Football Daily

Born December 29, 1936 - Ray Nitschke the feared middle linebacker of the Green Bay Packers was born. Ray was the third overall pick in the 1958 NFL Draft by the Packers and he played with the team for 15 seasons according to his bio on the Pro Football HOF. Nitschke defended both the run and the pass well as his 25 career interceptions would indicate. Ray was a member of 5 champion Green Bay teams and was the MVP of the 1962 NFL Championship game. The Pro Football Hall of Fame placed Ray Nitschke in a gold jacket in 1978.

Born August 1, 1978 - Immokalee, Florida - Edgerrin James, the Pro Football Hall of Fame running back of the Indianapolis Colts and later the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks.

Edgerrin attended and played football for the Miami Hurricanes enjoying a stellar collegiate career. It was when he was picked up by the Colts in the 1999 NFL Draft that this young runner really found his groove though according to the ProFootballHOF.com. Edge earned NFL Rookie of the year honors in 1999 when he rushed for 1553 yards leading all runner in the League!

He accomplished winning the NFL rushing title again in 2000 with 1709 yards on the ground matching his TDs scored in 1999 at 13 times crossing the wide field stripe.

In fact during his 11 year career James blasted past the 1000 yard rushing mark an amazing 7 times edging past 1500 in four of those! FOr his career he recorded 12246 yards rushing with 80 scores, played in four Pro Bowls and was honored to be on the All-2000's NFL team. Let's not forget that he also hauled in 433 catches many from HOF QBs Peyton Manning and Kurt Warner for an additional 3364 yards of offense.

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Born August 25, 1965, in Birmingham, Alabama was Cornelius Bennett was a former linebacker from the University Alabama. This prolific LB remarkably is one of only two Bama players to have ever been names as an All-American three times (LB Woodrow Lowe being the other.)

He is remembered in the College Football Hall of Fame, where he entered as part of the induction class of 2005. Bennett went on to play professionally for the Buffalo Bills, Atlanta Falcons and the Indianapolis Colts at LB. He also was selected to 5 Pro Bowls and was the AFC Defensive Player of the Year two times in 1988 and 1991.

Bennett played in all four of Buffalo's Super Bowl appearances in the 1990's and then he played in a fifth SB with the Falcons.

Duke Slater, born December 9, 1896, was more than just a football player. He pioneered and defied racial barriers and paved the way for future generations of African-American athletes. With his remarkable talent and unwavering determination, he carved his name in football history as a true legend.

Early Life and College Football:

Born in Jacksonville, Florida, Slater grew up in a time of blatant racism and segregation. Despite these challenges, his athletic talent shone through. He excelled in football and track at Wilberforce University, where he led his team to multiple championships.

Breaking Barriers in the NFL:

In 1922, Slater made history by becoming the first African-American player in the newly formed National Football League (NFL). He signed with the Rock Island Independents, marking a significant moment in the fight for racial equality in professional sports.

Dominating the Gridiron:

Despite facing discrimination and prejudice, Slater quickly established himself as a dominant player. He was a versatile and skilled athlete, excelling as a running back, defensive end, and kicker. His athletic prowess earned him the nickname "The Brown Bomber" and a reputation as one of the toughest players in the league.

A Champion and a Pioneer:

Slater's career was marked by numerous accolades. He won two NFL championships (1922 and 1925) with the Chicago Bears and was named an All-Pro five times. His success and tenacity inspired countless future black athletes, paving the way for their inclusion in professional football.

Beyond the Game:

Slater's impact extended beyond the football field. He became a role model for young athletes and a vocal advocate for social justice. He even served as a bodyguard for President Franklin D. Roosevelt, showcasing his courage and dedication to duty.

Legacy of a Legend:

Duke Slater retired from football in 1928, leaving behind a legacy that transcended the sport. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1972, cementing his place among the greatest players of all time.

Born December 24, 1921, in Bluefield, Virginia  was the University of Virginia’s legendary halfback Bullet Bill Dudley. Some so-called experts thought Dudley was too small to play football in the collegiate ranks as he weighed in at 152 pounds with a 5’-10” frame per the NFF.

Virginia’s Coach, Frank Murray, decided to give Bill a chance to prove all of the other recruiters wrong. What Dudley did was to become the only player to win MVP honors in college,  the Armed Forces and professional levels.

During the 1941 season Bullet Bill led the nation with 18 touchdowns, 134 points scored, a 6.2 rushing average per play and 29 touchdowns. The National Football Foundation selected Bill Dudley into their College Football Hall of Fame in 1956. The Pittsburgh Steelers did not hesitate a second to pick Bill and the first pick in the 1942 Draft of the NFL. In his 9 pro seasons he had 8217 total yards and recorded 23 interceptions and played in 3 Pro Bowls. In fact the Pro Football Hall says that Bill won a rare triple crown of awards in the NFL, he was the interception leader, the top rusher and held the punt return title in 1946. Bill Dudley found the door wide open for him to enter into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1966.

