The American Football League Is Created

On Aug. 14, 1959, at the call of Dallas businessman Lamar Hunt, a new professional football league to be called the American Football League (AFL) was organized to begin play in 1960. 

 Charter memberships were issued to Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis and New York. Buffalo and Boston were admitted later that year. Early in 1960, Minneapolis defected to the National Football League (NFL) and Oakland was picked as a replacement city. 

The whole idea seemed so far-fetched, even after AFL teams started playing, that the eight team owners became known as the "Foolish Club."

At 9 a.m. on August 14, 1959, a group of visionary men that included Hall of Famer Lamar Hunt and Tennessee Titans Bud Adams met in the South Imperial Suite of The Conrad Hilton in Chicago, Illinois to form the American Football League.

Almost every element that makes pro football the world's most popular sport that it is today can be traced to the American Football League and the huge changes its presence eventually brought to the sport. 

By the time the fierce AFL-NFL war of the 1960s was over, the expanded National Football League of the 1970s stretched from coast-to-coast and from border to border. Fans poured into NFL stadiums in record numbers. Rapidly increasing television coverage introduced pro football to hundreds of millions of new fans on every continent.

The Super Bowl was destined to become the most watched sports spectacle in the history of the world. The AFL was viewed by the masses as a "David" matched against an unbeatable "Goliath" for almost half of its 10-year history. 

But when the "rags-to-riches" story was concluded, the AFL had achieved what no other NFL challenger had ever accomplished - equality in a new and exciting pro football world.  

The Green Bay Packers of the original NFL won the first two Super Bowls convincingly, causing many people to question if the AFL teams could compete. The very next year, the New York Jets of the AFL upset the Baltimore Colts of the NFL for the AFL's first Super Bowl Title. The Chiefs also of the AFL won the 4th Super Bowl, evening the record at 2-2.

Since the construction of the combined league, the original AFL teams have won 20 Super Bowls while original NFL teams have taken 25. Three Super Bowls have been won by teams created after the merger (the Seattle Seahawks and the Baltimore Ravens, twice.)

The Winner of each Super Bowl receives the Vince Lombardi Trophy, named after Vince Lombardi, the great coach for the Green Bay Packers who led his team to victory in each of the first two Super Bowls. Following his death, the trophy was named prior to Super Bowl V in his honor.

New Orleans Saints Debut In NFL

On August 2, 1967, that the New Orleans Saints played their first ever pre-season game.  The Saints lost to the Los Angeles Rams 16-7 in the first professional football game ever held at Anaheim Stadium.

The Saints first season in the NFL started off with a bang as John Gilliam took the opening kick-off of the year and returned it 94 yards for a touchdown.  However, the Saints would go on to lose the game and finished the season with a 3-11 record, which surprisingly was the most ever wins by a team in their expansion year.  New Orleans had been one of the worst franchises in the league for quite awhile, but all that changed a few seasons ago.

The New Orleans Saints had a magical 2009 season, in which they started the year 13-0, on their way to the no. 1 seed in the NFC.  They smashed the Cardinals 45-14 in the divisional round and beat the Vikings 31-28 to reach the Super Bowl.  The Colts entered the Superbowl as the favorite, but that didn’t stop the Saints from winning it all for the franchise’s first ever Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Since their spectacular win in 2009, the Saints organization has been in ‘hotwater’ regarding bounties and coaching issues with over the last two seasons, and as recently as the 2011 NFC Divisional Playoff game against the 49ers here in San Francisco.

Barry Sanders Announces Retirement From NFL

On July 28, 1999, Barry Sanders was well on his way to shattering Walter Payton's rushing record. At age 30, he could have ascended the ranks of the greatest players of all time -- he compiled statistics in his first nine years that were on par with those of Jim Brown, widely regarded as the best NFL player ever. He even brought prosperity to one of the most notoriously awful sports franchises in America: the Detroit Lions.

So you can imagine what a shock it was when on this day in 1999, Barry Sanders formally announced his retirement from the game of football. When the media tried to get in touch with him, they couldn't, as he was already on a plane to Europe.

