Football History

Born September 11, 1978, in St. Rose, Louisiana, was Pro Football Hall of Fame Safety Ed Reed. The legend was was one of the greatest safeties in NFL history. He played 12 seasons in the NFL, all with the Baltimore Ravens, and helped the team win a Super Bowl in 2000.

Reed was known for his incredible range and ball skills. He had a knack for being in the right place at the right time and making interceptions. He also had a knack for returning interceptions for touchdowns.

Reed was a nine-time Pro Bowler, a six-time All-Pro, and the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2004. He also holds the NFL record for most career interceptions returned for touchdowns (10).

Reed was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019.

Born January 22, 1927, in Stevens, Arkansas, was Joe “ The Jet” Perry of Compton Junior College. According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Joe put his relatively small school, Compton Junior College, on the map when he registered 22 touchdowns in a single season! However, these feats didn’t attract the pro football scouts, and Perry ended up being found by the professional game in a fascinating tale told by ProFootballHOF.com. Before the Jet completed his college football career, Uncle Sam called him to enter into military service for his country. At some point after his initial training, Joe was playing football for the Alameda, California Naval Training Station team when one of the San Francisco 49ers of the new All-America Football Conference players saw him in action. This Niners player reported this information to the 49ers’ brass, who offered Joe Perry a contract. Perry accepted their proposal in 1948 when he was complete with his obligations. In 1969 Joe Perry was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

Bill Willis wasn't just a football great; he was a pioneer. Here's a look at his accomplishments:

-Dominant Defensive Player (1946-1953):

-Played for the Cleveland Browns (AAFC & NFL) for eight seasons, establishing himself as a defensive force.

-Known for his quickness, strength, and relentless pursuit despite being undersized for a lineman (6'2", 213 lbs).

-Earned All-Pro honors seven times and played in three NFL Pro Bowls, a testament to his dominance.

-Anchored the Browns' defense during their championship run, winning four AAFC titles and the 1950 NFL championship.

-Breaking Racial Barriers:

-Teammates Marion Motley and Willis became the first African Americans to play for a pro football team in a televised game (1946) – a pivotal moment in breaking the color barrier.

-Despite facing racial taunts, Willis refused to retaliate, understanding the importance of setting a positive example for future generations.

-Post-Playing Career:

-Devoted himself to helping troubled youth, serving as Cleveland's assistant recreation commissioner and later becoming the chairman of the Ohio Youth Commission.

-His work in youth development earned him recognition and respect beyond the football field.

-Legacy:

-Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977, solidifying his place among football's legends.

-Remembered for his on-field dominance, his role in desegregating professional football, and his dedication to youth mentorship.

Born October 5, 1921 - Bill Willis was a tackle from Ohio State University who also played on the early Cleveland Browns teams in the AAFC and NFL.

He was gifted with the quickness, size and strength to become a very formidable blocker in the Buckeye offense during his playing days at the school. This superstar of the gridiron ended up in the Hall of Fame for his great play.

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 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.

Born August 25, 1972 - Marvin Harrison was a wide receiver that came out of Syracuse University. The Indianapolis Colts drafted the speedster with the 19th pick in the 1996 NFL draft after dealing QB Jeff George to the Atlanta Falcons for it. Harrison soon became Colt's QB Peyton Manning's favorite target as he played for 13 seasons. The eight time Pro Bowler was voted on to the 2000's All Decade team and when he hung up his cleats after the 2008 season he finished second in career receptions for the great Jerry Rice. Harrison was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016. Marvin held the record for most receptions in a single season (143) until it was broken in 2019 by Michael Thomas with 149 catches.

Born December 5, 1947 - Santa Clara, California - The former quarterback of the Stanford Cardinal, Jim Plunkett was born.  The NFF states that Jim Plunkett set a record in the PAC-8 Conference in passing in his sophomore season of 1968 only to reset it two more times in his junior and senior seasons. In the  1970 season, Jim won 28 awards, including the Heisman Trophy and Maxwell Award and consensus All-America honors.  The National Football Foundation voted Jim Plunkett into their College Football Hall of Fame in 1990.

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.

Born December 5, 1957 - White Plains, New York - The University of Syracuse legendary wide receiver Art Monk was born. Monk played at Syracuse from 1976 through 1979 and won the Lambert Trophy for being the top college player in the East according to his bio on footballfoundation.org.

Art Monk, a name synonymous with consistency and reliability in the NFL, crafted a Hall of Fame career defined by his understated brilliance. A product of his environment, Monk's journey from a relatively unheralded high school player to a record-breaking wide receiver is a testament to his unwavering dedication.

Possessing exceptional route-running skills and a knack for finding open spaces, Monk excelled in the Washington Redskins offense. His partnership with quarterback Joe Theismann formed one of the most potent passing combinations of the era. Monk's ability to consistently make tough catches and move the chains earned him the respect of teammates, opponents, and fans alike. His longevity and durability were equally impressive, as he maintained a high level of play throughout his career. While not the flashiest receiver, Monk's impact on the game was undeniable, and his contributions to the Redskins franchise solidified his status as a true football legend.

His great athleticism earned him First-Team All-America honors for the 1979 season. Art Monk entered into the prestigious College Football Hall of Fame in 2012. After he left Syracuse Art was a first round pick by the Washington Redskins in the 1980 NFL Draft. He played 16 seasons in the NFL in Washington as well as with the New York Jets and as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. The Pro Football Hall of Fame states that his career catches were counted at 940 and that he played 183 straight games where he caught at least one pass. Monk was an All-Pro twice and was voted into three Pro Bowls. The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Art Monk in 2008.