Football History

Johnny Unitas wasn't just a quarterback; he was a revolution. In a time dominated by bruising running backs and conservative play-calling, Unitas emerged as a gunslinger, a magician with a cannon for an arm who redefined the position and ushered in a golden age of NFL passing. This essay explores Unitas' remarkable career, highlighting his rise from obscurity to stardom, his innovative playing style, and his lasting impact on the game of football.

-From Undrafted to Unstoppable (1955-1959)

Born in 1933, Johnny Unitas' path to greatness was anything but conventional. Despite a stellar college career at the University of Louisville, he went undrafted in 1955 due to his perceived size and lack of experience in a pro-style offense. Undeterred, Unitas signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but was released before the season began. He eventually landed with the Baltimore Colts, initially relegated to a backup role. However, fate intervened when the starting quarterback suffered a season-ending injury in the fourth game. Thrust into the spotlight, Unitas seized the opportunity. With his strong arm, pinpoint accuracy, and calm demeanor under pressure, he led the Colts on a remarkable winning streak, showcasing a revolutionary passing style that emphasized completing short and intermediate passes for consistent gains.

-The Architect of the Modern Passing Game (1959-1973)

Unitas' arrival coincided with the rise of head coach Weeb Ewbank, who implemented an offensive scheme built around Unitas' strengths. This "West Coast Offense" emphasized short passes, quick throws, and high completion percentages, a stark contrast to the run-heavy strategies prevalent at the time. Unitas thrived in this system, becoming the NFL's first true passing star. He shattered records, revolutionized the quarterback position, and led the Colts to a dominant era. He won three NFL championships (1958, 1959, 1968) and was named league MVP three times (1957, 1959, 1964). His iconic "Colts Prayer" touchdown pass in the 1958 NFL Championship game against the New York Giants is etched in football history as a testament to his clutch play and impact on the game.

-A Legacy of Inspiration and Innovation

Johnny Unitas' legacy extends far beyond statistics and championships. He inspired a generation of young quarterbacks to embrace the passing game. His calm leadership, competitive spirit, and dedication to accuracy transformed the way offenses operated, paving the way for the high-octane passing attacks that dominate the modern NFL. Even today, quarterbacks strive for the "Unitas-like" precision throws that revolutionized the sport.

Johnny Unitas' story is one of perseverance, innovation, and a love for the game. He was the right player at the right time, a gunslinger who dared to challenge the established order and ushered in a new era of football.

March 28, 1963 – Sonny Werblin leads a group that purchases the AFL's New York Titans from original owner Harry Wismer. Werblin and company promptly changed the team name to the New York Jets on April 15.

Sonny Werblin's tenure as the owner of the New York Jets, from 1963 to 1968, was a transformative and often flamboyant period that fundamentally altered the franchise's trajectory and the landscape of professional football. When Werblin, a powerful and charismatic entertainment executive, took over the struggling American Football League (AFL) team, he brought a vision of big-time entertainment and a willingness to spend lavishly to achieve it.

His most significant and arguably most audacious move was the signing of University of Alabama quarterback Joe Namath in 1965 for a then-unheard-of contract worth over $400,000. This bold stroke instantly injected excitement and controversy into the Jets and the entire AFL, challenging the established dominance of the NFL. Werblin understood the power of star power and marketing, and he cultivated Namath's image as a charismatic rebel, attracting a new generation of fans.

Beyond Namath, Werblin invested in talent, bringing in key players like Don Maynard, George Sauer, and Gerry Philbin. He also hired the astute Weeb Ewbank as head coach, providing the leadership and experience needed to mold the team. Werblin's influence extended beyond personnel; he modernized the team's image, improved facilities, and fostered a winning culture.

Werblin's investment and vision culminated in Super Bowl III in January 1969. Despite being heavy underdogs against the NFL's Baltimore Colts, Namath famously guaranteed victory, and the Jets delivered with a stunning 16-7 upset. This victory was a watershed moment, not only for the Jets, who secured their only Super Bowl title to date but also for the AFL, which proved its legitimacy and paved the way for the eventual merger with the NFL.

While Werblin sold the team in 1968, his impact on the New York Jets and professional football was profound. He demonstrated the potential of aggressive marketing, a star quarterback's power, and the upstart AFL's viability. His tenure is remembered as a bold and successful gamble that forever changed the game.

