Football History

When you talk about the greatest running backs of all time, This guy needs to be discussed! Born September 9, 1878 in Galesburg, Illinois, was Willie Heston, a college football player and coach who is considered one of the greatest players in the history of the University of Michigan. He played halfback from 1901 to 1904, and led the Wolverines to four consecutive undefeated seasons and two national championships.

Willie attended San Jose Normal School (now San Jose State University) before transferring to Michigan. He was a two-way player for the Wolverines, excelling at both running and passing. He was also a superb punter and kicker.

Heston was a consensus All-American in 1903 and 1904. He was also named the captain of the 1904 team. In his four years at Michigan, Heston scored 72 touchdowns, which is still a school record. He also rushed for 2,339 yards and passed for 1,003 yards.

After graduating from Michigan, Heston played professional football for the Canton Bulldogs in 1905. He suffered a broken leg in his first game, and this ended his playing career.

Heston then turned to coaching. He was the head coach for Drake University in 1905 and North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (now North Carolina State University) in 1906. He then returned to Michigan to practice law. Heston was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954.

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Born September 2, 1948 - Terry Bradshaw was a former quarterback from Louisiana Tech that is enshrined in both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame according to the National Football Foundation. Bradshaw was the number one pick in the 1970 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Bradshaw started his NFL career slowly, but he eventually became one of the most successful quarterbacks in NFL history. He led the Steelers to four Super Bowl championships in a six-year period (1974, 1975, 1978, and 1979), becoming the first quarterback to win three and four Super Bowls. He was also named the NFL's Most Valuable Player in 1978.

In his 14-season NFL career, Bradshaw completed 2,025 of 3,901 passes for 27,989 yards and 212 touchdowns. He also rushed 444 times for 2,257 yards and 32 touchdowns. He was selected to the Pro Bowl three times and was named to the NFL's All-Pro team once.

Bradshaw retired from football in 1984. He has since worked as a television sports analyst, most notably as a co-host of Fox NFL Sunday. He is also a successful businessman and has appeared in several television commercials.

May 30, 1943 - Wichita, Kansas - Gale Sayers the top notch Kansas Halfback, also known as the “Kansas Comet” was born. Gale is one of the most talented backs to have ever graced the gridiron.

The FootballFoundation.org lists that Mr. Sayers was a two-time First Team All-America selection for the Jayhawks, and when he concluded his KU career he had 2,675 yards rushing and 3,917 all-purpose yards. The Kansas Comet led KU in rushing, touchdowns and kickoff returns all three years he wore the Jayhawk colors. Gale also led the team in receiving and punt returns in his final two years with the program. Sayers became the first player in NCAA Division IA history to record a 99-yard run when he broke loose against Nebraska in Lincoln during the 1963 season.

One of Sayers top collegiate moments on the gridiron has to be the 96-yard kickoff return that aided a 15-14 upset of Oklahoma in his senior season. The University retired his number 48 jersey soon after he wore it last. Gale Sayers’ collegiate football records are celebrated in the College Football Hall of Fame after his induction in 1977.

The Chicago Bears drafted Sayers in the first round of the 1965 NFL Draft and he had an almost immediate impact on the entire League! The Pro Football Hall of Fame says right out of the chute Gale in a pre-season game raced 77 yards on a punt return, 93 yards on a kickoff return, and then startled everyone with a 25-yard scoring pass against the Los Angeles Rams. During the regular games he kept it going, as this standout player set a rookie record that season of 22 touchdowns and 132 points! The Comet scored four touchdowns, including a 96-yard game breaking kickoff return, against the Minnesota Vikings. But that was not the rookie’s grand finale. No, not even close to it. In the second to the last game of the year, playing on a muddy field that would have stalled most rushing attempts, Gale scored a record-tying six touchdowns against the San Francisco 49ers. Included in his sensational spree were an 80-yard pass-run play, a 50-yard rush and a 65-yard punt return. Sayers went on to have a short but brilliant career with 9435 combined yards in his career, 4956 yards from running.

Gale still is the all-time leader in NFL kick returns as he was also an All-NFL selection in five straight seasons and the player of the game in three different Pro Bowls. The Pro Football Hall of Fame honored Gale Sayers with enshrinement in 1977 to become one of a very few that entered both Football Hall of Fame's in the same year.

Born on June 11, 1913, in Brooklyn, New York, was Vince Lombardi, the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee, NFL coach of the Green Bay Packers, and former NFL executive.

Yes, even the trophy awarded to the Super Bowl Champion each season bears his name due to his importance to the NFL. Before becoming the Packers' head man, he had only five years of NFL experience as an assistant coach with the New York Giants. At his first team meeting, Lombardi challenged his new team by saying, "I have never been on a losing team, gentlemen, and I do not intend to start now!" The Packers responded as they improved from 1-10-1 in 1958 to 7-5 in 1959 in Lombardi's first season on the job. In 1960, Lombardi's Packers won the NFL championship five times in seven years and the first two Super Bowls in just ten seasons! Coach Vince had an overall career record of 105-35-6 as a head coach. The Pro Football Hall of Fame website claims that not only did he turn the Green Bay Packers around and take the league crown in 7 of nine seasons, but he also, in his final year as a coach, took the dismal Washington team and gave them their first winning season in 14! Vince Lombardi was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971, a year after he died of cancer at age 57.

It is fitting that at the end of every Super Bowl, we remember the man that helped define the game.

