halfback, Georgia); the Philadelphia Eagles selected Joe Muha (Fullback, VMI); the Chicago Cardinals chose Glenn Dobbs (Tailback, Tulsa); the Brooklyn Dodgers drafted Paul Governali (Quarterback, Columbia); and the Cleveland Rams picked Mike Holovak (Fullback, Boston College). Continuing the first round, the New York Giants selected Steve Filipowicz (Fullback, Fordham); the Pittsburgh Steelers chose Bill Daley (Fullback, Minnesota); the Green Bay Packers drafted Dick Wildung (Tackle, Minnesota); the Chicago Bears picked Bob Steuber (Halfback, Missouri); and finally, the Washington Redskins selected Jack Jenkins (Fullback, Vanderbilt).

So far, none of the selections from this draft have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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On April 18, 1995, the football world paused as Joe Montana, widely considered one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, announced his retirement. In a poignant, nationally televised event surrounded by his iconic teammates like Bill Walsh, Ronnie Lott, Dwight Clark, and Roger Craig, alongside executives from both the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs, "Joe Cool" officially hung up his cleats. While his name is synonymous with the 49ers' dynasty, capturing four Super Bowl titles and etching his name in San Francisco lore, Montana's final two seasons were spent leading the Kansas City Chiefs after a significant 1993 trade that saw the Chiefs acquire him for a first-round pick.

The retirement ceremony was a testament to Montana's profound impact. Even his successor in San Francisco, Steve Young, lauded him as "the greatest I've ever seen," echoing the sentiments of countless fans and fellow players. Montana's remarkable career statistics – 40,551 passing yards and 273 touchdowns – only partially tell the story of his legendary status. It was his uncanny ability to perform under pressure, his clutch performances in Super Bowls, and his leadership that solidified his place as a true icon. For those wanting to revisit the news coverage of this momentous occasion and other pivotal moments in sports history, resources like Newspapers.com offer an extensive archive of newspapers, including the Arizona Daily Sun and the Kansas City Star, providing a rich historical perspective. Montana's retirement marked the end of an era, but his legacy as a quarterbacking standard-bearer continues to resonate throughout the NFL.

Relive NFL history! The pivotal 1945 NFL Meeting and Draft on April 8th shaped the league's future. Discover wartime decisions, groundbreaking player selections, and the strategies that defined an era. Explore the key moments of this historic NFL Draft event!

The 1945 NFL Meeting, held alongside the draft on April 8th, navigated the challenges of World War II, impacting team rosters and player availability. Discussions focused on league stability, potential mergers, and rules adjustments amidst wartime constraints. This crucial meeting set the stage for the player selections that followed, influencing the competitive balance of the NFL in the post-war years.

April 8, 1945 - The NFL held its spring meetings and had a busy itinerary.

First on the docket was to take the level of franchises from the war-torn count of ten to a higher amount. Pittsburgh co-owner Bert Bell suggested 16 teams to bring talent from the newly rising rival leagues of the All-America Football Conference, the U.S. Football League, and the Trans America Conference. The owners settled on 12 teams as the former Brooklyn franchise would merge with Boston, the Card-Pitt combined team would again split into two franchises, plus one new franchise, possibly in Buffalo but that would be determined at a later meeting after careful study.

Another agenda item was that a draft of college players was conducted. The first round went like this:

1 Chicago Cardinals Charley Trippi Halfback Georgia
2 Pittsburgh Steelers Paul Duhart Halfback Florida
3 Brooklyn Tigers Joe Renfroe Back Tulane
4 Boston Yanks Eddie Prokop Back Georgia Tech
5 Cleveland Rams Elroy Hirsch Flanker Michigan
6 Detroit Lions Frank Szymanski Center Notre Dame
7 Chicago Bears Don Lund Back Michigan
8 Washington Redskins Jim Hardy Quarterback USC
9 Philadelphia Eagles John Yonakor Defensive end Notre Dame
10 New York Giants Elmer Barbour Quarterback Wake Forest
11 Green Bay Packers Walt Schlinkman Fullback Texas Tech

The 1946 NFL Draft produced a remarkable class of future Pro Football Hall of Famers, each leaving an indelible mark on the sport. Here's a look at those legends:

-Charley Trippi: Selected first overall by the Chicago Cardinals, the halfback from Georgia earned his place in Canton in 1968.

-Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch: The Cleveland Rams drafted the dynamic wide receiver from Michigan fifth overall, and he joined Trippi in the 1968 Hall of Fame class.

-Pete Pihos: The Philadelphia Eagles found a defensive powerhouse in the fifth round, selecting the defensive end from Indiana University. Pihos was inducted in 1970.

-Tom Fears: Also drafted by the Cleveland Rams, the end from UCLA was a steal in the 11th round. Like Pihos, he entered the Hall of Fame in 1970.

-Arnie Weinmeister: The Brooklyn Tigers selected the defensive tackle from Washington in the 17th round, and he was enshrined in 1984.

Source New York Daily News - Mon, Apr 09, 1945 ·Page 166

Discover the captivating story behind the football penalty flag! Learn how this essential piece of football equipment evolved, changing its color to the familiar yellow for better visibility on the field. Explore its impact on penalty history and its crucial role in ensuring fair play in the game we love.