Many were skeptical that Barry's retirement was some sort of hold-out and that eventually he would come back. He had six years left on his contract and was only 30. He had to come back, why wouldn't he?

But Sanders didn't come back, ever, and he left the Lions without their star player. Detroit made the playoffs in 1999 but would struggle mightily over the next decade, even suffering an 0-16 season in 2008.

In his 2003 autobiography, Barry Sanders revealed an explanation for his abrupt departure. Sanders was unhappy with the Lions' downward spiral over the years, particularly the disassembling of the '91 team that nearly made it to the Super Bowl. "When they got rid of Kevin Glover," Sanders wrote, "They convinced me that their goal wasn't anywhere close to being about winning games. I didn't realize it at the time, but part of me left with him, just as part of me left with those other guys I mentioned."

In the end, the losing culture of the Lions and their bungling management took its toll on Sanders. "I didn't see what good there was in hanging around when the organization wasn't trying to put together a winning team. Looking at what other teams in our division had done... I didn't think we were as serious about winning as our competitors." Sanders also wrote that there were tears in his eyes on the last day of the 1998 season, a 19-10 loss to the Bengals. "I knew it was over."

Sanders finished his career as second on the All-Time rushing list, behind only “Sweetness” Walter Payton. Since his retirement in 1999, Emmit Smith broke the All-Time rushing record and now Sanders is ranked third with 15,269 yards and 109 touchdowns.

Some of Sanders accomplishments include: 10 consecutive Pro-Bowl selections, six-time First-Team All-Pro, 1989 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, 1991 NFL Bert Bell Award (Player of the Year), 1994 NFL Offensive Player of the Year, 1997 NFL MVP, 1997 Bert Bell Award, 1997 NFL Offensive Player of the Year. As well being named to the NFL’s 1990’s All-Decade Team,

Sanders was also rated the no. 1 Most Elusive Running Back of All-Time by NFL.com and rated the no. 17 NFL Player of All-Time by NFL.com.

Sanders was inducted into Canton’s NFL Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

Check out the video below of Sanders' Top 10 plays Sports Center style:

Robert Irsay And Carroll Rosenbloom Trade NFL Franchises

On July 26, 1972, in a truly unprecedented move, Robert Irsay, the owner of the Baltimore Colts and Carroll Rosenbloom, the owner of the Los Angeles Rams, trade ownership of their NFL teams.

Rosenbloom wanted to retain ownership of a team while living in a more profitable city, one that would satisfy his wife's ambition to live on the west coast and his ambition to escape the D.C. press. Meanwhile, former Colts assistant Joe Thomas was itching to become the general manager of a franchise, but there weren't any offers. Then, when Rams owner Dan Reeves passed away, Thomas convinced his good friend Irsay to buy the Rams for $19 million – in exchange; Irsay would immediately become the owner of the Colts, then Rosenbloom the Rams'. Irsay, who was looking to become an NFL owner anyway, also received an additional three million dollars in the transaction, while Thomas was rewarded with the general manager position of the Baltimore Colts.

Today, a swap like this would be impossible to pull off. Not only are even the lowliest of sports teams worth hundreds of millions of dollars, many of the teams are now owned by corporations and a group of people, rather than just one wealthy individual.

In the end, football fans in both Baltimore and Los Angeles wound up getting screwed. The Colts failed to win a single playoff game under Irsay and eventually moved to Indianapolis. L.A. fans were initially on the much better end of the spectrum, as the Rams made the postseason in every year that Rosenbloom was their owner. But in 1979, Carroll mysteriously drowned to death while swimming in the Atlantic Ocean, and control of the team was handed over to his wife, Georgia Frontiere. Georgia then moved the team to Anaheim, married her seventh husband, and in the mid-90's, she moved the Rams out of California altogether and to St. Louis, Missouri.

However, the franchises involved in the deal and the cities where the teams played would end up winning Super Bowl anyways.