Born on January 16, 1894, in Blue Springs, Nebraska was Guy Chamberlin, the sensational back and end of Nebraska Wesleyan and University of Nebraska. In 1911 and 1912 Chamberlin starred at Wesleyan, he then transferred to play with the Cornhuskers of Nebraska and in 1914 the team was 7-0-1 in 1914 with Chamberlin at halfback scoring on runs of 90, 85, 70 and 58 yards per the NFF. After a transfer to end in 1915, he became an All-America selection and Nebraska went 8-0 on the season. The Cornhuskers had beaten Notre Dame 20-19. Knute Rockne, then a Notre Dame assistant coach, called Chamberlin "the key to Nebraska's victory." For his final college game, November 20, 1915, he moved back to halfback and scored five touchdowns in a 52-7 romp over Iowa. Guy Chamberlin’s stats and bio went into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1962. After serving in World War I Guy played pro football for eight years. Bears legend, George Halas called him "the greatest two-way end in the history of the game." He was not only a good player but he was a great early coach in the NFL according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In his six coaching seasons, five of which were spent as a player-coach, Chamberlin also won four NFL championships for the Canton Bulldogs in 1922 and 1923, the Cleveland Bulldogs in 1924, and the Frankford Yellow Jackets in 1926. The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Guy Chamberlin in 1965.

July 27, 1929 the Orange/Newark Tornadoes franchise joins the NFL and is a League member from 1929 through the 1930 season. The team was the remnants of the Duluth Eskimos franchise which was sold and transferred to Orange and then one year later to Newark. According to the American Football Fandom the franchise existed in some form or fashion from 1887 to 1971. Their history besides being in the National Football League from 1929 to 1930 was that they were members of the American Association from 1936 to 1941, the Atlantic Coast Football League from 1963 to 1964, the Continental Football League from 1965 to 1969, and back to the ACFL for the 1970 to 1971 seasons before disbanding.

Johnny Lujack's football career was a brilliance symphony played out on the college and professional stages. He was a quarterback who mastered the T-formation, led teams to championships and left an indelible mark on the game. Here's a closer look at his impressive achievements:

College Stardom:

-Notre Dame Glory: Lujack took over as Notre Dame's quarterback in 1943, guiding them to three national championships during his tenure. He threw for over 777 yards and rushed for 139 in his senior season, earning the Heisman Trophy and Associated Press Athlete of the Year honors.

-T-Formation Master: Lujack's exceptional understanding of the T-formation offense made him a nightmare for opposing defenses. His precise passing and deceptive running combined to be an unstoppable force, rewriting the playbook for future quarterbacks.
NFL Journey:

-Drafted High: The Chicago Bears recognized Lujack's talent and drafted him fourth overall in the 1946 NFL Draft. He lived up to expectations, leading the team in scoring each year of his four-season career.

-Passing Prowess: Despite playing in a run-heavy era, Lujack set an NFL record with 468 passing yards in a single game in 1949. He also finished his career with 11 rushing touchdowns, another noteworthy feat for a quarterback of his time.

-Early Retirement: Lujack's NFL career was cut short due to injuries and military service. He retired in 1951 at age 26, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most talented quarterbacks of his generation.

Beyond the Numbers:

-Lujack's impact extended beyond statistics. He was a charismatic leader, respected by teammates and coaches alike. His influence on the development of the quarterback position, particularly within the T-formation, is undeniable.

-His legacy lives on in various Halls of Fame, including the College Football and National Polish-American Sports Halls of Fame. He remains a revered figure in Notre Dame and Bears history, a constant reminder of the heights an exceptional quarterback can reach.

In conclusion, Johnny Lujack's football career was a leadership, talent, and adaptation masterclass. He left his mark on college and professional football, etching his name in the annals of gridiron history.

Charlie Berry was a great athlete. He played MLB baseball as a catcher and umpire in Major League Baseball and as an end and official in the National Football League. He also played on the famous Pottsville Maroons NFL teams of 1925 and 1926. He was the Captain of the Lafayette football team and eventually was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Berry is the only man to have officiated the World Series, the NFL Championship and the College All-Star game during the same year!

Born August 9, 1931, in Detroit Michigan, was legendary NFL defensive Tackle Gene Big Daddy Lipscomb. Big Daddy famously terrorized quarterbacks in the National Football League for ten seasons and also participated as a professional wrestler in the off season. His NFL career saw him on the rosters of the Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Colts, and the Pittsburgh Steelers but his career was tragically shortened by his untimely passing at the age of 31 years old. Lipscomb's final NFL game was after the 1962 season at the Pro Bowl in January 1963, in which he was voted lineman of the game. Gene was a two-time NFL champion with the Colts in 1958 and 1959, a two-time first team All-Pro, and made it to three Pro Bowls. The Professional Football Researchers Association named Lipscomb to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2006.

In 2019, despite currently not being in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he was chosen as a finalist for the NFL's 100th Anniversary Team.