The "Flag of a Different Color," now a standard piece of football equipment, has an interesting penalty history. Initially white, the penalty flag was changed to yellow to enhance its visibility against the green playing surface. This seemingly minor alteration significantly improved officiating and communication during game play, contributing to a clearer understanding of penalties.

April 15, 1965 - The NFL changed its official penalty flag from white to bright gold. There were a few reasons that this change occurred. The first was that most officials wore white hats back then. These hats were used as a tool to mark spots of fumbles, out of bounds, etc With the advent of television broadcasts of games becoming more and more common, spotters in the stands would have an easier time discerning between a marker of a spot and that of a foul. A recent article on

ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com tells us that a second reason was that sometimes littered paper from the stands, mostly white, was often confused with penalty flags. I would imagine that games played on a snowy day would also be an impairment using the color white.  The American Football Database shares that the idea for the penalty flag came from Youngstown State coach Dwight Beede and was first used in a game against Oklahoma City University on October 17, 1941. Before using flags, officials used horns and whistles to signal a penalty. Official adoption of the use of the flag occurred at the 1948 American Football Coaches rules session.

The National Football League first used flags on September 17, 1948 when the Green Bay Packers played the Boston Yanks. The college game used red colored flags until the 1970’s and the striped rules enforcers in Canada carry an orange flag.

As for the hat being used for spots… this practice has lessened in the past four decades with the use of bean bags that vary in color from white, to black and most commonly blue.

The 1996 NFL Draft is considered one of the most talented and impactful in NFL history. It was a draft rich in Hall of Fame talent and produced many players who would become cornerstones of their respective franchises for years to come. Here's a look back at the top ten picks and some of the notable players from that draft.

-The Top Ten Picks[/]b

The 1996 NFL Draft kicked off with the New York Jets selecting wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson from USC with the first overall pick. Johnson was known for his confident persona and playmaking ability.

Here's a quick rundown of the top ten picks:

-1. New York Jets: Keyshawn Johnson, WR, Southern California

-2. Jacksonville Jaguars: Kevin Hardy, LB, Illinois

-3. Arizona Cardinals: Simeon Rice, DE, Illinois

-4. Baltimore Ravens: Jonathan Ogden, OT, UCLA

-5. New York Giants: Cedric Jones, DE, Oklahoma

-6. St. Louis Rams: Lawrence Phillips, RB, Nebraska

-7. New England Patriots: Terry Glenn, WR, Ohio State

-8. Carolina Panthers: Tim Biakabutuka, RB, Michigan

-9. Oakland Raiders: Rickey Dudley, TE, Ohio State

-10. Cincinnati Bengals: Willie Anderson, OT, Auburn

While many of these players had successful careers, some faced challenges. Lawrence Phillips' career was cut short due to off-field issues, but others, like Willie Anderson and Jonathan Ogden, became stalwarts at their positions.

-[b]Hall of Fame Talent

The 1996 draft is particularly notable for the number of Hall of Fame players it produced. Among them are:

-Jonathan Ogden: Drafted 4th overall by the Baltimore Ravens, Ogden is considered one of the greatest offensive tackles in NFL history. His exceptional size, athleticism, and technique made him a dominant force for over a decade.

-Marvin Harrison: Selected 19th overall by the Indianapolis Colts, Harrison became one of the most prolific wide receivers in NFL history. His connection with Peyton Manning was legendary, resulting in numerous records and a Super Bowl victory.

-Ray Lewis: Picked 26th overall by the Baltimore Ravens, Lewis is considered one of the greatest linebackers of all time. His passion, intensity, and leadership were instrumental in the Ravens' success, including two Super Bowl wins.

-Terrell Owens: Selected in the third round (89th overall) by the San Francisco 49ers. Owens was a dynamic and controversial wide receiver known for his incredible talent and flamboyant personality. He ranks among the NFL's all-time leaders in receiving yards and touchdowns.

-Brian Dawkins: Selected in the second round (61st overall) by the Philadelphia Eagles. Dawkins was known for his hard hitting and versatility.

-Other Notable Players

-Beyond the Hall of Famers, the 1996 draft produced a number of other highly successful players, including:

-Eddie George: Drafted 14th overall by the Houston Oilers (later Tennessee Titans), George was a workhorse running back known for his durability and productivity.

-Keyshawn Johnson: A very successful wide receiver in the NFL.

-Willie Anderson: A dominant offensive tackle.

-Muhsin Muhammad: A very productive wide receiver for the Panthers and Bears.

-Amani Toomer: A long time contributor to the New York Giants.

The 1996 NFL Draft stands out as a remarkable class that shaped the landscape of the NFL for many years. Its combination of top-tier talent and Hall of Fame inductees makes it one of the most memorable drafts in league history.

Born December 25, 1946, in Stow, Ohio, Larry Csonka, the tough running back from Syracuse, was born. According to the NFF website, Csonka claimed he never lifted traditional gym weights to get in shape but garnered his physical fitness by working on the family farm.

