Football History

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Uncover the surprising American football history hidden within April 17th! From pivotal draft day decisions shaping future dynasties to unexpected commissioner rulings impacting legendary players, this date holds significant gridiron moments. Explore the stories behind the game's evolution and the figures who left their mark on this very day in history.

Delve into April 17th's rich tapestry of American football lore. Discover tales of a dominant Minnesota fullback, a Hall of Fame Jacksonville lineman's draft day, and a legendary two-way quarterback's college brilliance. Unearth the connections between this specific date and impactful NFL careers, showcasing the unexpected significance of April 17th.

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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). 

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)

Born on April 17, 1905, in Little Falls, Minnesota, Herbert "Herb" Joesting carved out a significant place in the annals of college football. His powerful running style and unwavering dedication left an enduring impact on the Minnesota Golden Gophers and those who witnessed his prowess. While his professional football career was limited, his college achievements and the legacy he forged cemented his status as a true icon of the sport.  

-College Career

Herb Joesting's tenure as the fullback for the Minnesota Golden Gophers from 1925 to 1927 was nothing short of remarkable. Under the guidance of Coach Clarence “Doc” Spears, the Golden Gophers' offense revolved around Joesting's exceptional talent and physicality. His powerful rushes and relentless drive consistently frustrated opposing defenses. A testament to his dominance came in the 1927 season when the Gophers faced Notre Dame. After two seasons of witnessing Joesting's impact, Legendary Irish coach Knute Rockne famously declared he would buy a new suit for any of his players who could tackle Joesting for a loss. No such tackle occurred, and the game ended in a 7-7 tie, contributing to Minnesota's undefeated 6-0-2 season. Joesting's consistent excellence earned him the extraordinary distinction of being named an All-American for three consecutive years.  

-Road to the Pro Game

While Joesting's college career was stellar, his journey to the professional ranks was less extensive. Information readily available suggests a limited professional playing career. However, his impact on the college game was so profound that it overshadowed a lengthy professional stint. His powerful running style and leadership qualities were evident, but the professional landscape of football in the late 1920s and early 1930s was still evolving. Joesting's influence was more deeply felt in the collegiate realm, inspiring future generations of players.

-Football Legacy

Herb Joesting's football legacy is primarily defined by his dominant college career and his profound influence on his teammates. His "play each game for all it's worth" philosophy resonated deeply, notably with a young sophomore named Bronko Nagurski, who observed and learned from Joesting's unwavering commitment. Joesting's three consecutive All-American selections underscore his sustained excellence and impact on the game during his time at Minnesota. His powerful running style became his hallmark, earning him the "Owatonna Thunderbolt." The ultimate recognition of his collegiate achievements came in 1954 when Herb Joesting was rightfully inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, ensuring his contributions to the sport would be remembered for generations.  

-Accolades, Awards, and Career Stats

-All-American: 1925, 1926, 1927  

-Career Rushing Yards (Minnesota): 1,850 yards in 24 games  

-Career Average (Minnesota): 4.2 yards per carry  

-College Football Hall of Fame Inductee: 1954

April 17, 1972 - Modesto, California - Legendary Left Tackle, most famously of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tony Boselli, was born. His parents were Tony, Sr., and Candy Boselli.

-Humble Beginnings

According to Pro Football History.com, Tony Sr. was a wine sales representative based in Modesto, California. The couple moved the family to Colorado in 1974 with the lure of a great business opportunity.  Tony Sr. and his older brother Bud set up a series of McDonald's Restaurant franchises. At one point, the Boselli brothers owned twelve Golden Arches locations in the state by 1995.

Tony Jr. attended Fairview High School in Boulder, Colorado, loved football, and followed the Denver Broncos quite closely, especially enjoying the play of their Quarterback, John Elway, and his gunslinger mentality of play.

At six, Tony started playing football near the family home. Between the coaching he got from his team, his father giving him pep talks in the car ride to and from practice and games and neighborhood pick-up games with his friends, and sometimes Tony Sr with a Nerf football in the backyard, Boselli had a great foundation of the playing game. 

When he wasn't playing ball or in school, he spent time cleaning up the parking lots of the family's restaurants, having the education of hard work instilled into him starting at 8. Of course, his father told Sports Illustrated years later that his son would come into the store on the hour while sweeping and pulling weeds, asking for a Happy Meal. Tony Sr. often encouraged his son to return to work, and he would receive a reward for the tasty treat later. These tasks merged into Tony flipping burgers and dropping baskets of fries by the age of 14. He was only making minimum wage, but his father realized that with the pay plus the boy's food consumption, the store's manager had to claim to Sr. that Tony's growing appetite was causing the store to lose. The wise father and business owner soon transferred his growing son to the landscaping crew of the stores. 


The young man was growing in size, strength, and work ethic, and when he joined the high school team in 1987, the towering figure told the coach of his intentions to play quarterback. The wise coach allowed him to try out for the position but then assigned him to the offense as a tight end.

As a sophomore, the youngster made another run at the signal-calling duties, and even Tony Sr. pleaded with Fairview Knights Head Coach Sam Pagano to allow his son to play QB. Years later, Pagano laughed in an interview as he remembered announcing that Tony was entrenched in the offensive line. He also played a little DL and linebacker. Tony Sr. was disappointed as he felt his son had the talent to make it as a professional someday and wanted him to play a position that would pay.
Eventually, Pagano assured the father that Tony could earn over a million dollars per year as an NFL tackle with hard work. As a senior, Tony put on 40 pounds of muscle and bulked up to 265 pounds. He became a nightmare for opposing pass rushers to get past. He became a high school All-American and earned First-Team All-State honors. Tony hoped that Notre Dame would offer him a scholarship, but they were one of the few schools that didn't show interest in the young star.