The franchise would compete in the AFL until the NFL/AFL merger and help put the NFL on notice in Super Bowl III when the Jets defeated the Colts.

Knute Rockne tragically died on March 31, 1931, in Kansas, when a Transcontinental & Western Air airliner crashed. He was en route to participate in the filming of The Spirit of Notre Dame, which was later released on October 13, 1931. Rockne had made a stop in Kansas City to visit his sons, Bill and Knute Jr., who were attending boarding school at Pembroke-Country Day School. Approximately an hour after departing Kansas City, a wing of the Fokker Trimotor broke apart mid-flight. The plane plummeted into a wheat field near Bazaar, Kansas, resulting in the deaths of Rockne and seven other individuals.

In a somber coincidence, Jess Harper, Rockne's friend and the coach he had succeeded at Notre Dame, resided about 100 miles from the crash site. Harper was called upon to positively identify Rockne's body. A memorial now marks the location of the crash, enclosed by a wire fence with wooden posts. For many years, James Heathman, who was 13 years old in 1931 and among the first to reach the scene, diligently maintained the memorial.

Born September 24, 1946 Joe Greene was a former defensive tackle from North Texas State and the Pittsburgh Steelers. A number one Draft Pick of the Steelers Greene anchored the Steel Curtain defense that won four Super Bowls in the 1970s. 

Greene played defensive tackle for Pittsburgh from 1969 to 1981. Mean Joe received two NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards, five first-team All-Pro selections, and ten Pro Bowl appearances. Many experts consider the Pro Football Hall of Fame player who wore Number 75 to be one of the top defensive linemen in NFL history.

Joe was a center piece to building the Steelers dynasty of the 1970s, and is considered one of the top defensive lineman to have ever played the game.

Born May 19, 1949, in Drew, Mississippi, was Mississippi quarterback from 1968 to 1970, Archie Manning. You have probably heard of Archie’s sons Peyton and Eli but the original Manning QB was the vine that these two Multi Super Bowl winners got their gusto from.

Archie, in 1969, according to the FootballFoundation.org website, tossed for 436 yards and hoofed out another 104 to lead his Ole Miss team against the mighty Alabama eleven. His efforts created an SEC record for a total offense of 540 yards!  He had a 362-yard game against Louisiana State in 1968 and a 341-yard game over Southern Mississippi in 1970. The elder Manning heaped in many awards for performances like those, too.

In 1969, he was Mississippi Sportsman of the Year and recipient of the Nashville Banner Trophy as Most Valuable Player in the Southeastern Conference. Archie was fourth in the Heisman voting in 1969 and third in 1970.

Archie Manning was honored to be selected for inclusion into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989. He was drafted into the NFL by the New Orleans Saints and also spent time with the Houston Oilers and Minnesota Vikings as well before he hung it up after 14 years in the League.

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.

1969 - A report that the Student Council at Midland Lutheran College in Fremont, Nebraska, was proposing to abolish the school's football program was laughable, according to then-head football coach Max Kitzelman. " I think it was humorous. Nothing will come of it. I could be surprised.

The proposal proposed redirecting the funds allocated to the Midland gridiron program to other athletic activities. Kitzelman thought this was laughable because the Council did not poll the student body before making the proposal, and the offer was premature.

The root of the issue may have been due to the football team being winless during the 1968 season. Kitzelman pointed to player ineligibility and losing some key players to other sports. Things did not improve in the 1969 season for Coach Kitzelman's team as they finished the year with a 1-7 record, good enough for a 4th place (of 6 teams) finish in the 1969 Nebraska Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings. The football program continued in 1970, but Coach K left for the sidelines. Midland was 3-7 in 1970.

Losing isn't fun, even at an NAIA Division II school.

Source - The Midland Atchison, Kansas · Friday, March 28, 1969

The 1999 version of the NFL Draft took place. University of Kentucky quarterback Tim Couch was the first pick by the expansion Cleveland Browns franchise. There were some pretty fantastic picks made too as Couch was followed by Syracuse’s Donovan McNabb to the Eagles, Cincy taking Akili Smith of Oregon, Hall of Fame back Edgerrin James went 4th to the Colts followed by Ricky Williams to New Orleans in the big trade by then coach Mike Ditka giving all of his 1999 picks for the opportunity to draft Williams. NC State Wideout Tory Holt went next to the St Louis Rams, Hall of Fame Defensive Back Champ Bailey was picked up by Washington, according to the Pro-Football-Reference.com.