Born April 10, 1936, was Pro Football Hall of Fame Head Coach John Madden. Madden was 103-32-7 in 10 seasons  from 1969 through the 1978 season as the Oakland Raiders head coach. Madden led the Black and Silver to become Super Bowl XI champions. He later worked as a TV commentator from 1979 to 2008 and is a 16-time Emmy Award winner. Madden worked for all four major networks in his career (CBS, FOX, ABC and NBC) and was an analyst for 11 Super Bowls. Madden retired from broadcasting in April 2009, and his final game as a broadcaster was Super Bowl XLIII, when the Steelers defeated the Cardinals 27-23. John Madden was chosen to be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame for his contributions of being a coach and I am sure the things he brought to televeision braodcasts are not overlooked.

Born May 1, 1910, in Akron, Ohio, was the strong halfback of the seasons of 1928 to 1931 of West Virginia Wesleyan, Cliff “Gyp” Battles. Battles was masterful in busting off long runs according to the FootballFoundation.org.

During the 1929 season, he broke off a 50-yard run from scrimmage against Salem. In 1930 he returned a kickoff 98 yards and a punt 90 yards against Waynesburg and ran back a punt 90 yards against Georgetown. That same year he also had runs of 80, 73, 68, and 66 yards. His 1931 scorecard showed runs of 86, 62, 57, 54, 44, and 22; that season he crossed the goal line 15 times and booted four extra points.

Against Salem in 1931 he made seven touchdowns. The next day’s paper registered that Gyp had 354 yards rushing, 91 on kick returns, and 24 on pass receiving, total 469 for the game. Causing the great gridiron historian of the day Grantland Rice to write: "Battles simply ran over or around all opponents."  

The National Football Foundation selected Cliff Battles for entrance into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955. After his schooling was complete Cliff played pro football with the Boston/Washington franchise from 1932-37 and twice led the National Football League in rushing in both 1932 and 1937 per the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Cliff was the first player in NFL history to surpass the 200 yard mark in a single game and earned All-NFL honors five different times from 1932 to 1937.  Battles fought his way over the goal line 3 times in a division clinching victory over the Giants in 1937.  He was at the pinnacle of his career it seemed, and then he abruptly retired as the Redskins froze his salary at $3000 per year. He was a standout player in fact Cliff Battles was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968. Battles was assistant coach at Columbia 1938-43, served in the Marines in World War II, and coached the Brooklyn Dodgers of the All-America Football Conference 1946-47.

Born April 20, 1925, in Prinzing-By-Cham, Bavaria, was the stout defensive tackle from Boston College, Ernie Stautner was born.

The Pittsburgh Steelers chose Ernie with the second overall selection in the 1950 NFL Draft per the Pro Football HOF website. Stautner anchored a formidable D-line in the steel city for 14 seasons. He was chosen as an All-NFL player four times in the back half of the 1950’s, winning the honor of best NFL lineman in 1957 and played in nine Pro Bowl games.

Stautner recovered 23 opponents' fumbles and took part in creating 3 safeties during his dominant career. Ernie Stautner was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1969.

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Hailing from the Windy City, John "Paddy" Driscoll wasn't just any football player. A true "triple threat," he mastered running, passing, and kicking, leaving an indelible mark on the early NFL. Nicknamed for his Irish roots, Driscoll's diminutive stature (5'9") belied his immense talent.

He starred at Northwestern, then a stint in the MLB with the Cubs, and later football again at the Great Lakes Naval Academy leading them to victory in the 1919 Rose Bowl, then turned pro, bouncing between teams before finding his home with the Chicago Cardinals. There, he became a scoring machine, earning the league's first All-Pro quarterback title and twice claiming the scoring crown.

Driscoll's versatility knew no bounds. He could scramble past defenders, unleash pinpoint passes, and boot game-winning field goals. His kicking prowess was unmatched, earning him the title of "the greatest drop-kicker of all time."

But Paddy was more than just stats. He was a natural leader, respected by teammates and feared by opponents. His unwavering focus and fierce competitive spirit earned him the nickname "Iron Man."

Driscoll's legacy extends beyond the gridiron. He coached both the Cardinals and Bears, helping lay the foundation for future success. In 1965, he earned his rightful place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, forever enshrined as a Chicago legend.

So, when you hear the name Paddy Driscoll, remember not just a star athlete, but a pioneer who shaped the game into what it is today. A testament to hard work, skill, and unwavering grit, he remains an inspiration for every football player, young and old.

This video collection, from the Pat's Dynasty Website celebrates the career of Troy Brown, the versatile Patriot who left a lasting impact on the New England dynasty even with Tom Brady stealing the spotlight. Dive into Brown's journey from unheralded eighth-round draft pick to Super Bowl champion, witnessing his evolution from wide receiver to punt returner to offensive weapon.

Expect thrilling highlights that showcase Brown's dazzling skillset: acrobatic catches, electrifying punt returns, and game-changing runs. Prepare to be awestruck by his agility, his deceptive moves, and his uncanny ability to make the impossible play seem routine. The collection delves beyond the stats, revealing the heart and spirit of a player who embodied the "Patriot Way" of grit, determination, and selfless contributions.

You'll witness Brown's key role in some of the Patriots' most iconic moments: his touchdown catch in Super Bowl XXXVI, his electrifying punt returns setting up crucial wins, and his leadership guiding the team through adversity. Expect interviews with coaches, teammates, and opponents, shedding light on Brown's work ethic, his infectious humor, and the respect he commanded across the league.

Fun facts about how the size of the football field has changed in size, shape, and dimensions.