Los Angeles would be the first city of the bunch to win a Super Bowl; in 1984 the Raiders beat the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XVIII (28), 38-9.

The St. Louis Rams and the Baltimore Ravens would both win Super Bowls in the early 2000’s as the Rams beat the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV (34), 23-16. Finally the Ravens beat the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV (35), 34-7.

The Colts who moved to Indianapolis in 1984 would win the Super Bowl in the late 2000’s against the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI (41) 29-17.

Atlanta Falcons Trade To Get Michael Vick

On April 21, 2001, the first day of the NFL draft was held at Madison Square Garden in New York.

The draft is most remembered for the trade that took place between the Atlanta Falcons and the San Diego Chargers.

Ladainian Tomlinson was selected fifth overall in the 2001 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers.

The Falcons traded their first round pick, fifth overall, along with their third round pick in 2001, a second round pick in 2002 and wide receiver Tim Dwight to the Chargers for the No.1 overall pick.
 
Atlanta used the No.1 pick to draft quarterback Michael Vick out of Virginia Tech, while San Diego took running back Ladainian Tomlinson from Texas Christian University with the fifth selection.


When this trade was first made, it was tough to tell who got the better deal, but after some time it was quite obvious who the winner was.

Michael Vick was selected No. 1 overall in the 2001 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons.

Although Vick had some early success in Atlanta, his off-field problems all but killed his career, until his resurgence a few years ago in Philadelphia.

However, Tomlinson was a premier running back in the NFL for the entire decade with the Chargers and a solid tandem back with the Jets.

Vick is still currently in the NFL, now with the New York Jets, while Tomlinson is happily retired.

Colorado Rockies Play First Home Game

On April 9, 1993, the Colorado Rockies play their first home game in franchise history and record their first victory in franchise history, in an 11-4 win over the Montreal Expos.

Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado was the home for the Rockies in their first two-seasons in the MLB.

Denver had long been a hotbed of minor league baseball and many in the area desired a major league team. Following the Pittsburgh drug trials, an unsuccessful attempt was made to purchase the Pittsburgh Pirates and relocate them.

However, in 1991, as part of Major League Baseball's two-team expansion (they also added the Florida (now Miami) Marlins), an ownership group representing Denver led by John Antonucci and Michael I. Monus were granted a franchise; they took the name "Rockies" due to Denver's proximity to the Rocky Mountains, which is reflected in their logo.

They began play in 1993, sharing Mile High Stadium with the National Football League's Denver Broncos their first two seasons while Coors Field was constructed. It was completed for the 1995 Major League Baseball season.

Outside of Coors Field in Denver, Colorado where the Rockies have called home since 1995.

In 1993 they started play in the western division of the National League. Since that date, the Rockies have reached the MLB postseason three times, each time as the National League wild card team. Twice (1995 and 2009) they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. In 2007 the Rockies advanced all the way to the World Series, only to be swept by the Boston Red Sox.

Matt Holliday won the 2007 NLCS MVP award en route to the Rockies first World Series appearance.

In 2007 the Rockies won the Warren Giles Trophy for the National League champions and the Baseball America Organization of the Year award.

The Rockies play their home games at Coors Field. Their newest Spring Training home, Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, opened in March 2011 and is shared with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Inside of Coors Field, the home of the Rockies in Denver, Colorado.

The Rockies have only retired one number in franchise history, and that is no. 42, which was worn by Jackie Robinson. His number has been retired league wide in honoring the first African-American baseball player to make it to the Major Leagues.

Though not retired, Larry Walker's number 33 has not been issued since he was traded during the 2004 season after 10 years with the Rockies.

The Rockies have had one MVP, Larry Walker in 1997, when he hit .366 with 49 home runs, 130 RBI, 33 stolen bases, and 409 total bases, en route to becoming the first Canadian player to win the MVP Award. He became and remains the only player to have at least 25 stolen bases and a slugging percentage of more than .700 in a season.

Walker's 409 total bases in 1997 were the most in an NL season since Stan Musial's 1948 season, although the mark was bettered by Barry Bonds in 2001 (411).

