Pro Football on the Timeline

Pro football's defining games and moments. Here’s a taste of the Pro Football pack — 181 verified moments and counting.

1. 1920 Team owners gather in a Canton auto showroom to form the league that becomes the NFL, with Jim Thorpe its first president.September 17 →
2. 1932 The Chicago Bears beat the Portsmouth Spartans in the NFL's first playoff game, played indoors at Chicago Stadium.December 18 →
3. 1936 Jay Berwanger is selected first overall by the Eagles in the first-ever NFL draftFebruary 8 →
4. 1940 Sid Luckman's Bears crush the Redskins seventy-three to nothing, the most lopsided NFL Championship Game ever.December 8 →
5. 1944 The Green Bay Packers defeat the New York Giants at the Polo Grounds to win the NFL Championship.December 17 →
6. 1948 In a blizzard, Steve Van Buren's lone touchdown gives the Eagles a shutout over the Cardinals for their first title.December 19 →
7. 1952 The Detroit Lions, behind Bobby Layne, beat the Cleveland Browns to claim the NFL Championship.December 28 →
8. 1956 Switching to sneakers on an icy field, the New York Giants demolish the Chicago Bears for the NFL title.December 30 →
9. 1959 Vince Lombardi is hired as head coach and general manager of the Green Bay PackersFebruary 2 →
10. 1961 Houston Oilers defeat the Los Angeles Chargers to win the first-ever AFL ChampionshipJanuary 1 →
11. 1963 The Pro Football Hall of Fame opens in Canton, enshrining a charter class that includes Jim Thorpe and George Halas.September 7 →
12. 1966 The NFL and AFL announce an agreement to merge into a single leagueJune 8 →
13. 1968 NBC cuts away to the movie 'Heidi' as the Raiders score twice late to stun the JetsNovember 17 →
14. 1970 Tom Dempsey of the New Orleans Saints kicks an NFL-record 63-yard field goal to beat the Lions as time expiresNovember 8 →
15. 1972 Franco Harris scoops up a deflection for the Immaculate Reception to beat the RaidersDecember 23 →
16. 1975 Roger Staubach's last-second Hail Mary to Drew Pearson sinks the Vikings and coins the termDecember 28 →
17. 1978 Herman Edwards returns a botched Giants handoff for a touchdown in the Eagles' Miracle at the MeadowlandsNovember 19 →
18. 1980 The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Los Angeles Rams to become the first team to win four Super Bowls.January 20 →
19. 1982 Joe Montana finds Dwight Clark in the back of the end zone for The Catch as the 49ers beat the CowboysJanuary 10 →
20. 1984 Marcus Allen's record 191 rushing yards lead the Los Angeles Raiders over Washington in Super Bowl XVIIIJanuary 22 →
21. 1985 Joe Montana outduels Dan Marino, throwing three touchdowns as the San Francisco 49ers rout the Dolphins for the title.January 20 →
22. 1987 Bo Jackson runs for a Monday Night record 221 yards, including a 91-yard score, as the Raiders rout the SeahawksNovember 30 →
23. 1989 Flipper Anderson of the Los Angeles Rams sets the single-game receiving record with 336 yards against the SaintsNovember 26 →
24. 1990 Buddy Ryan makes good on a boast as his Philadelphia Eagles batter the Washington Redskins on Monday night, the Body Bag Game.November 12 →
25. 1993 Dallas Cowboys force a record nine turnovers to rout the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVIIJanuary 31 →
26. 1995 Art Modell announces the Cleveland Browns will relocate to BaltimoreNovember 6 →
27. 1998 John Elway and the Denver Broncos upset the defending-champion Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXIIJanuary 25 →
28. 1999 The NFL awards its 32nd franchise to Bob McNair's group in Houston, creating the TexansOctober 6 →
29. 2000 Vinny Testaverde rallies the Jets from 23 points down in the fourth quarter to beat the Dolphins in the Monday Night MiracleOctober 23 →
30. 2000 Terrell Owens of the San Francisco 49ers sets a then-record 20 catches in a single game against the Chicago Bears.December 17 →
31. 2002 Michael Vick of the Atlanta Falcons sets the single-game record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 173 against the VikingsDecember 1 →
32. 2003 Jamal Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens runs for a then-record 295 yards in a single game against the BrownsSeptember 14 →
33. 2004 The Chargers draft Eli Manning No. 1 overall then trade him to the Giants for Philip RiversApril 24 →
34. 2007 Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers passes Dan Marino for the most career touchdown passes with his 421st, against the VikingsSeptember 30 →
35. 2009 Santonio Holmes's toe-tap touchdown in the final seconds wins a sixth Super Bowl for the Pittsburgh Steelers.February 1 →
36. 2011 The Carolina Panthers draft Heisman winner Cam Newton with the first overall pick of the NFL draft.April 28 →
37. 2012 Replacement officials award the Seahawks a disputed game-winning touchdown to Golden Tate over the Packers on Monday Night Football, the 'Fail Mary'September 24 →
38. 2013 Matt Prater of the Denver Broncos kicks a then-record 64-yard field goal against the TitansDecember 8 →
39. 2014 Richard Sherman tips a Colin Kaepernick pass to Malcolm Smith for the clinching interception, sending the Seahawks past the 49ers to the Super BowlJanuary 19 →
40. 2015 Aaron Rodgers launches a 61-yard Hail Mary that Richard Rodgers catches as time expires to beat the Detroit Lions.December 3 →