49ers Beat Chargers In Super Bowl

On Jan. 29, 1995, the San Francisco 49ers became the first NFL franchise to win five Super Bowls with a 49-26 victory over the San Diego Chargers in an all-California affair in Miami.

Quarterback Steve Young was named the game's MVP after throwing for 325 yards with a 24-for-36 efficiency.

Young was responsible for all six of his team's touchdowns as he threw six TD passes and no interceptions.

The victory for Young, was his only Super Bowl victory as a starter, he had another victory on the bench behind Joe Montana in 1989.

This was also the last time the 49ers were in the Super Bowl.

The 49ers five Super Bowl victories ties them for second all-time with the Dallas Cowboys and behind only the Pittsburgh Steelers who have six victories.

Last years Super Bowl was also played in New Orleans at the Mercedes-Benz Super Dome, home of the New Orleans Saints, as the 49ers were defeated by the Baltimore Ravens, in what many labeled the "Harbaugh-bowl" or "Harbaughcalypse."

In 1990 the 49ers beat the Denver Broncos 55-10 in the then called Louisiana Super Dome to win Super Bowl XXIV (24), the last under Joe Montana.

Since Super Bowl XXIV (24) the Super Dome has played host to two more Super Bowls, 1997 in Super Bowl XXXI (31) with the Green Bay Packers against the New England Patriots and in 2002 in Super Bowl XXXVI (36) with the New England Patriots against the St. Louis Rams.

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.

Simpson Breaks NFL Record

On Dec. 16, 1973, that Buffalo Bills running back O.J. Simpson became the first man to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season. Simpson accomplished the feat in just 14 games as that was the length of the schedule at the time.

Simpson entered the final game of the season against the New York Jets needing 197 yards to reach 2,000 for the season. The Bills were intent on getting Simpson to the milestone as they gave him the ball 34 times. In the end, he would finish the game with an even 200 yards and an amazing 2,003 rushing yards for the season. O.J. was the only running back to reach the 2,000 yard mark while playing just a 14 game schedule.

Since the NFL changed to a 16 game schedule in 1978, six men have joined Simpson in the 2,000 yard club.

In 1984 Los Angeles Rams' Eric Dickerson ran for 2,105 yards which still stands as the NFL record. Detroit Lions' Barry Sanders joined the club in 1997 and the very next year Denver Broncos' Terrell Davis became the fourth member. Baltimore Ravens' Jamal Lewis had the second highest total in NFL history in 2003 with 2,066 yards, and in 2009 Tennessee Titans' Chris Johnson totaled 2,006 rushing yards. Last year Minnesota Vikings' Adrian Peterson rushed for 2,097 yards, putting himself above Lewis and into sole possession for second most rushing yards in a single season, only behind Dickerson.

Though OJ Simpson is just one of six men to rush for 2,000 yards he is more known for his involvement in the 1994 murder of Nicole Brown Simpson, his wife. In 1995 O.J. was acquitted after a lengthy, internationally publicized criminal trial, the People v. Simpson. In 1997, a civil court awarded a judgment against Simpson for their wrongful deaths; to date he has paid little of the $33.5 million penalty.

Than in the late 2000’s O.J. was back in the headlines, again for something other than football. Simpson was arrested in Las Vegas, Nevada, and charged with numerous felonies, including armed robbery and kidnapping, that surrounded his memrobilia. In 2008, he was found guilty and sentenced to thirty three-years’ imprisonment, with a minimum of nine years without parole.

Payton Sets NFL Record

On Nov. 20, 1977, Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton set the NFL record for most rushing yards in a single game with 275 Nov. 20, 1977. Payton scored the lone touchdown for the Chicago Bears en route to a 10-7 victory over their division rival the Minnesota Vikings.

ESPN reports his record is now fifth all-time as his record stood for 23 years.

The Vikings went on to lose in the NFC Championship game. Payton ran for his record while he was sick and battled the flu. Payton broke O.J. Simpson's record by two yards.

The current mark is 296 yards in one game set by Adrian Peterson playing for the Vikings Nov. 4, 2007.

Peterson’s record breaking 296-yards in a single game were only one-yard more than the record Jamal Lewis set rushing for the Baltimore Ravens against the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 14, 2003.

Since Peterson broke the single game rushing record, several backs have eclipsed the 200-yard rushing mark for a single game, and have come close to breaking Peterson’s record but none have done it.

Here are the list of backs in chronological order to get close to breaking the single-game rushing record:

Jerome Harrison at 26-years old ran for 286-yards for the Cleveland Browns vs. Kansas City Chiefs, on Dec. 20 2009. Harrison’s effort was good for third all-time.

Jamaal Charles at 23-years old ran for 259-yards for the  Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos, on  Jan. 3, 2010. Charles’ effort was good for eighth all-time.

DeMarco Murray at 23-years old ran for 253-yards for the  Dallas Cowboys vs. St. Louis Rams, on Oct. 23, 2011 . Murray’s effort was good for ninth all-time.

Last year the “Muscle Hamster” Doug Martin at 23-years old ran for 251-yards for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Oakland Raiders, on Nov. 4, 2012. Martin’s effort against the Raiders put him in the top 10 all-time tied with Mike Anderson’s 251-yard rushing game with the Denver Broncos vs. New Orleans Saints on Dec. 3, 2000.

Browns Move To Baltimore

On Nov. 6, 1995, Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell officially announced that the Cleveland Browns would be moving to Baltimore after the season. 

The lame duck Browns struggled the rest of that season. Eventually a deal was reached in which the name, logos, and history of the franchise would remain in Cleveland. A new version of the Browns returned to the field in 1999.

Modell's Baltimore franchise became known as the Baltimore Ravens and was essentially an expansion team.

Despite the Browns being a losing franchise, the Ravens didn’t take much time to become an elite franchise. The Ravens would visit the playoffs for the first time in 2000. 

That year would be a magical year for the Ravens as they traveled all the way to the Super Bowl and eventually beat the New York Giants 34-7 in Super Bowl XXXV (35).

The Ravens would continue to excel in the AFC North and would make the playoffs in 2001, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2013.

The Ravens would again win the Super Bowl XLVII (47) in 2013 against the San Francisco 49ers as head coaches Jim and Job Harbaugh faced off in the first Super Bowl to be coached by brothers.