Combined with 12 outfield assists, the season remains one of the finest all-around performances in recent baseball history. Even more impressively, Walker's breakout season came just one year after various injuries limited him to 83 games and 272 at-bats, although the NL Comeback Player of the Year award went to Darren Daulton.

The Rockies have also had one Rookie of the Year winner, Jason Jennings in 2002.

The Rockies have boasted 11 different Silver Sluggers including Dante Bichette, Vinny Castilla, Andres Galarraga, Eric Young, Ellis Burks, Mike Hampton, Todd Helton, Matt Holliday, Carlos Gonzalez, Troy Tulowitzki and Walker.

The Rockies have had one Hank Aaron Award winner in Helton, and five Gold Glove winners including Neifi Perez, Helton, Gonzalez, Tulowitzki and Walker.

The Rockies have had the Manager of the Year Award given to their skippers twice in 1995 to Don Baylor and 2009 to Jam Tracy.

Brooklyn Dodgers Play First Game At Ebbets Field

On April 5, 1913, the Brooklyn Dodgers play their first game at Ebbets Field, named after Dodgers owner Charles Ebbets. Besides being home to the Brooklyn Tigers of the NFL, Ebbets Field would hose the baseball team for their remaining time in Brooklyn.

Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, New York.

A total of 25,000 fans crammed inside to see the first exhibition game between the Dodgers and Yankees. With the help of an inside-the-park home run by Casey Stengel, the Dodgers would go on to win 3-2. Their first regular season game occurred four days later.

The design of Ebbets Field would go on to inspire the vaulted exterior of the New York Mets new park, Citi Field.

Ebbets Field was torn down in 1960 just four years after the Dodgers had moved west to Los Angeles.

Cardinals Move From St. Louis To Phoenix

On March 15, 1988, the NFL’s St. Louis Cardinals move to Phoenix and become the Arizona Cardinals.

An original St. Louis Cardinals football hat.

Despite losing the Cardinals the city of St. Louis would regain a football team seven years later when the Los Angeles Rams would move to St. Louis and become the St. Louis Rams.

A banner from the Phoenix Cardinals inaugural game at Sun Devil Stadium in 1988.

The Cardinals franchise has long been known as one of the fledgling franchises in NFL history, as they were without a championship since 1947, and have only been the playoffs six times in the last 66 years.

However the Cardinals franchise has been to the playoffs in two of the past six years (2008-2009), including a Super Bowl appearance in 2008 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

NFL Announces Usage of Instant Replay

On March 11, 1986, the National Football League announces that it will begin using instant replay for the upcoming 1986-1987 season.

 

One of the original 'on-field instant replay booths' the NFL put up during the 1990s at the Metrodome in Minnesota, the former home of the Vikings.

In 1986 the technology was nowhere near what it is today, which made instant replay unpopular with players, coaches and the fans.

A few years later in 1992, the NFL decided to abandon its instant replay system but after years of complaining from several coaches, instant replay made a comeback during the 1999 season.

The newer, high definition 'on-field NFL replay booth' as seen at a San Francisco 49ers game in 2013.

Although there were still many aspects that were flawed, the ability for a coach to challenge a disputed call definitely improved the game. The current rules allow a coach to challenge two plays throughout the course of the game. If both challenges are successful a third is awarded.

United States Football League Debuts

On March 6, 1983, the USFL, United States Football League, plays their first game. The game featured the Washington Federals and Philadelphia Stars.

Three of the elite USFL quarterbacks from left: Doug Flutie, Jim Kelly and Steve Young.

The USFL which featured 12 teams in its first year of play, 1983, expanded to 18 in its second year of play.

However the USFL, after three years of play had most of their teams fold due to going into severe debt not being able to fill their stadiums.

Some teams like the Oakland and Los Angeles franchises suspended operations for a year, in 1986, hoping to rebuild capital.

Finally four teams merged into two during 1986,, the Denver and Jacksonville franchises merged to play in Jacksonville and the Houston and New Jersey franchises merged to play in New Jersey.