The 1999 NFL Draft, held on April 17–18, 1999, at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, was a significant event in professional football history. This draft is particularly notable for the many quarterbacks selected in the first round and a landmark trade involving the New Orleans Saints. Returning to the NFL as an expansion team, the Cleveland Browns held the first overall pick.

One of the most talked-about aspects of this draft was the New Orleans Saints' aggressive move to acquire the fifth overall pick. In a historic trade, the Saints sent all six of their draft picks to the Washington Redskins to select running back Ricky Williams from the University of Texas. This was the first and only time an NFL team has had just one pick in an entire draft. While Williams had a productive career, the sheer cost in draft capital is still debated.

The first round saw a flurry of quarterback selections, with five signal-callers taken in the top 12 picks. The Browns selected Tim Couch first overall, followed by Donovan McNabb to the Philadelphia Eagles (2nd), Akili Smith to the Cincinnati Bengals (3rd), Daunte Culpepper to the Minnesota Vikings (11th), and Cade McNown to the Chicago Bears (12th). While McNabb and Culpepper went on to have successful careers, reaching a Super Bowl and earning multiple Pro Bowl selections respectively, Couch, Smith, and McNown are often labeled as draft busts who did not live up to their high draft positions.

Beyond the quarterbacks, the first round also featured several other notable players, including running backs Edgerrin James (4th to the Indianapolis Colts) and Ricky Williams, wide receivers Torry Holt (6th to the St. Louis Rams) and David Boston (8th to the Arizona Cardinals), and defensive backs Champ Bailey (7th to the Washington Redskins) and Chris McAlister (10th to the Baltimore Ravens). These players formed the foundation of successful teams, and many achieved individual accolades throughout their careers.

The 1999 NFL Draft produced several players who would later be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, recognizing their exceptional contributions to the sport. It also saw the selection of players honored in the College Football Hall of Fame for their outstanding collegiate careers.

-Top Ten Selections of the 1999 NFL Draft:

-1. Tim Couch (QB) - Kentucky (Cleveland Browns)

-2. Donovan McNabb (QB) - Syracuse (Philadelphia Eagles)

-3. Akili Smith (QB) - Oregon (Cincinnati Bengals)

-4. Edgerrin James (RB) - Miami (FL) (Indianapolis Colts)  

-5. Ricky Williams (RB) - Texas (New Orleans Saints)

-6. Torry Holt (WR) - North Carolina State (St. Louis Rams)

-7. Champ Bailey (DB) - Georgia (Washington Redskins)

-8. David Boston (WR) - Ohio State (Arizona Cardinals)

-9. Chris Claiborne (LB) - USC (Detroit Lions)

-10. Chris McAlister (DB) - Arizona (Baltimore Ravens)


-Pro Football Hall of Fame Players Drafted in 1999:

-Champ Bailey (Round 1, Pick 7 - Washington Redskins)

-Edgerrin James (Round 1, Pick 4 - Indianapolis Colts)

-Torry Holt (Round 1, Pick 6 - St. Louis Rams)


-College Football Hall of Fame Players Drafted in 1999:

-Tim Couch (Round 1, Pick 1 - Cleveland Browns)

-Donovan McNabb (Round 1, Pick 2 - Philadelphia Eagles)

-Champ Bailey (Round 1, Pick 7 - Washington Redskins)

-Torry Holt (Round 1, Pick 6 - St. Louis Rams)


-Other Notable Impact Players taken in 1999

-Al Wilson (Round 2, Pick 31 - Denver Broncos)

-Kevin Faulk (Round 2, Pick 46 - New England Patriots)

-Cade McNown (Round 1, Pick 12 - Chicago Bears)

-Matt Stinchcomb (Round 1, Pick 18 - Oakland Raiders)

-Jim Kleinsasser (Round 2, Pick 44 - Minnesota Vikings)

The 1998 NFL Draft, held on April 18-19, 1998, at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, was a draft class rich with talent that significantly shaped the league for years to come. The Indianapolis Colts held the first overall pick, a selection that would define their franchise for over a decade. The draft was particularly notable for the highly anticipated decision between quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf, a debate that dominated pre-draft discussions. Ultimately, the Colts chose Manning, a decision widely regarded as one of the best in NFL history, while Leaf, selected second by the San Diego Chargers, became one of the draft's biggest disappointments.

