“Football History”
Selected Stories: 1950s-2020s

Super Bowl III

“I Guarantee It”

1969

Joe Namath of NY Jets
predicts Super Bowl win;
helps transform pro football.

Football Turning Point

“Big Game, New Era”

Colts vs. Giants, 1958

With riveting, televised
“Greatest Game,” pro football
moves to Big-Time biz $$.

Football Book & Film

“Flash Boy Lewis”

1989-2014

Includes profile of Michael
Lewis book, The Blind Side,
made into Hollywood film.

Author As QB

“Paper Lion”

George Plimpton

NY patrician takes lumps
as football QB; writes
bestseller that becomes film.

Annals of Sport

“Bednarik-Gifford Lore”

1950s-1960s

The All-Pro careers & historic
clash of Chuck Bednarik
and Frank Gifford.

500-YD Passing Games

“Dutchman’s Big Day”

September 1951

Van Brocklin sets single-
game record; others listed
with 500-yard games.

JFK’s Football Homage

“Roger & The President”

November 1963

1963 Army-Navy game,
JFK’s assassination, and
Roger Staubach’s Life cover.

The Forward Pass

“Slingin’ Sammy”

1930s-1950s

Sammy Baugh helps
modernize pro football
with the forward pass.

Football & Tobacco

“Gifford for Luckies”

1961-1962

NY Giants football star
Frank Gifford gives his
pitch for Lucky Strikes.

Sports Marketing History

“Wheaties & Sport”

1930s

Wheaties only featured a few
football players in the 1930s,
as baseball was its focus.

18 Famous Players

“Big Game, New Era”

Colts vs. Giants, 1958

Sidebar in this story
profiles 18 famous Colts
& Giants from this game.

Celebrity Lifestyle Book

“I Guarantee It”

1960s-1970s

Story includes “lifestyle”
book Namath wrote with
sportscaster Dick Schaap.

Football Newsreel

“Sammy Baugh Video”

1930s-1950s

Video & newsreel clips
highlight Sammy Baugh’s
pro football career.

Celebrities Advertising

“Celebrity Gifford”

1950s-2000s

Pro football star becomes
well-known celebrity
and frequent pitchman.

Namath in Hollywood

“I Guarantee It”

1969

This Joe Namath story
also includes a couple
of his Hollywood films.

Brady-Bündchen History

“The Most Beautiful Girl”

1993-2012

Gisele Bündchen story includes
Tom Brady years & vignette
from 2012 Super Bowl.

Gifford Books

“Celebrity Gifford”

1950s-2010s

Story on Frank Gifford’s
celebrity also includes books
by and about him.

Sammy’s Films

“Slingin’ Sammy”

1930s-1950s

This Sammy Baugh story
includes sidebar on his
“Texas Rangers” films.


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Date Posted: February 4, 2024
Last Update: February 4, 2024
Comments to: jackdoyle47@gmail.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PopHistoryDig

Article Citation:
Jack Doyle, “Football History: Selected Stories,
1950s-2020s,” PopHistoryDig.com, February 4, 2024.

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Football Books at Amazon.com
 

Michael MacCambridge’s 2005 book, “The Epic Story of How Pro Football Captured a Nation.” Click for copy.
Michael MacCambridge’s 2005 book, “The Epic Story of How Pro Football Captured a Nation.” Click for copy.
NFL History, Rob Fleder, et al., “NFL 100: A Century of Pro Football,” with Peyton Manning intro. Click for copy.
NFL History, Rob Fleder, et al., “NFL 100: A Century of Pro Football,” with Peyton Manning intro. Click for copy.
Ray Walker’s book, “The Ultimate Pittsburgh Steelers Trivia Book,” 2020 edition. Click for copy.
Ray Walker’s book, “The Ultimate Pittsburgh Steelers Trivia Book,” 2020 edition. Click for copy.