With all of these changes the USFL was doomed and were never able to get back on track with competing against the NFL, and closed their doors a year later in 1987.

Lenny Wilkens Sets NBA Record

On March 1, 1996, NBA head coach Lenny Wilkens becomes the first coach in NBA history to record 1,000 regular season NBA victories. Wilkens would go on compile 1,332 wins and be the winningest coach of all time until the 2009-2010 season, when former Golden State Warriors head coach Don Nelson would pass him with 1,335.

Lenny Wilkens in 2004 as a coach for the New York Knicks.

After 30 seasons as an NBA head coach, Wilkens left the bench with his last stop being the Toronto Raptors in the 2002-2003 season. He would come back in the 2004-2005 season to coach the New York Knicks, but after a slow start, would retire from the team on Jan. 22, 2005.

Wilkens, had coached 2,046 regular season games, 164 playoff games, and four NBA All-Star games, making him the only head coach in NBA history with more than 2,000 games under his belt.

Wilkens trailed only Major League Baseball’s, Connie Mack, 53 years, John McGraw 33 years, National Football League’s George Halas, 40 years, Curly Lambeau, 33 years, and Don Shula, 33 years, for the longest tenure as a head coach in a major professional sports league.

NHL Cancels Season

On Feb. 16, 2005, that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman officially canceled the 2004-05 season. 

This would mark the first time that a major North American sport would cancel an entire season due to a labor dispute.  It would also be the first year that the Stanley Cup was not awarded since 1919.

Upon their return to action, a number of rule changes were implemented in order to restore offense and make the game more exciting and fast-paced.  The removal of the red line, the shootout to break ties and more obstruction penalties being called led to more offensive chances and more goals being scored.  Offense was lacking in the “old NHL” but the new rules certainly helped create a more thrilling and up-tempo game.

All four major North American sports (NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA)  have had their issues with labor disputes, the NHL had it again this year, but never to this extent. 

Within the past few years we have seen both the NFL and the NBA go through labor disputes of their own, but in both cases the owners and the players were able to come to an agreement and avoid having their seasons cancelled.

Tom Clancy Buys Minnesota Vikings

On Feb. 5, 1998, Author Tom Clancy confirms he signed agreement to purchase Minnesota Vikings for slightly more than $200 million, an NFL franchise record.

The 1998 season was a good one for Clancy and the Vikings.

With a spectacular offense led by quarterback Randall Cunningham (who replaced an injured Brad Johnson), running back Robert Smith, veteran wide receiver Cris Carter, and explosive rookie Randy Moss, the Vikings set a then-NFL record by scoring a total of 556 points, never scoring fewer than 24 in a game.

The Vikings finished the season 15–1, their only loss was to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27–24 in Week 9.

In the playoffs, the Vikings rolled past the Arizona Cardinals 41–21,and came into the Metrodome heavily favored for their NFC title showdown with the Atlanta Falcons, who had gone 14–2 in the regular season.

After kicker Gary Anderson, who had just completed the first perfect regular season in NFL history (not missing a single extra point or field goal attempt the entire year), missed a 38-yard field goal attempt with less than 2 minutes remaining, the Falcon's ensuing drive tied the game. T

his led to a controversial decision by head coach Dennis Green to run out the clock and let the game go onto overtime. Though the Vikings won the coin toss, Atlanta went on to win it 30–27 in overtime on Morten Andersen's 38-yard field goal.

The Vikings became the first 15–1 team to fail to reach the Super Bowl. The Falcons lost Super Bowl XXXIII to John Elway and the Denver Broncos.

Since the team's first season in 1961, the Vikings have had one of the highest winning percentages in the NFL.

They are also one of only six NFL teams to win at least 15 games during the regular season. The Vikings have won one NFL Championship, in 1969, prior to the league's merger with the American Football League (AFL). Since the merger, they have made the playoffs 25 times, third-most in the league.

The team has played in four Super Bowls (IV, VIII, IX and XI), losing in each one. In addition, they have lost in their last five NFC Championship Game appearances since 1978.