Beyond the quarterback debate, the 1998 draft yielded several other impactful players across various positions. The Oakland Raiders, at pick number four, selected cornerback Charles Woodson, a Heisman Trophy winner who would go on to have a Hall of Fame career. The Minnesota Vikings, later in the first round, picked wide receiver Randy Moss, a player with extraordinary talent who revolutionized the wide receiver position and is also enshrined in Canton. The draft also saw the selection of durable and high-performing players like running back Fred Taylor by the Jacksonville Jaguars and guard Alan Faneca by the Pittsburgh Steelers, both of whom enjoyed long and successful careers.

The depth of the 1998 draft extended beyond the first round, with several players selected in later rounds also achieving significant success and Pro Bowl recognition. This draft class is remembered not only for its top-tier talent but also for the stark contrast in the careers of its top two picks, a storyline that continues to be discussed in NFL circles. The impact of the players chosen in 1998 was felt for many years, with several leading their teams to Super Bowl contention and earning numerous individual accolades.

Top Ten Selections of the 1998 NFL Draft:

-1. Peyton Manning (QB) - Tennessee (Indianapolis Colts)

-2. Ryan Leaf (QB) - Washington State (San Diego Chargers)

-3. Andre Wadsworth (DE) - Florida State (Arizona Cardinals)

-4. Charles Woodson (CB) - Michigan (Oakland Raiders)

-5. Curtis Enis (RB) - Penn State (Chicago Bears)

-6. Grant Wistrom (DE) - Nebraska (St. Louis Rams)

-7. Kyle Turley (OT) - San Diego State (New Orleans Saints)

-8. Greg Ellis (DE) - North Carolina (Dallas Cowboys)

-9. Fred Taylor (RB) - Florida (Jacksonville Jaguars)

-10. Duane Starks (CB) - Miami (FL) (Baltimore Ravens)


-Pro Football Hall of Fame Players Drafted in 1998:

-Peyton Manning (Round 1, Pick 1 - Indianapolis Colts)

-Charles Woodson (Round 1, Pick 4 - Oakland Raiders)

-Randy Moss (Round 1, Pick 21 - Minnesota Vikings)

-Alan Faneca (Round 1, Pick 26 - Pittsburgh Steelers)


-College Football Hall of Fame Players Drafted in 1998:

-Peyton Manning (Round 1, Pick 1 - Indianapolis Colts)

-Charles Woodson (Round 1, Pick 4 - Oakland Raiders)

-Randy Moss (Round 1, Pick 21 - Minnesota Vikings)


-Other Notable Players from 1999 NFL Draft

-Kyle Turley (Round 1, Pick 7 - New Orleans Saints)

The exceptional running back from Penn State drove the ground game and offensive success of the 1970s Pittsburgh Steelers.

Franco Harris wasn't just a running back; he was a symbol of Steelers dynasty, blue-collar spirit, and one of the most celebrated figures in NFL history. From his iconic run in Super Bowl IX to his longevity and consistency, Harris left an indelible mark on the gridiron that continues to inspire.

Drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1972, Harris immediately made an impact. His powerful running style and knack for finding the end zone made him a perfect fit for the "Steel Curtain" era. He formed a dynamic duo with quarterback Terry Bradshaw, terrorizing defenses and leading the Steelers to four Super Bowl victories in six years.

But Harris wasn't just about touchdowns. He was a complete back, excelling in both rushing and receiving. His durability was legendary, racking up over 12,000 rushing yards and 91 touchdowns in his 13-year career, despite playing in a physically demanding era.

His most iconic moment came in Super Bowl IX, when his 64-yard touchdown run in the dying moments of the game sealed victory for the Steelers against the Minnesota Vikings. This "Immaculate Reception," forever etched in NFL lore, solidified Harris's place as a Steelers legend and one of the sport's most unforgettable moments.

Harris's impact transcended the field. He was a leader in the locker room and a beloved figure in Pittsburgh. His blue-collar work ethic and infectious smile resonated with fans, making him a symbol of the city's resilience and character.