Zonk was in the top twenty of the nation’s leading rushers in three straight years from 1965 through 1967, and in ‘67, he earned a unanimous All-America status. In fact, Csonka broke many Orange records by great rushers like Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, Floyd Little, and Jim Nance.

Larry pulverized defensive lines, registering 14 collegiate 100-yard games in his career with a 4.9-yard average carry. The College Football Hall of Fame welcomed hard-nosed runner Larry Csonka into their membership in 1989.

In eleven NFL seasons had over 8000 yards rushing and a 4.3-yard average per carry. Larry Csonka ran his way into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987. After school, Larry was the first pick in the 1968 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins. He played in 5 Pro Bowls and was the MVP of Super Bowl VIII. He played 12 seasons of professional football with the Miami Dolphins and the New York Giants in the NFL and the 1975 season in the WFL.

Larry Csonka has a website where he shares some awesome things from his past, present, and future.

Relive the 1976 NFL Draft! April 8th saw legends like Leroy Selmon and Steve Largent enter the league. Discover the strategic picks that shaped NFL history. Dive into the stories behind these Hall of Famers and the impact of this pivotal draft!

The 1976 NFL Draft, held on April 8th, featured a talented class that would significantly impact the league. This draft is notable for producing two Hall of Fame players, Leroy Selmon, a dominant defensive force, and Steve Largent, a prolific wide receiver. Teams carefully evaluated college prospects, seeking to build their rosters for long-term success.

The National Football League held its annual player selection meeting, the 1976 NFL Draft, on April 8th and 9th, 1976, at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City, New York.

This draft spanned seventeen rounds, with the league's newest additions, the expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks, holding the coveted first two selections. A draw determined the order of these top picks, with the Buccaneers winning the right to select first overall.

The 1976 NFL Draft is a particularly fruitful year for future Pro Football Hall of Famers, yielding a remarkable five inductees who would leave an undeniable mark on the league. Leading the pack was defensive end Lee Roy Selmon from Oklahoma, selected first overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Selmon's dominant presence on the defensive line earned him a place in the Hall of Fame class of 1995.

Joining Selmon in the class of 1995 was wide receiver Steve Largent from Tulsa. Despite being a fourth-round pick (117th overall) by the Houston Oilers, Largent's exceptional route running and sure hands paved the way for a legendary career. The New England Patriots also struck gold in the first round, selecting cornerback Mike Haynes from Arizona State with the fifth overall pick. Haynes' shutdown coverage skills earned him Hall of Fame enshrinement in 1997.

The Los Angeles Rams found a cornerstone of their offensive line in the third round, drafting offensive tackle Jackie Slater from Jackson State (86th overall). Slater's longevity and consistent excellence secured his place in the Hall of Fame class of 2001. Rounding out this exceptional group was linebacker Harry Carson from South Carolina State, a fourth-round selection (105th overall) by the New York Giants. Carson's leadership and impactful play were recognized with his induction into the Hall of Fame in 2006. The 1976 draft is a testament to the unpredictable nature of player selection and the enduring impact of these five remarkable athletes.

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Before Fred Gehrke, football helmets were utilitarian – plain leather shells offering minimal protection. But in 1948, Gehrke, an art major playing halfback for the Los Angeles Rams, sparked a revolution. Inspired by his artistic background, he envisioned a helmet that wasn't just protective, but symbolic. He dreamt of painting the team's mascot, a ram, directly onto the leather.

Gehrke, ever the innovator, didn't just have the idea – he took action. He procured an old college helmet, painted it blue (the team's color), and meticulously added two bold yellow ram horns. This prototype became a conversation starter. He presented it to his coach, Bob Snyder, who saw the potential and encouraged Gehrke to present it to team owner Dan Reeves.

Reeves, captivated by the idea, contacted the NFL to ensure its legality. The response, a nonchalant "You're the owner; do what you want!" gave the green light. With that, Gehrke became the first player to paint a logo on a helmet, and history was made. He was tasked with painting the remaining helmets for the team, transforming a simple piece of equipment into a symbol of team spirit. The Rams' iconic logo debuted on the field that season, a testament to Gehrke's artistic vision and a turning point for the visual identity of football.

The first-ever NFL helmet with a logo was hand-painted by the Rams' Fred Gehrke in 1948.

-Frequently Asked Questions

-Who was the first player to wear a football helmet? We have your answer in our in-depth study ofthe first to wear a helmet.

-What is the history of each college team and their helmet designs? Check out many of them with our series College Football helmet history of schools.

-How come some teams have player numbers on their helmets? We asked this question too and had a college football expert historian help divulge helmet numbers history.

-Why do some teams like Michigan and Delaware look so odd and similar? It's really uncanny isn't it that the Wolverines and Blue Hens look the same, check this out for a reason History-of-the-Winged-Helmets" target="bbcode">when helmets had wings.

-What do stickers on college football helmets mean? Some of them look really crazy but there is some goos reason for the extra adornments and we have the scoop Why all the stickers on some football helmets?.

-When did football helmets change from leather to plastic? Just after World War II saw the most abrupt changes, we have more in this in our chat with an expert:When helmets changed from leather to plastic.