The team currently has 12 members in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Vikings who currently play at the Metrodome in Minnesota, just broke ground on what will be the franchises fourth stadium, The New Vikings Stadium, which is stated to be opened for the 2016 season. However, in the 2014 and 2015 seasons the Vikings will play at the University of Minnesota, home of the Golden Gophers, at The TCF Bank Stadium.

Super Bowl + Podcast

Scratch Hit Sports creator Stephen Langsam recaps the NFL Pro Bowl with former co-host of the Sporting Hangover, Ryan Hilton, and dives in head first into Super Bowl coverage.

Topics to listen for: Madden Challenge Steve (Seahawks) vs Ryan (Broncos), and who won.

Betting line for Super Bowl, our predictions of the game and who or what will make a major impact on the game.

We also dive into a few thoughts about what a win or loss means for each team.

Super Bowl Podcast

NFL Pro Bowl + Podcast

Scratch Hit Sports creator Stephen Langsam recaps the NFL Championship Round Playoffs with former co-host of the Sporting Hangover, Ryan Hilton.

We talk about the "New" style Pro Bowl, and draft our own Pro Bowl teams. Just a quick five on five draft, sorry offensive lineman, this one is just about skill positions!

We also dive into a few thoughts about the Super Bowl.


NFL Pro Bowl Podcast

Super Bowl History

January 26th has been a day where many Super Bowls were played. Here are a few that had some very interesting story lines.

On Jan. 26, 1986 Super Bowl XX (20) was played The Chicago Bears defeated the New England Patriots by a score of 46-10 in the Louisiana Superdome.

At the time, it was the most lopsided Super Bowl in history as linebacker Richard Dent was named the game's MVP.

New England jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but then Chicago's defense clamped down and the offense picked it up a notch. The Bears rattled off the next 44 points to secure their victory.

The Superdome in New Orleans is playing the host for this years Super Bowl with the 49ers and Ravens.

On Jan. 26, 1992, Super Bowl XXVI (26) was played at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minn.,

Mark Rypien of the Washington Redskins was the game's MVP as the Redskins defeated the Buffalo Bills by a score of 37-24. Rypien threw for 292 yards on 18-for-33 passing.

Washington had a 24-0 lead before Buffalo even scored its first points in the third quarter.

On Jan. 26, 1997, the Green Bay Packers won their first Super Bowl in the modern NFL over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI (31).

Desmond Howard was the game's MVP as his 99-yard kickoff return in the third quarter sealed the game for the Packers.

The final score was 35-21 as quarterback Brett Favre beat the Patriots' Drew Bledsoe.

On Jan. 26, 2003, The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Oakland Raiders, in Super Bowl XXXVII (37).

The final score was 48-21 as the Buccaneers scored three touchdowns directly off interceptions.

Dwight Smith had two of those interceptions and Derrick Brooks had the other as Tampa Bay won their only Super Bowl title in their only appearance in the Super Bowl to this point.

Chargers Land Unitas

On Jan. 22, 1973,  the Baltimore Colts dealt legendary quarterback Johnny Unitas to the San Diego Chargers.

Despite his record numbers, the Colts felt that Unitas was too advanced in years to help them anymore. He was traded for the draft rights to quarterback Bert Jones.

Unitas started just four games for the Chargers before he was benched in favor of Dan Fouts. Fouts would go on to have a legendary career for the Chargers.

Nicknamed "The Golden Arm", Unitas, was a Lithuanian American professional American football player in the 1950s through the 1970s, spending the majority of his career with the Baltimore Colts.

He was a record-setting quarterback, and the National Football League's most valuable player in 1959, 1964 and 1967. For 52 years he held the record of throwing a touchdown pass in 47 consecutive games (between 1956–1960), until New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees broke his long standing record on Oct. 7, 2012.

Unitas was drafted in the ninth round by the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL but was released before the season began as the odd man out among four quarterbacks trying to fill three spots. 