-College Career

Boselli received a football athletic scholarship from the University of Southern California, where he played for the USC Trojans from 1991 to 1994. He was a first-team All-Pac-10 selection and All-American in 1992, 1993, and 1994.

The All-American status came from playing both offensive tackle positions, too. In 1994, he also won the Morris Trophy, presented annually to the best offensive and defensive linemen in the Pac-12. He was so good that the College Football Hall of Fame inducted his college career into their Museum of Legends in 2014.

-Big Break

Tony Boselli Jr. was the second overall pick of the 1995 NFL Draft, the first-ever draft pick of the new Jacksonville Jaguars franchise. The Jaguars' acquisition of Boselli was a foundational building block of their offensive plan. They made history by signing Boselli to a seven-year, $17 million deal that made him the highest-paid rookie offensive lineman, per SI.com.

He played seven seasons in Jacksonville and was the offensive line anchor at the Left Tackle position. Jaguars head coach Tom Coughlin knew he had a winner with the youngster because at 6'7″, 322-lb. Boselli's size and mobility were a combination seldom seen in a man. While he was a large offensive lineman, his mobility and athleticism could hold off the NFL's best pass rushers.
This was evident in Boselli's debut NFL game when Jacksonville faced the Green Bay Packers, pitting Tony against Reggie White and Shawn Jones all afternoon. To the delight of Coughlin and the Jacksonville faithful, the rookie held his own against the top defensive linemen. The Jags won just four games in that first season; however, in 1995, the franchise won nine games and played deep into the postseason the year after.

Boselli continued playing at a high level. In the playoffs, he kept future Hall of Fame defensive end Bruce Smith from his normal effectiveness in the Jaguar's unexpected victory over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Wild Card Game. A week later, the Jags were tested and defeated Boselli's favorite childhood team, the Denver Broncos, in the AFC Divisional Round. Boselli later told Sports that the surprise 30-27 win was the highlight of his eight-year NFL career.

A shoulder injury and subsequent bad medical procedure to repair it railroaded and ended Tony's brilliant career. The Jags had little choice but to expose their star left tackle to the expansion draft when the NFL added a team in 2002 after Tony missed much of the 2001 season. In the 2002 expansion Draft, the Houston Texans took a flier on Boselli. Still, unfortunately, he was unable to do much for them with the injury and eventually called it a career.

Boselli signed a one-day contract allowing him to retire as a Jacksonville Jaguars member officially and became the first Jaguars player inducted into their Ring of Honor on October 8, 2006. In early 2022, Boselli found out from a visit by Hall of Fame Tackle Anthony Munoz that he had been selected for enshrinement in the 2022 Class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. For his career, Tony received five Pro Bowl selections and three first-team All-Pro honors while appearing in two AFC Championship Games.

After football, he invested in multiple business ventures with former teammates, was a football analyst on TV, started a charity foundation, and raised a beautiful family of five children with his wife, Angi.

Born on April 17, 1941, in Red Bluff, California, William "Bill" Redell distinguished himself as a remarkably versatile two-way player during his college career at Occidental College. His exceptional balance and consistent performance laid the foundation for a successful professional career in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and a subsequent impactful journey as a high school football coach. His multifaceted contributions to the sport earned him lasting recognition.  

-College Career

Bill Redell's time as the quarterback and defensive back for the Occidental College Tigers in the 1962 and 1963 seasons showcased his extraordinary athleticism and versatility. Nicknamed "the Falcon," Redell was a true threat on both sides of the ball. As a quarterback, he amassed 1,567 passing yards and 11 touchdowns, demonstrating his ability to lead the offense through the air. Equally impressive was his ground game, where he rushed for 1,583 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging an impressive 6.3 yards per carry. Defensively, Redell proved to be a ball-hawking defensive back, intercepting seven passes. His contributions extended to special teams, where he successfully kicked 36 out of 43 extra-point attempts. This consistent excellence culminated in his selection to the NAIA All-America team in 1963, highlighting his dominance at the small college level.  

-Road to the Pro Game

Following his stellar college career, Bill Redell transitioned to professional football in the Canadian Football League. He played for six seasons, from 1965 to 1970, suiting up for three different teams: the Edmonton Eskimos, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and the Calgary Stampeders. While specific statistics from his CFL career might be less widely publicized than his college achievements, his longevity in a professional league speaks to his continued athletic ability and football acumen. The experience gained in the CFL further honed his understanding of the game and likely influenced his later coaching career.  

-Football Legacy

Bill Redell's football legacy extends beyond his playing days, encompassing a significant impact as a high school football coach. After retiring from the CFL in 1970, he embarked on a coaching career, initially as an assistant at Cal State-Fullerton and California Lutheran University. His most notable coaching achievement came as the first head coach of the newly established football program at Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village, California. Under his leadership, Oaks Christian quickly became a powerhouse program, demonstrating his ability to build a successful team from the ground up. His success as a coach further solidified his place as a respected figure in the football community.  

-Accolades, Awards, and Career Stats

-NAIA All-America Team: 1963  

-Occidental College Career Passing Yards: 1,567  

-Occidental College Career Passing Touchdowns: 11

-Occidental College Career Rushing Yards: 1,583  

-Occidental College Career Rushing Touchdowns: 8

-Occidental College Career Rushing Average: 6.3 yards per carry  

-Occidental College Career Interceptions: 7

-Occidental College Career Extra Points Made: 36 (out of 43 attempts)  

-College Football Hall of Fame Inductee: 2001