Steelers Head Coach Walt Kiesling had made up his mind about Unitas; he somehow thought him not smart enough to quarterback an NFL team.

The opposite would be true, as Unitas would become one of the greatest on-field leaders of all time, introducing the 2-minute offense to the NFL.

Kiesling never even let Unitas take a snap in practice with the Steelers. Among those edging out Unitas was Ted Marchibroda, future NFL quarterback and longtime NFL head coach. Out of pro football, Unitas--by this time married--worked in construction in Pittsburgh to support his family.

On the weekends, he played quarterback, safety and punter on a local semipro team called the Bloomfield Rams for $6 a game

Unitas was the prototype of the modern era marquee quarterback with a strong passing game, media fanfare and widespread popularity. He has been consistently listed as one of the greatest NFL players of all time.

Unitas was a star studded pro in the NFL earning several honors including three Bert Bell Awards, a 10-time Pro Bowler, being a three-time Pro Bowl MVP, two-time NEA NFL MVP, three-time UPI NFL MVP, three time AP NFL MVP, six-time First Team All-Pro selection, one Second Team All-Pro selection, one Second Team All-Conference award as well a two time NFL World Champion and Super Bowl Champion in Super Bowl V. He also won the 1970 NFL Man of the Year Award.

Unitas was honored to the NFL’s 75th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1994, as well honored as part of the All-Decades team from the 1960s. Unitas’ no. 19 jersey was also retired by the Baltimore Colts.

NFL Divisional Round Playoffs + Brady and Manning Playoff Moments.

Scratch Hit Sports creator Stephen Langsam recaps the NFL Divisional Round Playoffs with former co-host of the Sporting Hangover, Ryan Hilton, our predictions for the championship round, as well who is the best quarterback in each matchup.

We also dive into the previous Tom Brady and Peyton Manning playoff moments.

Scratch Hit Sports NFL Divisional Round Podcast

NFL Debuts Super Bowl

On Jan. 15, 1967, the NFL would host the first ever Super Bowl.

The site was Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, Calif. and the Green Bay Packers, led by quarterback Bart Starr, defeated Len Dawson and the Kansas City Chiefs by a score of 35-10.

Green Bay scored three touchdowns in the second half to break open a close game that was only 14-10 at the halfway point. Starr was 16-for-23 and 250 yards en route to being named the game's MVP.

The historic day marked the first-ever contest between the NFL and AFL, which were in competition with each other at the time.

The game was created as part of a merger agreement between the NFL and its then-rival league, the American Football League (AFL). It was agreed that the two leagues' champion teams would play in an AFL–NFL World Championship Game until the merger was to officially begin in 1970. After the merger, each league was redesignated as a "conference", and the game was then played between the conference champions. Currently, the National Football Conference (NFC) leads the series with 25 wins to 21 wins for the American Football Conference (AFC).

Three years later, the leagues merged and the single-greatest game in American team sports took off to become an advertising juggernaut, which is because the Super Bowl every year is one of the most watched sporting events on television.

But it is not just about television and advertising, the Super Bowl is about showing your dominance over the league, and bringing home a Vince Lombardi Trophy to your fans.

The day on which the Super Bowl is played, now considered by some a de facto American national holiday, is called "Super Bowl Sunday". It is the second-largest day for U.S. food consumption, after Thanksgiving Day.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have won six Super Bowls, the most of any team; the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers have five victories each; and both the Green Bay Packers and New York Giants have four Super Bowls championships.

Thirteen other NFL franchises have won at least one Super Bowl.

Ten teams have appeared in Super Bowl games without a win.

The Minnesota Vikings were the first team to have lost a record four times without a win. The Buffalo Bills played in a record four Super Bowls in a row, and lost every one. Four teams (the Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Houston Texans) have never appeared in a Super Bowl.

The Browns and Lions both won NFL Championships prior to the Super Bowl's creation, while the Jaguars (1995) and Texans (2002) are both recent NFL expansion teams.

The Minnesota Vikings won the last NFL Championship before the merger, but lost to the AFL champion Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl IV.